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Founder
Profile
Santosh Badhei, the Founder of Khazana Associates, is a highly respected and seasoned financial professional with over two decades of extensive experience across the banking, wealth management and financial advisory sectors. His impressive career journey includes significant tenures at prestigious financial institutions, where he honed his expertise and developed a profound understanding of the Indian financial landscape.
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A testament to his commitment to excellence, Santosh is a Certified Wealth Manager, an AMFI-registered Mutual Fund Distributor and a Certified Retirement & PMS Adviser. This robust set of qualifications underpins his deep expertise in personal financial planning, investment management and retirement solutions, enabling a truly client-centric approach to crafting bespoke financial plans.
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Santosh's knowledge of investment options and financial instruments within the Indian retail investment market is exceptionally deep, cultivated over two decades of active involvement. He possesses an unparalleled grasp of market dynamics, regulatory frameworks and the diverse range of financial products available, allowing him to navigate complexities and identify optimal opportunities for his clients seeking wealth creation, financial security and long-term growth. His insights cover everything from mutual funds and equity investments to fixed deposits and insurance solutions.
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His diverse and loyal clientele spans a wide spectrum, including professionals from leading corporations, as well as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) across the globe. This reflects the immense trust and significant impact Khazana Associates has achieved under his leadership in delivering sophisticated, tailored advisory services that truly meet individual and family goals.
Licenses &
Certifications
2023-2026
Certified Retirement Adviser
National Institute of Securities Market (NISM)​
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2023-2027
Mutual Fund Distributor
National Institute of Securities Market (NISM)
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2023-2026
Association of Portfolio Managers
Association of Portfolio Mangers in India (APMI)
2023-2026
Certified Portfolio Management Services (PMS) Distributor
National Institute of Securities Market (NISM)
Professional Experience
2012-2017
Branch Head, ICICI Bank
Santosh's extensive experience culminated at ICICI Bank, a leading name in India's private banking sector, where he served as a Branch Head. In this comprehensive leadership role, he held full responsibility for the entire spectrum of retail banking services and financial products. His mandate included overseeing the seamless delivery of:
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Core Banking Operations: Managing daily branch activities, ensuring operational efficiency, and maintaining high standards of customer service.
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Wide Range of Products: Providing a vast array of services such as savings and current accounts, fixed deposits, loans (home, personal, vehicle), debit/credit cards, mutual funds, insurance, and foreign exchange services.
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Strategic Business Development: Focusing on customer acquisition, relationship management, and driving the branch's growth targets.
2009-2012
Operations Manager, ING Vysya Bank
Prior to his role at ICICI, Santosh made significant contributions at ING Vysya Bank as an Operations Manager. In this pivotal capacity, his responsibilities were broad and critical, encompassing the seamless delivery and efficient management of all retail banking services. His key contributions included:
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Comprehensive Customer Service Oversight: Leading and optimizing customer service initiatives, ensuring a superior client experience across various banking touchpoints for diverse financial products.
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Retail Financial Product Management & Sales Support: Playing a crucial part in the operational enablement of selling various bank financial products, ensuring product readiness and smooth transaction execution.
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Ensuring Regulatory & Bank Compliance: Rigorously adhering to all regulatory guidelines and internal bank policies, implementing robust controls, and staying abreast of evolving financial regulations to mitigate risks effectively.
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Streamlining Back-End Operations: Managing and optimizing all back-end operational processes essential for the smooth functioning of retail banking, focusing on creating efficient workflows and enhancing overall productivity.
2005-2009
Preferred Relationship Manager, HDFC Bank
Earlier in his career, Santosh honed his client-centric approach at HDFC Bank, where he excelled as a Preferred Relationship Manager within the branch. This role placed him at the forefront of client engagement and personalized financial advisory. His key responsibilities and achievements included:
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Cultivating High-Value Client Relationships: Managing and growing a portfolio of high-net-worth (HNI) and affluent clients, building deep, trusted relationships by understanding their unique financial goals, risk appetites, and life stages.
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Delivering Tailored Financial Solutions: Acting as a primary point of contact, he provided comprehensive financial solutions encompassing a wide range of HDFC Bank's offerings, including investment advisory (mutual funds, equities, fixed deposits), wealth management strategies, premium retail banking products, insurance, and Forex/NRI services.
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Strategic Financial Planning: Collaborating with clients to develop long-term financial plans for significant life events such as retirement funding, child's education, wealth transfer, and legacy planning.
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Driving Growth: Identifying opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell relevant banking and financial products based on client needs, consistently exceeding targets and contributing significantly to the branch's revenue growth.
2004-2005
Officer, Standard Chartered Bank
Santosh Badhei's illustrious financial journey commenced with a pivotal role as an Officer at Standard Chartered Bank. This marked an invaluable period of hands-on learning and foundational growth, where he gained essential experience in both sales and operations. It was during this time that he cultivated his understanding of:
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Exceptional Customer Experience: Learning the paramount importance of prioritizing client needs and delivering outstanding service, a principle that continues to define his client-centric approach.
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Financial Product Sales: Gaining his initial exposure to presenting and selling a range of financial products, understanding their features, benefits, and how they meet diverse customer requirements.
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Operational Excellence: Mastering the intricacies of back-end processes, ensuring smooth transactions, and upholding the bank's stringent standards for efficiency and accuracy.