LOS ANGELES—Lee & Associates has always encouraged its brokers to own and invest in commercial real estate properties, with the belief that participating in the industry as owners as well as advisors would be a greater value to clients. The firm is now taking the concept a step further with a new commercial real estate investment fund that is exclusive to Lee & Associates brokers. The Associates Equities Fund invests in opportunities across the country and raises capital for each opportunity. The fund encourages brokers from Lee offices across the country to look for those opportunities in their respective markets.

The idea has been evolving for a number of years, and was finally thrust into reality last year. At Lee & Associates' annual Brokers Summit in Las Vegas, Scott Ostlund and Jeff Smith, both brokers in Lee & Associates' Ontario office, sat down to talk with GlobeSt.com about the fund and how it fits into the Lee brand and culture. The fund, while still new, has already gotten a great response from the brokers in the company, although Smith says that the concept still needs to be introduced and explained.

Few brokerage firms allow brokers to own and invest in the market for fear of conflicting interests between the brokers and the clients, but Ostlund and Smith say that there is no conflict here. They always put clients first and ensure that they are never taking a deal away from a client. Moreover, they believe that understanding a client's needs as an owner and fellow investor make them better brokers and help to increase client services.

There is a lot more information on the fund, broker response and merging the worlds of brokerage and investment in this exclusive interview. 

LOS ANGELES—Lee & Associates has always encouraged its brokers to own and invest in commercial real estate properties, with the belief that participating in the industry as owners as well as advisors would be a greater value to clients. The firm is now taking the concept a step further with a new commercial real estate investment fund that is exclusive to Lee & Associates brokers. The Associates Equities Fund invests in opportunities across the country and raises capital for each opportunity. The fund encourages brokers from Lee offices across the country to look for those opportunities in their respective markets.

The idea has been evolving for a number of years, and was finally thrust into reality last year. At Lee & Associates' annual Brokers Summit in Las Vegas, Scott Ostlund and Jeff Smith, both brokers in Lee & Associates' Ontario office, sat down to talk with GlobeSt.com about the fund and how it fits into the Lee brand and culture. The fund, while still new, has already gotten a great response from the brokers in the company, although Smith says that the concept still needs to be introduced and explained.

Few brokerage firms allow brokers to own and invest in the market for fear of conflicting interests between the brokers and the clients, but Ostlund and Smith say that there is no conflict here. They always put clients first and ensure that they are never taking a deal away from a client. Moreover, they believe that understanding a client's needs as an owner and fellow investor make them better brokers and help to increase client services.

There is a lot more information on the fund, broker response and merging the worlds of brokerage and investment in this exclusive interview.