Mr.Rajendra Adya
Smartlink Finserv - Vadodara
Mr. Adya who carries a pleasing personality is a well experienced businessman – had a hands on variety of business verticals. Started his career as a businessman he created proprietorship firm, he also went for job once and worked with an MNC. He used to work in Sales & Marketing department – He claims that this is the area which suits him much as he likes to meet people and understand them – it is there in his nature. Doing something own his own and becoming an own boss was a mindset that has never made him settled down in job and later he decided to quit job to start his own manufacturing facility in Vadodara GIDC. But destiny has decided something different for him when he just started his new inning as a businessman.
The defining moment came into his life when one day he got a call from his friend Mr. Durgesh Pandya (NJ Partner) and he offered him to join in his financial advisory venture. It was tough decision for him but rajendra accepted his offer and started on a part time basis. This is how he left his manufacturing zeel and took a little step on the path of Financial Advisory Profession. Later in 2008-09 he started his own advisory firm - SmartLink Finserv, which is now growing with a great track record.
Team e-Saathi with immense pleasure introduce a pleasing personality and interview of a person who once has decided to put his hands in manufacturing, is now serving to thousands of clients and became a very successful Financial Advisor.
ES: Please introduce yourself.
Rajendra: I started my carrier by firming a Proprietorship Co. I also worked with MNC and left my Job serving as a Sales and Marketing Person for around 11+ yrs. I carries rich experience in sales & marketing functions as this was my core profile. Since Travelling is my Passion and also meeting different people from different life which gives me a lot of satisfaction and learning in life. After serving for almost a Decade I thought that I should start something on my own as in the earlier part of my carrier I had thought of doing something of my own. Hence one day I quit my Job and started exploring options – What Next!
I started a manufacturing unit in Vadodara taking a shed on a rent in GIDC. I started with a new conceptual product which was an environment friendly also. I started manufacturing Dustless (Writing) Chalks. I did lot of research on the product and also got success after several trials on my self-designed prototype machine. I also started getting good response from the market but, being a one man army it was bit difficult for me to cater to all the requirements at that stage so tried to set up an automation systems which would help me increase the capacity and ease doing my business.
In the meantime one of my Friend and my Collage mate Mr Durgesh Pandya (MY Advisor Finserv Pvt. Ltd. – earlier Smartlink Capital) called me and asked me what I was doing etc. I told him about my new venture. He suddenly, offered me to join him in his Business as he too wanted to leave his Job and was already in Insurance Business doing Part Time and start Full Time.
To this call I immediately accepted this offer of him but told him about the Business I had already started and would do the new Job as a Part Timer, and he too agreed as this. This was totally a new field for me as I did not know anything about Insurance. In my earlier part of carrier I did Product Sales and was totally raw for a Concept Selling. But, Durgesh and his one more friend who was in this field with a vast experience Mr. Ajay Upadhya (Now Smartlink Capital Plus) motivated me and said they would help me out on this new carrier and thus, my new Journey began as an Insurance Advisor. And in 2008 – 09 started my own Co. known as Smartlink Finserv and started operations at a different location from 2010 – 11.
ES: What inspired you to choose the career of a financial advisor / distributor?
Rajendra: This is an only profession where you need less investment to establish the business with a great earning opportunity. Secondly, this is a Profession where we think of our client’s prosperity by helping our clients to create wealth. Here it is a win-win situation for both of us as we have a common cause of wealth creation.
ES: Setting the financial advisory business takes some time. How did you handle the challenges on the financial front in the initial period of the business?
Rajendra: Ahhhh…. I heard about it that it is a very difficult period for everyone in life but experiencing the same by ourselves is very hard. When I started my new venture all my all savings had started exhausting as there was no income, till I started getting some amount after almost 7 to 8 months of starting. Adding Insurance in my product basket helped me to earn little more. As far as building client base and establishing the business is concern I have heard lots of NO’s… but, then as I kept on meeting people YES followed.
“One thing is clear in this business that, we should not stop Prospecting and acquire new clients for the growth“
ES: What made you to join NJ as NJ Partner?
