- Ahmedabad-based association enrols over 1,000 members within just 60 days, signalling strong demand for an integrated financial advisory platform
- Phase-I targets all 33 Gujarat districts before a nationwide rollout linking professionals, banks, NBFCs and citizens
- Financial Professionals Conclave 2026 charts roadmap for ethical finance, AI adoption, MSME growth and institutional collaboration
- More than 400 experts deliberate on strengthening governance, compliance, project finance and financial inclusion
- Organisers envision a technology-enabled, trust-driven ecosystem to support India’s next phase of economic expansion
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, JULY 2
In an ambitious bid to reshape India’s fragmented financial advisory landscape, the Professional Excellence Setu Association (PESSA) has unveiled a collaborative platform that seeks to bring financial professionals, banks, NBFCs, institutions and citizens under one umbrella to create a more transparent, technology-driven and trust-based financial ecosystem.
The vision took centre stage at the Financial Professionals Conclave 2026 in Ahmedabad, where more than 400 professionals—including chartered accountants, company secretaries, advocates, tax consultants, loan consultants, Direct Selling Agents (DSAs), project finance consultants and government subsidy specialists—discussed emerging opportunities and challenges in India’s rapidly evolving financial services sector.
Giving the initiative an impressive start, PESSA has enrolled more than 1,000 members within just 60 days of its launch, making it one of Gujarat’s fastest-growing professional financial networks. While the first phase will establish chapters across all 33 districts of Gujarat, the association plans to expand nationally in the second phase.
Addressing the conclave, Advocate Apurva Bhagat, Chairman and Founder of PESSA, said: “PESSA’s objective is not merely to build an association but to create a strong financial ecosystem rooted in trust, collaboration, and knowledge among financial professionals, banks, NBFCs, financial institutions, and consumers across India.”
He added: “When financial professionals become more capable, responsible, and organised, consumers will receive better financial guidance while banks and financial institutions will receive higher-quality services and reliable proposals, ultimately strengthening the entire financial industry and boosting India’s economy.”
Explaining what distinguishes PESSA from conventional trade bodies, Bhagat said the association has been designed as a complete ecosystem, rather than an organisation serving only its own members.
“The work of this association, PESSA, is a complete ecosystem. Let me explain what a complete ecosystem means using a simple example. A regular association… mostly focuses on working only with its own members.”
He elaborated that PESSA brings together three key stakeholders—financial professionals, financial institutions and ordinary citizens.
“Normal citizens of India are included in this, then bankers are included, and also the whole profession connected to financial services. This means everyone is included in it. We are creating a platform where everyone can be a part of it.”
Detailing the membership structure, Bhagat said: “Financial service workers like loan consultants, chartered accountants, lawyers and tax consultants can join. Along with that, we have institutional membership, where all NBFCs and banks can become members. We also have a citizen financial help membership.”
On the expansion roadmap, he said: “In the first phase, we are going to serve Gujarat across 33 districts. We will have chapters there in each district. There will be a chairman, secretary and treasurer according to the Section 8 company rules.”
He added that unlike traditional associations focused primarily on policy advocacy, PESSA would also invest in enhancing the professional visibility and capabilities of its members.
“We are also going to work on personal branding for our members, the main financial professionals. This is also a very big unique selling point for us.”
The conclave addressed pressing issues confronting India’s financial ecosystem, including MSME finance, project funding, credit bureau awareness, regulatory compliance, digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, governance, ethics and collaborative growth.
Responding to questions on financial frauds and governance failures, Bhagat said PESSA aims to raise professional standards through continuous training, structured certifications, industry dialogue, ethical practices and closer engagement with banks and financial institutions, thereby improving accountability and restoring public confidence in financial advisory services.
On MSMEs and start-ups, he said the association intends to bridge the advisory gap by creating a network of specialists capable of guiding entrepreneurs in project finance, institutional lending, government subsidy schemes, statutory compliance and business expansion.
Discussing technology, Bhagat said Artificial Intelligence and fintech would become integral to financial services, but emphasised that technology must strengthen—not replace—professional judgment, ethical conduct and client trust. Accordingly, PESSA plans to organise regular knowledge sessions, technology workshops, research initiatives and certification programmes to equip members with future-ready skills.
The organisers said the conclave is expected to create stronger professional networks, encourage collaboration between financial institutions and advisors, expand nationwide membership, promote research-led policy discussions and establish common standards of excellence across the financial services industry.
Addressing the media after the conclave were Advocate Apurva Bhagat, Chairman and Founder of PESSA; Akash V. Shah, Director; Bharat Vaghoda; CA Harsh Rao; Dharmesh Patel; and CA Vishal Patel, who jointly outlined the association’s vision of building a nationally integrated, ethics-driven and technology-enabled financial ecosystem.
