Sumita Paul

Head of Distribution, Openly 

With more than 17 years’ experience in the financial services sector, a majority of which has been in investment advisory and fiduciary roles, Sumita brings a high level of experience and professionalism in managing estate planning solutions for individuals and families. She also has considerable experience in establishing and managing charitable trusts and endowment funds.

Sumita believes that it is important to understand her client’s beliefs, motivations and expectations and their big picture view of life to establish a trusting long-term relationship and help achieve her client’s financial goals. She has consistently exhibited the ability to maintain open and positive interaction with people with cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a diverse range of colleagues and clients in multicultural settings.

Sumita is an Authorised Financial Adviser (AFA), a Certified Financial PlannerCM (CFPCM) and a member of the Executor and Trustee Institute. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Personal Financial Planning Endorsement) and a National Certificate in Financial Services. She has completed her Masters in Business Administration which she credits to have given her the skills to look at the bigger picture and systematically analyse scenarios.

Through her career she has been an active participant in strategic planning and execution at a business level. She is currently a member of the investment committee at Perpetual Guardian.

Born and brought up in India, Sumita migrated to New Zealand in 1997. She is married to Binu, an entrepreneur and has two sons Joshua (aged 14) & Reuben (aged 10). She loves watching Hindi & Malayam movies and tries to inspire the same in her Kiwi sons.