Over the past year, global brokerage OneRoyal celebrated its 15 years of successful operations.
Rod Kafer, the Head of Prime of OnePrime, the Sydney-based and ASIC-regulated institutional arm of OneRoyal, offers his take on the industry, and what sets OnePrime apart from other companies.
1. Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your years of experience in FX.
I first started trading futures in the 90s, in the phone brokering days, and have seen the market change dramatically from that time, obviously.
I spent 20 years in professional rugby and then in media prior to re-joining the financial services industry in 2019. Prior to joining OnePrime, I was Managing Director of a Prime of Prime in Sydney for a number of years.
In that time, we witnessed the changing nature of an online brokerage, as well as the upward trajectory of self-determination in retail investing with an expansion of products, only likely to continue.
As information and technology provide retail traders with many of the tools that had typically been reserved for institutions, this makes it easier for everyone to enter the FX market.
This increase in technology will continue to challenge the models and create opportunities for those nimble enough to execute.
The market will react to ensure business models remain viable and at OnePrime we provide solutions to enable it.
2. You have a lot of experience with FX and finance – what would you say are the most important elements that clients should look out for?
I would say that, firstly, clients should concern themselves with who is on the other side of their funds.
They should look for brokers with a long history to ensure that their counterparty is going to remain in business tomorrow.
Whilst nothing is certain, a business with a history of more than 15 years is, undoubtedly, stronger and more trustworthy than a business with no history.
As the race to the bottom in fees and charges continues, clients should also consider what other models and opportunities a partner may provide them.
Institutions provide access at a cost, however, the prospects for bespoke business models, revenue sharing, and technology integration should be at the forefront of a broker’s mind when reviewing the options for partnering.
Prime Services is a partnership and should be seen as a relationship with mutual outcomes. Not simply a price feed.
3. Can you tell us a few words about OnePrime by OneRoyal and what it can do for clients/brokers?
The core role of a Prime Broker is to find a solution for a client that improves the client’s business model.
This requires flexibility and open thinking from the Prime, in order to develop appropriate solutions.
Having a wide range of products, relationships with technology vendors as well as a liquidity offering that meets the needs of end users, where optionality for the type of model is key, are things that OnePrime is committed to.
This results in clients and brokers receiving a solution which may be liquidity, revenue sharing, technology integration, white labels, licensing, business incubation, as well as access to amazing spreads and executions as liquidity at a low cost.
All or in any combination are designed to maximize the mutual interest.
4. What are the three key components that set OnePrime apart from other companies?
Flexibility of offering to solve most problems – we will continue to focus on our large partners and their specific needs, whilst also assisting smaller growth brokerages who are in their first few years of operation or who just started spooling up.
We can provide an end-to-end experience for a broker who has nothing and needs everything including technology, licensing, liquidity, revenue sharing opportunities – and anything else that will assist with our mutual growth.
We have the experience of not only having built the OneRoyal business into what it is today with many of the original staff still involved in the business, but have also shaped other brokers that were small and then went on to become one of the major players in the industry.
Second, I would say our experience.
Experience of a business that has been in operation since 2006 and has been through all types of markets, regulations, products, and trends, as well as challenges and economic crises and still operating as one of the leading brokers in the world.
Learn from our experience and fast-track your growth by experiencing our incredible product range and tight spreads.
Finally, our liquidity is deep, our spreads are extremely competitive, and our total offering is designed to ensure brokers are as well placed to be as successful as they want to be.
5. Tell us a bit about your new role at OnePrime as Head of Prime. What will your role entail?
OnePrime has been in operation for some time, however, it has now invested heavily in institutional services growth, which I will manage.
Our goal is to add significantly to our broker, money manager, and Hedge Fund client base.
With a huge retail business behind us, we benefit from the sheer volume of flow which will power our growth into new market segments. This business is maintained on relationships but built on trust.
We will ensure that what is said on the tin, is delivered and our clients will have no better opportunity of being successful than in partnering with OnePrime.
6. You are a multi-talented man, no one can argue with that. Which elements from your previous career would you say were important for your success in the financial industry?
Having spent a long period of time in professional sport, you recognize that sport and business have many similar attributes, however, require unique skill sets.
Like sports, there are always winners and losers in business as well.
Having the desire to be one of the winners is something that is ingrained in most sports people.
Business success is most often measured by PnL and our team is looking forward to competing with the industry and taking a little more market share as we grow out our model.
About OnePrime by OneRoyal
OnePrime is an institutional arm of OneRoyal, headquartered in Australia. It offers a full suite of turnkey solutions for new and future brokerages, such as liquidity solutions, institutional technology, and white labels.
Learn more about OnePrime here: https://prime.oneroyal.com/
Note: OneRoyal is the trading name of the entities that are part of the Royal Group Holding SAL. OneRoyal is regulated by multiple entities, such as CySEC, ASIC, and VFSC, and registered in SVG. Visit oneroyal.com for more information.
