Tata Mutual Fund along with Cafemutual launched a contest ‘My Self-Belief, My Journey’ to highlight inspiring journey of MFDs who have overcome real life challenges. The idea was to encourage MFDs to share incidents that restored self-belief and inspire them to achieve newer heights.
Over the last two weeks, the contest received an overwhelming response from MFDs across the country. Tata Mutual Fund and Cafemutual are grateful to every participant for sharing their inspiring stories.
Each story touched the hearts of the jury, who found it difficult to pick 10 entries. In fact, these stories applaud the ‘never say die spirit’ of all the participants.
Here is the list of 10 winners who won the contest:
Deepak Khandelwal, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Deepak Khandelwal left his well-paying job at AMC to become an MFD. Hailed from a middle class family, he found it difficult to convince his family members to leave his job for entrepreneurship. However, he followed his passion and there was no looking back then. In six years, he achieved some key business milestones - shifted from a rented office to 2 owned offices while acquiring 1300 clients.
K Jayaraman, Mumbai, Maharashtra
K Jayaraman has been differently abled since birth. Under a physiotherapist’s advice, he took small steps as an insurance agent and then started as a MFD. Suddenly in September 2020, he was hospitalised for pacemaker surgery post which he was advised not to step out. K Jayaraman continues to have the same zeal, as he serves his clients whom he calls his well-wishers. He also enjoys the confidence/support of AMCs and their respective RMs. He recently renewed his ARN for a further 3 year period. With his self-belief, he overcame life challenges and enjoys a respectful position in society.
Naveen Daga, Kolkata, West Bengal
Naveen Daga started his career as a cashier in a saree shop with a monthly salary of Rs 1,500. Later, on his father’s advice, he ventured into the financial industry. The initial journey was difficult but hard work and dedication kept him going. Finally, in 2014 Naveen started MutualFundShop. Over the years, he upgraded his skills in financial technology and today, he lends support to mutual fund companies to develop DIT (distributor initiated transaction) platforms and apps. Naveen also runs a YouTube channel for his clients and fellow MFDs.
Ramesh B Popat, Baroda, Gujarat
Ramesh B Popat voluntarily retired from a PSU bank at the age of 51 and decided to do something new. While some believed bankers may not succeed in other areas post-retirement, he took up the challenge of proving them wrong. He purchased an office and decided to work as an independent investment distributor. One of the best things about Ramesh is that he never stopped learning and upgrading his skills. Even at 71, he still caters to his clients.
Rishabh Adukia, Mumbai, Maharashtra
As a student, Rishabh Adukia was not studious. However, a meeting with a senior gentleman taught him that a person learns in 2 ways - the number of books read and the number of people met. This changed his approach and Rishabh decided to spend the rest of his student life reading books. He became a CA and later procured other prestigious degrees and certifications like CS, LLB, CFP and MBA-finance. Today, he runs a successful mutual fund distribution company by offering host of products and services.
Suda Bhanu Prasad, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh
Suda Bhanu Prasad was affected by polio when he was 9 months old and has a 90% disability of lower limbs. He was operated 5 times and requires crutches and callipers for walking. He started as a life insurance agent for a living. Later, Bhanu expanded his offerings by adding mutual funds. Soon, he sensed an opportunity in financial planning space and became a Sebi Registered Investment Adviser. Bhanu faced financial constraints and travel difficulties but he refused to quit. He believes that forgetting his disability made him successful. Bhanu runs his advisory business in the name of Paisa Health and also runs a YouTube channel on personal finance.
Sunil Diddee, Delhi
Sunil Diddee is a retired colonel from the Indian Army. His journey to become an MFD started when he first invested in mutual funds. Healthy performance of his mutual fund investment portfolio made him believe that people can achieve financial freedom through mutual funds. In August 2017, he started his mutual fund advisory business in the name of Aristha Bhavishya Shiksha.
Sunil Tukaram Dalvi, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Sunil Tukaram Dalvi (B.com, ICWA, MFD) has experience of 14 years in operations with top fund houses when he decided to quit to become a MFD in September 2014. He believed that the benefits of mutual funds have not been availed by a majority of people and sensed an opportunity in distribution business. However, Sunil encountered difficulties in convincing his family and friends but his conviction and wife's support took him closer to his passion. After quitting his job, he experienced financial constraints and started working from a nearby BMC garden. Later, he shifted to an 80 sq ft rented office and today he moved to a bigger office.
Tejshiv Sharma, Pehowa, Haryana
19-year-old Tejshiv Sharma came to know about mutual fund distribution business when he was looking for an alternative source of income along with studies. Very soon, he developed a keen interest in the mutual fund and started his own mutual fund distribution business. Even at this age, he has been acquiring new clients through his YouTube channel on mutual funds. In fact, in just a few months, he has acquired 51 new clients all by himself.
Viral Bhatt, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Viral Bhatt has worked with a wealth management firm before venturing into mutual fund distribution business on his own. Over the last 6 years, he has acquired 450 clients. He believes for a business, one should always plan ahead of time and be ready to face any obstacles that may take one away from the desired goal. He has received Young Achievers Award in 2020 from Indian Achievers Forum.
This was the gist of the 10 stories. The detailed story of each winner will be published every week.