Rajendra: I wanted to Automise my Manufacturing unit for easing me of doing my business as I had also started my Part Time Business as Insurance Advisor. During my visits to some of my clients then, I came across a product known as “MUTUAL FUND” from one of my friend and asked me why don’t I sell this product too and this I shared with my Colleague / Partner Durgesh to which he had also got some information about it and said yes we can think of going ahead with this product too.
During this period I started surfing on the net about how to start this and came across the name of NJ and to our luck Mr Apurva Shah (NJ Team member) was regularly visiting our office and convince to start selling Mutual Funds too in our Portfolio and one fine day Myself and Durgesh filled up the form for appearing AMFI Exam and thus the Journey with NJ began. NJ was a choice as we felt that if matches our wavelength for doing this Business and it is a One Stop Solution for us and with a good experienced and Professional persons etc. in the group which can help us grow our business.
ES: Client communications is an integral part of your business. Please share any best practices / services related to communications adopted by you.
Rajendra: I apply almost all the sales techniques recommended and suggested by NJ Vadodara Team such as subscribing to most of the products from Bizmall. Client Meets, Leaflets distributions, sending e-mailers etc.
I mostly adhere to what NJ Team recommends.
ES: How much importance do you give to Insurance in you advisory practice?
Rajendra: Lot of Importance as, it should be a part of product in once portfolio for safeguarding one’s life and future of their family members etc.
ES: How do you educate and convince your clients for mutual funds, especially the first time investors?
Rajendra: I first of all listen patiently about what they if, have planned for their future and then their Goals etc. and then through proper planning tell them about different products available in the financial market and about Mutual Funds too. I explain the pros and cons of MF and try that they come to the conclusions that Yes MF is a product which can be helpful in the life for reaching to their future goals.
Mr. Rajendra Adya also provided few more interesting insight on different aspects of the business and his journey till date.
While sharing one heart breaking incident of his life:
Few years back one of my client turned a very good friend unfortunately met an accident and that accident took away life from him. (Tragedy with me is that it took place in my presence). Now, being an insurance advisor of him I managed to get claim amount from the insurance company. I never had thought that one day I have to go to my friend’s home to give this cheque on his death.
I know the cheque can never return a life of my friend but what I felt is a sense of relief that the family got - It has lasting impact on one’s social and economic life.
This incident was become a booster dose for me and made me more confident in doing business. I realized and learned that how being a wealth advisor I am associated with one’s life - Truly a deep learning. This wealth creation and protection profession is really a Nobel one.
About future of wealth advisory in India:
Future of this business is very bright but on the other side it would be very Tough too as lots of changes are to happen in this field and we have to accept all the challenges in a Positive way if want to continue further. Partners will have to be more Technologically Updated and must try to innovate to sustain and to grow the business.
Having said this I must add that NJ is doing the same and always try to stay ahead by providing all technological support to its partner from time to time. A very recent launch of Partner Trax is an evidence of the same. Thanks to Team NJ!!
I would like to suggest to all new comers and who are already on the board with NJ, Please remember one thing:
“Just follow NJ Team’s guidance and you would be through”
About Customer Centric Activities:
While providing investment solution we do give emphasize on Risk Profiling and Asset Allocation. I always found MARS is the best solution to deal with all these. Best ever solution can be offer to client. Again a one of the best innovation by Team NJ. Also we always advice for SIP to our clients and importantly we suggest having SIP to achieve their goals. SIP is a part of our comprehensive financial planning offering to clients.
We be in constant touch with our clients to keep updating them about new happening in the business and other activities. Discussing about their Portfolio whenever required and reviewing it time to time with them are critical steps we follow. We try to be in constant touch with the client through e-mailers, courier activities etc. Mainly, when market takes downturn movement we do take care that it never transform into panic for customer so in such situation we do interact with them to be there with them by providing them right advise.
As far as use of technology is concern we are betting on E-Wealth Account – a tech. advancement that has changed the business into many fold for NJ’s Partner is NJ E-Wealth Account. I would say by bringing it as an offering - it’s a leap frog change taken by NJ for its Partners. One just need to learn how to leverage it to transform the business because it provides immense benefits to clients and ease of doing the business.
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