TRUST • TRANSPARENCY • KNOWLEDGE • INTEGRITY
Co-Founder, Pantha Fides
Brig Manish Pande (Veteran) is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He served with distinction in the Indian Army for more than three decades, holding a range of important command, staff and operational appointments and gaining extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning, organisational management and decision-making in complex environments.
A lifelong learner, Brig Pande has pursued academic excellence alongside his military career. He holds Master’s degrees in Management, Weapon Systems and Defence & Strategic Studies, reflecting his deep interest in human thought, technology, strategy and leadership. His academic and military experience have given him a unique perspective on the importance of knowledge, disciplined decision-making and long-term planning.
After taking voluntary retirement from the Indian Army, Brig Pande transitioned into the financial services sector and joined a leading Wealth management company in a senior management position. His experience in the financial industry gave him a first-hand understanding of the opportunities, challenges and, importantly, the information gaps and grey areas that often surround personal finance and investment decisions.
Over time, a strong desire grew within him to create something of his own; something that would address what he believed was a fundamental gap in the financial ecosystem, the lack of simple, transparent and meaningful financial education for common citizens.
Brig Pande was particularly concerned by the prevalence of misinformation, product-driven selling, lack of financial awareness and the complexity surrounding personal finance. He believed that people should not have to be financial experts to make sound decisions about their money. What they needed was knowledge, clarity, transparency and a trusted partner who would put their long-term interests first.
To further strengthen his expertise in financial markets, Brig Pande has completed the NISM Level I and Level II Investment Advisor certifications and is a qualified Mutual Fund Distributor. He also holds the Certified Wealth Manager (CWM®) qualification, conferred by the American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM) – a prestigious financial planning credential for professionals who manage significant wealth globally. He has also obtained Diploma in Financial Planning and Wealth Management from IISDT. He uniquely combines his experience in financial services with the disciplined, analytical approach developed over more than three decades of military service. It was this conviction and vision that became the driving force behind Pantha Fides.
Brig Pande subsequently joined hands with his regimental colleague, close friend and fellow veteran, Lt Col Shekhar Thapliyal, to transform this vision into reality. Together, they set out to create a platform that would not merely distribute financial products, but would focus on educating, empowering and guiding individuals to make informed financial decisions.
Pantha Fides is therefore, at its heart, the manifestation of Brig Pande’s long-standing belief that financial literacy is not a luxury – it is an essential life skill.
The vision is to build a relationship-driven financial platform founded on Trust, Transparency, Knowledge and Integrity, helping members of the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Government services and young professionals, as well as their families, navigate the world of personal finance with greater confidence.
Educate. Empower. Create Wealth. Protect the Future. And above all, financial interests of the investors will come first – always and every time.
Co-Founder, Pantha Fides
Lt Col Shekhar Thapliyal (Veteran) is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. A decorated soldier and combat veteran, he was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in June 1995 and served with distinction for more than two decades before taking voluntary retirement from the Indian Army in 2016.
During his military career, Lt Col Thapliyal served in some of the most challenging operational environments, including Jammu & Kashmir and the India–China border, and was injured in action during his service. He also served with the United Nations as a Peacekeeper with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, gaining valuable experience in international operations, leadership and managing complex environments.
He is a graduate of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and holds a Master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies, with a strong academic foundation in strategy, leadership and organisational management.
Following his retirement from the Army, Lt Col Thapliyal embarked on his entrepreneurial journey and founded Solar Pulse Energy Private Limited, a renewable-energy and infrastructure company. Over the years, through strategic vision, disciplined execution and a strong focus on quality, he has built the company into a significant enterprise with a turnover exceeding ₹1000 crore and a growing presence in the renewable-energy sector.
A serial entrepreneur, Lt Col Thapliyal has continued to build and explore businesses across emerging sectors, bringing together the discipline and leadership of his military career with the vision, adaptability and execution required to succeed in the business world.
Having achieved significant milestones in his entrepreneurial journey, Lt Col Thapliyal joined hands with his regimental senior and close friend, Brig Manish Pande (Veteran), to pursue a purpose that is deeply rooted in their shared understanding of the Armed Forces and public service community.
They identified a significant gap in financial awareness and financial decision-making among members of the Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, Government employees and young professionals – many of whom work hard to build their careers and secure their families’ futures, but often have limited access to structured financial education and unbiased guidance.
Together, they envisioned a platform that would go beyond simply selling financial products – a platform built on financial education, transparency, trust and disciplined wealth creation.
This vision has led to the creation of Pantha Fides, with the belief that every individual deserves the knowledge, guidance and appropriate financial solutions required to create, grow and protect lasting wealth.
The mission is simple: to empower people to make informed financial decisions, build meaningful wealth and protect the financial future of themselves and their families.
Financial interests of the investors will come first – always and every time.
