The mutual fund industry has many second-generation advisors. Advisors who have seen their parents nurture and grow the business when mutual funds were still novel investment products.
This Father's Day, Cafemutual spoke to a few second-generation advisors to know how their fathers encouraged them to enter the advisory business.
Virajbhai Kamdar, Vima Seva Kendra, Surendranagar (Gujarat)
My father, Maheshkumar Kamdar started selling mutual funds in our small town of Surendra Nagar back in 1985. Right from my childhood days, he involved me in the business. I fondly remember the UTI NFO, which was launched in 1991. I was 12 then. As demands for the NFO was huge and the forms were limited, my father went to UTI head office in Mumbai to collect the forms. Everyday my father used to courier me copies of application form, which I used to distribute among our clients. This got me interested in financial advisory. I saw clients bringing sweets to my father's office when they bought house or car with the help of their mutual fund investments due to financial advice. These instances inspired me to take up financial advisory.
Azeem Jagani, Composite Investment Services, Mumbai
Since my father, Shafique Jagani is a stockbroker, I was exposed to equities and their wealth creation potential since a young age. In fact, I started investing in stock markets during my college days. Along with investing for myself, I used to share stock ideas and mutual fund advice with my friends. Seeing my affinity for financial advisory my father encouraged me to study CFP so that I could better advise investors on financial planning. He also took me with him on client meetings to teach me the ropes of the business. From carefully listening to client concerns, gently guiding them, advising clients on family matters along with finances, I saw him being both an advisor and friend to his clients. I picked up many client servicing and client management principles during those meetings. His encouragement and guidance during my initial days has greatly helped me in my advisory journey.
Gaurav Kucheria, Wealth Guardians, Mumbai
When I was young, I saw that my father, Ajit Kucheria had many repeat clients thanks to his clients first approach. Over the years these clients became like family. We were invited to their family events. Clients used to thank him for helping them achieve their milestones like sending their child abroad for education. Being part of this warm camaraderie, I too wanted to follow his footsteps and maintain a continuity for our client base. When I decided to join the business, my dad gave me an important advice – understand what your client needs before you recommend him a product and always follow up with exceptional service. This has been my motto too. I still remember how happy my dad was when a client urgently needed funds, I was up till 4 AM, co-ordinating everything. According to him, that day I exhibited what being a financial advisor was all about.
