On 11th anniversary of Cafemutual, we played a rapid fire round with Prem Khatri, Founder and CEO, Cafemutual. Let us look at how it went.
Karishma: Before we get started on this exciting quiz with you, Hearty Congratulations - Cafemutual has turned 11. That’s a great milestone!
Prem: Thank you so much. Eternally grateful to all our stakeholders – MFDs/RIAs and the AMC folks for accepting us so warmly.
Karishma: On this occasion let me shoot 11 questions to you!
So my first question is - You are known to be an avid traveller, which has been your most memorable trip?
Prem: Though I have enjoyed each and every trip, my last trip to South America was truly memorable. Firstly, discovering a continent about which I knew very little was so exciting. Plus, I got to walk on glacier and spend two nights in the open in the thick of Amazon forest was both thrilling and frightening.
Karishma: Which is your next destination going to be - beach place or the mountains?
Prem: Likely to be both – my next trip being planned is to central America and norther part of South America and will include beach places and mountains.
Karishma: Which is the most recent book that you found interesting?
Prem: Actually, it is a book I reread - The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated by Helaine Olen and Harold Pollack. The authors capture whatever you need to know about personal finance on a small card. It is an amazing book that both distributors and investors must read!
Karishma: Besides travelling and reading what are your passions and hobbies?
Prem: I love watching web serials and movies on OTTs – there is such amazing content out there!
Karishma: What pushes you to keep improving yourself?
Prem: On the positive side, I feel there are so many opportunities and accomplishments to make which require one to improve oneself.
On the negative side, I try to overcome my insecurity about the future by keeping myself updated so that I stay relevant!
Karishma: How do you unwind after a long day at work?
Prem: Spending time with family and friends is something I like to do.
Karishma: What is the top advice that you would give to a younger you?
Prem: To take more risks. I realise now with the benefit of hindsight that I played it too safe.
Karishma: Your vision for Cafemutual in 2025
Prem: My vision for Cafemutual is to hold a central place in the lives of MFDs and RIAs by becoming an indispensable resource of knowledge and ideas.
Karishma: What’s your take on the industry’s AUM in 2025?
Prem: Anything less than Rs. 100 lakh crore will be disappointing
Karishma: What is keeping you occupied these days?
Prem: I am greatly excited by our next conference – Cafemutual Ideas Fest – it is going to be a phygital event, there will be a physical event in Mumbai that will be watched by thousands of MFDs and RIAs across the country making it perhaps the largest event of its kind.
The other project is mining the insights of thousands of investors that will reveal among other things, how Covid 19 has changed the investing community.
Karishma: One message for our MFD and RIA friends
Prem: What the MF industry has achieved so far is only the tip of the iceberg and you can expect to grow multifold with this success mantra - Be customer centric, anticipate the changing needs of the customer and continue to adopt technology.
Karishma: Thanks Prem, it was fun chatting with you. This truly brings out a new dimension of your personality.
