Council Of Financial Planners - COFP

28/08/2026

Welcome to a podcast series by COFP, featuring conversations with people shaping the financial planning profession and sharing perspectives from their journeys in the industry.

At the COFP Annual Retreat 2026, we sat down with Yogin Sabnis, Co-Promoter & Managing Director of VSK Financial Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd., for a candid conversation on his four-decade journey in financial services, the evolution of financial planning in India, client relationships and the principles that have shaped his approach to financial advice. A long-standing member of the COFP community, Yogin’s association with COFP spans several years, making this conversation a meaningful reflection on both his own journey and the profession he has witnessed evolve.

Having seen financial services move from a product-focused distribution model to a more client-centric advisory approach, Yogin shared experiences and perspectives from across his career, from the early days of financial products and the emergence of financial planning to building long-term relationships rooted in trust and the client’s needs.

Here are a few glimpses from the conversation:

•⁠ ⁠A look back at the transformation of financial services in India and the changing role of the financial advisor
•⁠ ⁠The shift from recommending products to building an advisory approach around a client’s goals and circumstances
•⁠ ⁠The thinking behind putting financial goals, risk and asset allocation ahead of individual investment choices
•⁠ ⁠A perspective on navigating market volatility through preparation, diversification and clear expectations
•⁠ ⁠The role of simplicity in helping clients feel confident about their financial decisions
•⁠ ⁠Reflections on the trust that develops when clients place their financial worries in an advisor’s hands
•⁠ ⁠A client story that illustrates how long-term relationships can become one of the most meaningful outcomes of the profession
•⁠ ⁠Insights into the growing opportunity for financial planners as a new generation becomes more comfortable seeking professional advice
•⁠ ⁠A reminder that staying curious, adapting with the profession and continuing to learn are essential to a long career in financial planning
•⁠ ⁠A timeless perspective on keeping the client and their needs at the centre of every advisory relationship

The conversation takes these themes further through a rapid-fire exchange, bringing out some of Yogin’s personal perspectives on advising, learning, the profession and the lessons he has gathered over the years.

Watch the full episode to hear Yogin Sabnis’ experiences, perspectives and lessons from a career spanning four decades, and his thoughts on keeping the client at the heart of financial planning.

Link - https://youtu.be/DbWAZsczQYc

26/08/2026

At the COFP Annual Retreat 2026, Yogin Sabnis, Co-Promoter & Managing Director of VSK Financial Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd., brought over three decades of experience in investment advisory to a conversation on the thinking behind his investment recommendations. A Certified Financial Planner and one of the early practitioners of financial planning in India, Yogin has built his practice around helping clients align their finances with meaningful life goals.

The conversation explored what that philosophy looks like in practice: starting with the client’s objectives, establishing the right asset allocation, diversifying across debt and equity, and only then getting into the question of which schemes make sense.

Among the ideas Yogin unpacked:

•⁠ ⁠Why the objective should drive the investment strategy, not the other way around
•⁠ ⁠Why asset allocation forms the foundation before individual fund selection
•⁠ ⁠How diversification can strengthen an investment portfolio
•⁠ ⁠Where research and scheme selection fit into the overall process
•⁠ ⁠Why a strong framework can make investment decisions more straightforward

A conversation that goes beyond “Which fund should I choose?” to ask the more important question: “What is this investment supposed to achieve?”

Watch the full podcast for Yogin Sabnis’ perspective on building a more purposeful approach to investing.

Releases on Friday!

24/08/2026

Join us for an insightful hour of learning, industry perspectives, and practical insights at the COFP Online Webinar on August 26.

Topic: Investment Philosophy and Framework of Invesco and How It Is Different from Others

Speaker: Rohit Goyal – Director & Head – Retail & Institutional Sales, Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Limited

Moderator: Chagi V Venkatesh – Vistaya Enterprises LLP – COFP KM Head
Session Timing: 04:00 PM – 05:00 PM IST

Venue: Online Webinar

The session will explore Invesco’s investment philosophy and framework, how it differs from others, and how the distribution fraternity can engage with Invesco.

We look forward to bringing financial planning professionals together for an insightful webinar featuring expert perspectives and practical takeaways.

The Zoom link will be shared one day before the session in the COFP Main Group. We look forward to having you join us.

19/08/2026

As financial advisory evolves beyond traditional markets, opportunities to build global practices and serve HNI clients with greater structure are becoming increasingly important.

The COFP Knowledge Session brought together practical perspectives on leveraging Gift City for global investments and strengthening HNI client relationships, featuring Mr. Abhin Shah, Fund Manager, ICICI Prudential AMC, Gift City, and Mr. Senthil K.

Session 1 | Gift City & Global Advisory Practice
With insights from Mr. Abhin Shah

•⁠ ⁠Global investment opportunities and advisory avenues through Gift City
•⁠ ⁠Tax considerations, including TCS and fund taxation
•⁠ ⁠Inbound and outbound investment structures and expenses
•⁠ ⁠Onboarding, documentation and operational requirements
•⁠ ⁠Opportunities to expand global advisory practices and revenue streams

Session 2 | HNI Client Management
With insights from Mr. Senthil K

•⁠ ⁠Effective HNI client segmentation
•⁠ ⁠The 12-4-2 model for consistent client engagement
•⁠ ⁠The Supernova model for structured client management
•⁠ ⁠Personalised strategies based on client needs and value
•⁠ ⁠Building stronger relationships through proactive engagement

A session designed to help financial planners look beyond conventional advisory and build practices that are more global, structured and client-centric.

