Peerless personalized service is the secret behind Globaleye’s success

Here’s why this firm is making big waves in Singapore’s crowded financial landscape.

When Tim Searle first established Globaleye in Singapore just seven years ago, he knew that his young financial services firm will be up against extremely stiff competition in the city-state’s highly saturated market.

“For us it was very daunting because we were coming into a very mature market. In order for us to make a noise and make a difference, we knew it was going to be a bit of an upward struggle,” shares Searle, who is Globaleye Group’s Chairman and is the CEO of the company’s local operations.

Searle’s concerns were perfectly warranted. The city-state, after all, is already home to a plethora of financial services providers. Singapore’s streets are literally teeming with financial folk—bankers, asset managers, name it and Singapore has it. Despite the challenges, Globaleye still managed to outstrip competition by sticking to its tried-and-tested strategy of bespoke wealth management for its clients.

“It’s all about reaching out and engaging our clients. It’s not about reaching out and saying, what can I sell you? We ask our clients: what do you need to have? What are your goals? How can we help you achieve it?” Searle says.

Searle credits Globaleye’s international expertise as the driving force behind the company’s success in Singapore. Thanks to its extensive operations in various parts of the globe, Globaleye was like a breath of fresh air compared to some of their more insular competitors.
“We managed to bring in ideas from other parts of the world in which we operate. Some of our competitors have fairly insular operations, which meant that our international background really gave us an edge,” says Searle.

According to Searle, a one-size-fits all customer policy no longer works in today’s ultra-competitive market. Consumers are extremely discerning and demand services that are uniquely tailored for their needs. Unfortunately, the industry has been quite slow on the uptake when it comes to changing consumer preferences.

“The financial services industry has been slow in reinventing itself on how consumers engage with us. Old methods simply do not work anymore. You cannot be singular, as some of our competitors are. You can’t say, here are our offerings, take it or leave it,” he says.
Technology is the ground on which Globaleye’s personalized operations are built on. Providing bespoke services to over 10,000 clients across the globe will be impossible without a sophisticated system to keep track of their needs and aspirations. Despite this reliance on technology, Searle is adamant that nothing can ever supersede the strength of personal connections.

“Technology is at the forefront of everything we do, but it doesn’t replace the one thing that we absolutely insist on, which is personal contact,” Searle says.

Automated responses are not for Searle; at Globaleye, clients can expect to communicate with advisors who can address their needs with a human touch. Globaleye’s financial advisers do not only look after their clients’ wealth; they also keep track of birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates, and make sure that no personal milestone goes unnoticed.

“These small personal difference make a huge impact. I’m in a space where there’s lots of competition. There are a lot of people doing what we’re doing. The difference is, at Globaleye, we do it better before, during, and after,” Searle says.

Global Valuation Service

One of Globaleye’s most innovative products is the Global Valuation Service, or GVS. The GVS provides clients with up-to-date information on all of their investments, whenever and wherever they need it. It keeps everything in one place, which makes it easier for Globaleye’s clients to have an accurate and holistic snapshot of their wealth.

“These can include portfolios they have with us, cash holdings, property, pensions, vintage cars, works of art and so on. Most of our competitors provide a much narrower offering which we believe does not meet the needs of the investors nowadays. They want choice and a trusted partner that can cater to all facets of their financial planning now and the foreseeable future either in Singapore, Asia or around the world,” Searle says.

For all their tireless efforts, Globaleye was a proud winner in the Financial Services category of Singapore Business Review’s International Business Awards 2015.