Sri Balaji is the founder of Hatlet Ventures in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. He is a NISM Certified Research Analyst, an AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Distributor (ARN-345155), an IRDAI Registered Insurance Agent (1911251001) and an APMI Registered PMS Distributor (APRN09158). He helps families with SIPs and mutual funds, life and health insurance, tax-saving investments, portfolio management services and stock market training, in Tamil or English, in person in Tiruppur and online across Tamil Nadu.
Key Takeaways
- Four credentials, four regulators' rulebooks. NISM for the research analyst qualification, AMFI for mutual funds, IRDAI for insurance and APMI for portfolio management services.
- Every number is public. You can check the ARN, the insurance registration and the APRN yourself, and ask to see the NISM certificate.
- He is a distributor, not a fee-only adviser. Income comes from commissions paid by fund houses and insurers, there is no planning fee, and commissions are disclosed.
- Tiruppur-based, Tamil Nadu-wide. Hatlet Ventures was registered on 23 June 2020 and has guided 500+ families over 8+ years of work in personal finance.
1. Who is Sri Balaji?
Sri Balaji grew up in Tamil Nadu and saw at close quarters how families who worked hard still failed to build wealth. The problem was rarely income. It was that nobody explained, in plain language, how money actually works: why a term plan is different from an endowment policy, why a SIP needs years and not months, why the "safe" option is sometimes the expensive one.
After years of working in the financial industry, he noticed that most advisors spoke in a language that confused the very people they were meant to help, and that banks and agents were often pushing whatever product paid best that quarter. He decided to build the opposite: a practice that explains first, recommends honestly and stays with the family after the first investment.
He began the groundwork in Tiruppur in 2017, studying for certifications and planning the practice. Hatlet Ventures was officially registered on 23 June 2020. Today the firm has guided more than 500 families across Tamil Nadu, and Sri Balaji still takes the first conversation with most new clients himself.
2. His credentials, and what each one means for you
Financial titles in India are easy to print on a visiting card and hard to understand. This table explains each of Sri Balaji's credentials in plain terms: who stands behind it and what it permits.
| Credential | Number | Issued or regulated by | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| NISM Certified Research Analyst | Certificate shown on request | National Institute of Securities Markets, the education institute set up by SEBI | He has passed NISM's research analyst examination, which covers equity research, company and industry analysis, valuation and the regulations that govern research. It is a qualification, not a SEBI registration. |
| AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Distributor | ARN-345155 EUIN E656674 | Association of Mutual Funds in India, under SEBI's mutual fund regulations | He can help you choose, buy and service mutual fund schemes, including SIPs, and is bound by AMFI's code of conduct for distributors. |
| IRDAI Registered Insurance Agent | 1911251001 | Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India | He can recommend, sell and service life and health insurance policies of the insurers he represents, and help your family with claims. |
| APMI Registered PMS Distributor | APRN09158 Valid till May 2029 | Association of Portfolio Managers in India, under SEBI's portfolio management rules | He can introduce you to SEBI-registered portfolio managers. SEBI sets a minimum investment of ₹50 lakh for PMS, so this is relevant only for larger portfolios. |
3. What he can help you with
- SIPs and mutual funds. Starting a first SIP, choosing funds for a goal, step-up SIPs, ELSS for tax saving and consolidating old folios. See our mutual fund services or try the SIP calculator.
- Life and health insurance. Sizing term cover to your loans and family needs, choosing a family floater, and reviewing old endowment and money-back policies. See insurance planning.
- Tax-saving investments. Comparing the old and new tax regimes on your real salary, then filling Section 80C, 80D and NPS only where it helps. Try the tax planning calculator.
- Retirement planning. Working out a target corpus and a monthly plan to reach it, especially for business owners with no EPF. Try the retirement calculator.
- Portfolio management services. For investors with ₹50 lakh or more who want a professionally managed equity portfolio. See PMS.
- Stock market training. Beginner batches in Tamil and English on how markets work, how to read a company and how to avoid common mistakes. See stock market training.
- Loans. Help comparing home and business loan options so that EMIs fit the rest of your plan. See loan advisory.
4. How a first conversation works
A free 30-minute call
By phone, WhatsApp video or in person in Tiruppur. Sri Balaji asks about your income, family, loans, existing policies and what you want the money to do. There is no obligation to invest.
Your risk profile
You complete the risk profiler, so recommendations match how much ups and downs you can genuinely live with, not just what returns you hope for.
A written plan
Insurance gaps first, then an emergency fund, then goal-wise investments. Every product is named, with the reason for it and what it costs.
Implementation
KYC, SIP mandates and policy applications are completed online, so families anywhere in Tamil Nadu, and NRI families with money here, can finish without a visit.
A review every year
Income, goals and tax rules change. The plan is reviewed at least once a year, and whenever something big happens, such as a new loan, a new child or a job change.
