Question 1

What is a fee-only financial adviser in India?

Accepted Answer

A fee-only financial adviser earns compensation exclusively from the client — no commissions from fund houses, no trail income from insurance companies, no referral fees. SEBI Registered Investment Advisers operate under a fiduciary standard and are legally required to act in the client's best interest.

Question 2

What is the difference between a SEBI Investment Adviser and a mutual fund distributor?

Accepted Answer

A SEBI Registered Investment Adviser charges a direct fee and earns nothing from products. A distributor earns trail commissions from the mutual funds and insurance products they sell, creating a structural conflict of interest. Distributors operate under a suitability standard; SEBI Advisers operate under a fiduciary standard.

Question 3

Can NRIs in UAE, USA, UK and Canada get financial advice from Rahul Rajgopal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Rahul Rajgopal Wealth Advisor provides fee-only financial advisory to NRIs globally including UAE, USA, UK, Canada, Singapore and Australia. The 360° Wealth Report diagnostic is available online at Rs. 4,999 (AED 215 / $60 / £47 / CAD 82).

Question 4

What is trail commission in mutual funds?

Accepted Answer

Trail commission is an annual payment made by mutual fund houses to distributors for as long as an investor stays in a regular plan. It is deducted from the fund's expense ratio and reduces your NAV growth. A fee-only SEBI Registered Investment Adviser earns no trail commission and can recommend direct plans, which have lower expense ratios.

Question 5

How much does Rahul Rajgopal charge for financial advice?

Accepted Answer

The 360° Wealth Report financial diagnostic is a one-time fee of Rs. 4,999. It covers liquidity, insurance gaps, goal feasibility, tax efficiency, debt analysis, and estate readiness in a 30+ page personalised report. No subscription. No obligation to engage further.

Question 6

Is Rahul Rajgopal a SEBI registered adviser?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Rahul Rajgopal is a SEBI Registered Investment Adviser with registration number INA000021933 and BASL membership number 2446. Registration granted by SEBI and membership of BASL do not guarantee performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors.