Council Of Financial Planners - COFP

28/09/2026

Building a sustainable financial distribution practice goes beyond client acquisition. It requires trust, adaptability, strong processes and a clear understanding of investor needs.

In this conversation from COFP’s Practice Management Series, Mr. Naveen speaks with Mr. Datta Kanbargi about building a mutual fund practice from Belgaum and the lessons from more than two decades in the industry.

The conversation explores:

• Building an investor base through awareness and education
• Adapting to regulatory and technological changes
• Understanding investor behaviour and managing expectations
• Building stronger systems, teams and processes
• Balancing technology with the human side of financial distribution

There is much more to the conversation, including Datta and Anita’s journey, the evolution of their practice and their perspectives on data, technology and AI.

Watch the full conversation to hear Datta share the experiences and insights that have shaped his practice over the years.

Link - https://youtu.be/jbX6UHMq4e0

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

23/09/2026

In this episode from COFP’s Practice Management Series, Naveen and Datta Kanbargi get into a candid conversation about navigating regulatory changes in the financial services industry.

Datta puts it simply: if something is within your control, work towards changing it. If it isn’t, accept it, adapt and move forward.

The conversation also touches on an important perspective: regulation may bring change, but stronger regulations can also help build investor confidence and strengthen the industry.

Stay tuned for the full conversation with Datta Kanbargi, releasing this Friday.

21/09/2026

COFP cordially invites all to join an upcoming webinar featuring Mittul Kalawadia, Senior Fund Manager – MF Equity, ICICI PRUDENTIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED, as he explores:

Topic: Building Resilient Portfolios Through SIF

Date: 23 September 2026
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST

The session will offer perspectives on how SIFs can play a role in building more resilient investment portfolios.

The event is free for all to join.
Link - https://meet.zoho.in/aqas-zqo-yjt?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Once you complete the registration, the webinar joining link will be sent to your registered email ID.

We look forward to having you join us!
To register as a member, contact [email protected] or call +91 9108462345.

19/09/2026

Annual reports contain far more than the headline numbers. Reading them closely can reveal inconsistencies, accounting choices and financial signals that may not be visible through investor presentations or management commentary alone.

The COFP Monthly Meeting brought together practical perspectives on forensic accounting and annual report analysis, featuring Mr. Ashish Gupta, from HSBC Mutual Fund, with a focus on how financial planners and analysts can read beyond reported numbers and identify potential red flags.

Beyond Numbers | Forensic Accounting & Annual Report Analysis
With insights from Mr. Ashish Gupta :

•⁠ ⁠Cross-checking the P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement
•⁠ ⁠Identifying accounting red flags hidden within the notes to accounts
•⁠ ⁠Assessing capex against cash flow and fixed asset movements
•⁠ ⁠Understanding the impact of capitalised R&D, operating and customer acquisition costs
•⁠ ⁠Comparing reported profits with actual operating cash flows
•⁠ ⁠Evaluating tax accounting, other income and borrowing costs
•⁠ ⁠Examining related-party transactions and subsidiary structures
•⁠ ⁠Understanding consolidation practices and their impact on reported profits
•⁠ ⁠Using a 10-year sources-and-application-of-funds view to assess how businesses generate and deploy capital
•⁠ ⁠Applying practical checks and sanity tests to annual reports

A session focused on strengthening the way financial professionals read company disclosures, question reported numbers and connect financial statements to the underlying business reality.

08/09/2026

Join us for an insightful evening of learningat the COFP Knowledge Session on September 9.

Exclusive Session by Mr. Ashish Gupta
Senior Vice President – Investment Specialist at HSBC AMC

Venue - The Pride Hotel, Bangalore
Time - 06:15 PM

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

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.