5. How he is paid, and what he is not
Being clear about this is part of being trustworthy, so here it is plainly.
- Mutual funds: as an AMFI-registered distributor, he earns a commission paid by the fund house on the regular plans of schemes you invest in. You do not pay him a separate fee. If you prefer direct plans, which carry no distributor commission, you can buy them yourself from the fund house or a platform.
- Insurance: as an IRDAI-registered agent, he earns a commission paid by the insurer, at rates the regulator allows. Your premium is the same whether you buy through him or another agent of that insurer.
- No planning fee. Hatlet Ventures does not charge for the plan, and commissions are disclosed.
- Not a SEBI-registered investment adviser. Investment advisers are paid fees by clients and cannot earn product commissions. Hatlet Ventures is a distributor, and says so.
- The research analyst qualification is not a SEBI registration. The NISM certification shows training in equity research. Anyone who sells stock recommendations or research reports for a fee needs a separate SEBI Research Analyst registration, so check for it whenever you are offered paid tips, from anyone.
6. How to verify every number yourself
You should do this for any advisor, agent or distributor, not just us. It takes a few minutes.
- AMFI ARN-345155: on the AMFI website, use the distributor search, enter the ARN and check that the name and validity match.
- IRDAI 1911251001: ask for the agent's licence or ID card and check it with the insurer's customer service, or on the agent search offered through the IRDAI website.
- APMI APRN09158: search the distributor list on the APMI website and check the validity date.
- NISM Research Analyst certificate: ask to see the certificate and check the name, the examination series and the validity. NISM certificates are valid for three years and must be renewed. Details of the examination are on the NISM website.
7. Milestones
- 2017: groundwork begins in Tiruppur: research, certifications and planning the practice.
- 2020: Hatlet Ventures is registered on 23 June 2020. The AMFI and insurance registrations are secured and the first clients are onboarded.
- 2021: stock market training launches, with 50+ students in the first batch.
- 2023: the firm passes 500 client families and adds portfolio management services.
- 2025: services go online across Tamil Nadu and beyond, with the same values and a bigger team.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sri Balaji SEBI registered?
Sri Balaji works through registrations that sit inside SEBI's framework: AMFI registration ARN-345155 for mutual fund distribution and APMI registration APRN09158 for portfolio management services distribution. He is also an IRDAI Registered Insurance Agent (1911251001). He is not a SEBI-registered investment adviser or a SEBI-registered research analyst. His research analyst credential is a NISM certification, which is an educational qualification.
What does NISM Certified Research Analyst mean?
It means he has passed the research analyst certification examination conducted by the National Institute of Securities Markets, the education institute set up by SEBI. The examination covers equity research, company and industry analysis, valuation and the rules that apply to research. NISM certificates are valid for three years. The certification is a qualification and is separate from a SEBI Research Analyst registration.
How can I verify ARN-345155?
Go to the AMFI website, open the mutual fund distributor search, and enter ARN-345155. The result shows the distributor's name and the validity of the registration. The EUIN E656674 identifies Sri Balaji as the individual employee who handles your transactions under that ARN.
Does Hatlet Ventures charge a fee for financial planning?
No. Hatlet Ventures does not charge a planning fee. As a mutual fund distributor and insurance agent, it earns commissions paid by fund houses and insurers, and those commissions are disclosed. If you prefer to pay no distributor commission, you can invest in direct plans yourself.
Does Sri Balaji work with clients outside Tiruppur?
Yes. Hatlet Ventures is based in Tiruppur and meets clients there in person, but the discovery call, risk profile, written plan and implementation all work over phone, WhatsApp and video. Families anywhere in Tamil Nadu, and NRI families with finances in India, can complete the whole process without a visit.
Which languages does he work in?
Tamil and English. Many families use both: a call can run in Tamil for the parents and in English for the children, and the written plan is shared with everyone.
Talk to Sri Balaji directly
The first call is free, takes 30 minutes and comes with no obligation. Bring your questions, your existing policies and your goals, in Tamil or English. You can also read more about Hatlet Ventures or see how we work as a financial advisor in Tiruppur.
Disclaimer: Registration details are stated as on 23 October 2026. Hatlet Ventures is an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor (ARN-345155), not a SEBI-registered investment adviser or research analyst. The NISM Research Analyst certification is an educational qualification and not a SEBI registration. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks; read all scheme-related documents carefully. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation; read policy documents carefully before concluding a sale. PMS investments are subject to market risks and SEBI's minimum investment requirement.
Sri Balaji is the founder of Hatlet Ventures in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. He is a NISM Certified Research Analyst, AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Distributor (ARN-345155), IRDAI Registered Insurance Agent (1911251001) and APMI Registered PMS Distributor (APRN09158).