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PESSA Hosts Financial Professionals Conclave

PESSA Connected Consultants, CAs and DSAs And Encouraged Stronger Professional Networks

More than 400 finance and legal professionals gathered in Ahmedabad for the Financial Professionals Conclave 2026, an event organised by the Professional Excellence Setu Association (PESSA) that reflected the growing demand for stronger cooperation across India’s lending and advisory sectors.

The conclave was held at the J.B. Auditorium on the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) campus and brought together loan consultants, Direct Selling Agents (DSAs), Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, advocates, tax consultants, project finance consultants, government subsidy consultants and other financial professionals from Gujarat and several other parts of the country.

The event took place at a time when India’s financial services industry is undergoing rapid change. Digital lending platforms, stricter regulatory requirements, increased use of data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and growing demand for credit among small businesses are reshaping the way financial advice and lending services are delivered.

Financial intermediaries such as DSAs, consultants and professional advisers play an important role in helping businesses and individuals understand loan products, prepare documentation and connect with banks and financial institutions. Their role has expanded further as India’s banking sector increases lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), a segment that contributes nearly one-third of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and supports millions of jobs.

PESSA Hosts Financial Professionals Conclave

Participants at the conclave discussed upcoming opportunities and challenges facing professionals working in lending, advisory and compliance services. Sessions focused on changes in the finance and credit sectors, MSME financing, credit bureau awareness, interpretation of credit reports and compliance with credit bureau guidelines.

The discussions also addressed the growing influence of digital technology and AI in financial services. Across the banking sector, automated underwriting systems, digital verification tools and AI-powered risk assessments are changing traditional lending processes. These technologies can reduce processing time and improve efficiency, but they also require professionals to update their skills and understand evolving compliance requirements.

Professional ethics, networking and collaborative growth formed another major part of the programme. Industry experts noted that trust remains a critical factor in financial services, particularly in areas involving lending, investment and business advisory work.

Advocate Apurva Bhagat, Chairman and Founder of PESSA, said, “The organisation aims to strengthen cooperation among professionals and institutions involved in the financial sector.

“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 said.

He added that “stronger professional standards and better organisation within the sector could improve outcomes for borrowers as well as lenders.

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.”

Mr Apurva continued to explain that “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, one that has been running for years, like FICCI for 50, 70, or 100 years, or the IC Institute for over 75 years, mostly focuses on working only with its own members.

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. So, how does this association benefit people? We are creating a platform where everyone can be a part of it. We have included all three groups in our membership. Financial service workers like loan consultants, chartered accountants, lawyers, and tax consultants can join. So we have this whole membership ready. Along with that, we have institutional membership, where all NBFCs and banks can become members. And we also have a citizen membership, a citizen financial help membership.

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. In a normal association, you see them framing policies or discussing problems with the government to solve queries. But 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.”

Non-Banking Financial Companies, commonly known as NBFCs, have become an increasingly important source of credit in India, particularly for MSMEs, first-time borrowers and customers in areas where traditional banking services may be limited. Cooperation between banks, NBFCs and financial advisers is therefore becoming more significant in supporting business growth and financial inclusion.

According to PESSA organisers, one of the main goals of the conclave was to create a reliable platform where financial professionals could connect, exchange knowledge and build professional relationships that may support future collaboration.

Industry conferences and professional associations have become more common in India’s financial sector as regulations become more complex and specialised knowledge becomes increasingly important. Professional certifications, training programmes and continuing education are now viewed as essential for advisers working with business finance, taxation, compliance and project funding.

PESSA announced plans to continue expanding its activities through membership drives, knowledge sessions, training programmes, professional certifications, industry discussions, research initiatives and personal branding activities for members across India.