17/08/2026

Join us for an insightful hour of learning, industry perspectives, and practical insights at the COFP Online Webinar on August 19.

Topic: AMFI Due Diligence for MFDs – A Brief Guide

Speaker: Deepesh Mehta

Moderator: Praveen RK

Session Timing: 04:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Venue: Online Webinar

We look forward to bringing financial planning professionals together for an insightful webinar featuring expert perspectives and practical takeaways on AMFI due diligence for MFDs.

The Zoom link will be shared one day before the session in the COFP Main Group. We look forward to having you join us.

14/08/2026

COFP Conversations | Episode 1 is out now!

We kick off our podcast series with Ram Shah, Founder & CEO of Trustner Group, for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, client relationships and building a growing financial services organisation.
From starting out in Guwahati to building teams, systems and a bigger vision, Ram shares the experiences and lessons that have shaped his journey.

Watch Episode 1 now!

Link - https://youtu.be/Dv-uSggIyyw

Welcome to COFP Conversations, the podcast by the Council of Financ...

12/08/2026

Welcome to a podcast series by COFP, featuring conversations with people shaping the financial planning profession and building meaningful organisations.

At the COFP Annual Retreat 2026, we sat down with RAM SHAH, CFP®, CIA Founder & CEO of Trustner Group, for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, client relationships and the journey of building a growing financial services organisation.

From choosing Guwahati as the starting point to building a team, creating systems and setting bigger ambitions, Ram opened up about the experiences and perspectives that have shaped his journey.

Here are a few glimpses from the conversation:

• Why where you start does not determine how far you can go
• How trust can shape stronger client relationships
• The importance of learning before earning
• Why the real “grind” lies in the vision
• What hiring mistakes can teach you about building the right team
• Why entrepreneurs must plan their own businesses with the same intent they bring to client planning
• How organisations evolve from informal processes to structured systems
• Why values and culture matter more than simply building a replicable business model
• The role of delegation, trust and recognition in building stronger teams
• What Ram believes lies ahead in his entrepreneurial journey

The conversation also gets more personal and practical in our rapid fire, covering hiring, leadership habits, books, business metrics and what he would do if he had to start again from zero clients.

Watch the full episode to uncover the experiences, lessons and insights behind Ram’s journey. Releases on Friday!

06/08/2026

Join us for an insightful evening of learning, industry perspectives, and meaningful conversations at the COFP Knowledge Session on August 12.

Session I | 06:15 PM
Exclusive Session by ICICI PRUDENTIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Topic: Beyond Borders: Building a Global Advisory Practice Through GIFT City

Speaker:
Abhin Shah, CFA
Fund Manager, ICICI Pru AMC Ltd

Session II | 07:15 PM
Topic: How Do Institutions Handle HNI Clients

Speaker:
Senthil K
Senior Vice President – Burgundy Private, Axis Bank and COFP Member

Venue:
Pride Hotel, Bengaluru, Karnataka

We look forward to welcoming financial planning professionals for an evening of practical insights, expert-led discussions, and valuable networking opportunities.

(For members only)
To register as a member, contact: [email protected] or call +91 9108462345.

03/08/2026

The COFP Annual Retreat 2026 brought together over 120 financial planning professionals for three days of learning, collaboration, and meaningful conversations.

From practice management insights and hands-on workshops to discussions on business growth, global investments, and asset allocation, the retreat was designed to equip practitioners with ideas they can implement in their practices. The event also marked the launch of the COFP Learning Management System (LMS) under the motto, "Collaborate, Educate, Empower."

A heartfelt thank you to every delegate, speaker, panellist, mentor, volunteer, and partner who made these three days so memorable. Your participation, expertise, and enthusiasm were at the heart of everything we achieved together.

We are grateful to our Event Supporters - HDFC Mutual Fund, ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd, SBI MUTUAL FUND, Kotak Mutual Fund, Quantum Mutual Fund, HSBC Mutual Fund, and Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Limited - for their generous support in making this retreat possible.

Our sincere thanks to our Community Partners - the Association of Registered Investment Advisers (ARIA), the Federation of Financial Planners (FFP), and Morningstar - for their continued collaboration and support.

Here's a look back at the highlights from an unforgettable COFP Annual Retreat 2026. Until next time!

29/07/2026

At the COFP Annual Retreat 2026, Karthick’s game brought the concepts of global investments and asset allocation to life through an interactive team experience.

Teams were formed through an IPL-style auction, with team leads bidding for participants before being christened after major international indices and countries, including Kospi Kings.

The session began with a quiz on Indian and Global Equities, which was followed by a fun trivia board game-based asset allocation challenge that required teams to strategize their investments across asset classes. Participants then took on football goal challenges to score returns for their teams, while cricket bowling introduced a risk-and-return element, where greater distances offered higher potential returns at higher risk, and shorter distances offered lower risk and returns.

Teams had to balance protecting and growing their corpus, make consensus-driven decisions, and determine the level of risk they were willing to take. Those with lower corpus from earlier allocation decisions had to generate higher returns to stay competitive.

The enthusiasm throughout the session was evident, with participants rallying behind their teams through chants and applause. Following the consolidation of scores across all rounds, two teams emerged victorious.