Nasik based Mukesh Chothani is helping mutual fund
distributors to scale up to becoming advisers
by earning the coveted CFP certification. Of the 135 members of his association
called Guntaunuk Pratinidhi Vikas Mandal (GPVM), 72 have completed their CFP or
CPFA under his guidance. Chothani’s aim is to ensure
that all the members of this association become professionally qualified.
With his extensive knowledge and experience of more than 25 years in finance industry, Chothani has been empowering IFAs through capability building - professional skills development and training for the last five years.
The idea germinated when Chothani realised that a common problem faced by advisers in convincing people to pay a fee for their services was that they lacked a professional degree to justify their fees. He then made up his mind to help his fellow IFAs and started by training 25 members of his association who eventually acquired CFP certification under his guidance.
Chothani believes that success only comes with true knowledge and skills. He says “Young investors below 35 who are familiar with financial markets present a huge untapped opportunity for advisers, provided they are able to add value to these investors. For this, advisers need to upgrade their knowledge and skills.”
Another cause close to his heart is creating financial awareness in small cities and towns with his fellow IFAs. School kids are a key audience for him. In fact, he has created an ‘Aflatoon’ program that teaches the basics of finance to students of Class VIII to Class XII.
Chothani started his career in a Law firm. He has BA Economics, LLB, Bachelor of Journalism and CPFA under his belt.
As he was fascinated with financial markets, he took up mutual fund distribution in 1987. Later, he joined Kothari Pioneer (later merged with Franklin Templeton) as a District Representative. In 2000, he ventured into financial advisory by floating Udit Investments. Presently, Chothani has 1700 clients and has asset under advisory of Rs 27 crore.
