Let's Talk Money with Monika Halan

Maed in India

Let's Talk Money is your guide to financial stability and freedom. Join Monika Halan, a trusted financial expert, as she delves into a wide array of topics each week. From tackling debt to making friends with the stock market, from gold to mutual funds, Monika's insights are your compass to financial wellness. But that's not all! Monika's here to answer your money questions. Send them in, and she'll help you make informed decisions. It's time to take control of your financial destiny with Monika Halan. So, Let’s Talk Money!

  1. A Bank Is Not a Biscuit Factory

    2D AGO

    A Bank Is Not a Biscuit Factory

    In this episode, Monika uses a simple but powerful analogy to explain why a bank is fundamentally different from any ordinary business. Unlike a biscuit factory, whose failure has limited impact, a bank operates on trust and interconnected flows of money through the system - what economists call the money multiplier. When that trust breaks, it can trigger a bank run, spreading panic across the entire financial system. This is why banks are heavily regulated and often considered “too big to fail.” While depositors in large Indian banks remain largely safe due to regulatory safeguards, she draws a clear distinction: you can trust banks to hold your money, but not necessarily to sell you the right financial products. The listener questions in this episode go beyond investing into deeper life decisions. Gulshan Madan asks about managing PPF maturity, rebalancing during market falls, and highlights the real-world challenges of property transfer versus financial assets. Mayur Parwani raises thoughtful questions about structuring charitable giving - whether to give regularly or build a corpus -leading to the idea of making giving a habit through consistent contributions. An anonymous listener shares a difficult family situation involving financially irresponsible behavior by a sibling, where the advice focuses on protecting parents’ assets, setting firm financial boundaries, and prioritizing sustainable support without jeopardizing one’s own financial stability. Across all questions, the common thread is clear: good financial decisions are as much about behaviour, boundaries, and values as they are about money itself. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) Why a Bank Is Not a Biscuit Factory and Why Trust Matters (00:00 – 00:00) Are Your Bank Deposits Safe and Why Mis-Selling Still Happens (00:00 – 00:00) Managing PPF, Asset Allocation and the Reality of Property Transfers (00:00 – 00:00) Structuring Charitable Giving and Building a Habit of Giving (00:00 – 00:00) Supporting Parents While Setting Boundaries with a Financially Irresponsible Sibling https://give.do/ If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    25 min
  2. Money Worries of Teenage Girls

    MAR 26

    Money Worries of Teenage Girls

    In this episode, Monika reflects on a memorable session with teenage students at a Delhi school, where seemingly simple questions led to profound insights about money, discipline, and life choices. She explains the core idea of “making money work for you” through the power of compounding, emphasizing that wealth is built not just by earning but by allowing investments to grow over time. The discussion also highlights how discipline—shaped by daily habits and environment—plays a crucial role in both personal development and financial decision-making. She also addresses broader concerns of the younger generation, from the pressure of consumerism and distinguishing wants from needs, to anxieties around AI and future careers. Her advice centers on building strong thinking skills, resisting social validation traps, and recognizing the privilege of time and financial support during youth. The underlying message is clear: financial independence begins with awareness, self-control, and the willingness to learn. In listener queries, Rohit Pal asks about Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs), their risks, costs, and practicality compared to ETFs and SGBs; Jayaraj, an NRI, seeks guidance on whether to retain his EPF corpus or shift to other investments while planning for a special needs child; and Ujjwal Kumar discusses optimizing his daughter’s long-term investment plan, where a higher allocation to mid and small cap funds is suggested along with disciplined rebalancing and a gradual shift to debt as goals approach. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) Money Lessons from Teenagers and Making Your Money Work for You (00:00 – 00:00) Discipline, Spending Choices and Building Financial Habits Early in Life (00:00 – 00:00) Electronic Gold Receipts, Risks and Better Ways to Invest in Gold (00:00 – 00:00) EPF Decisions for NRIs and Planning for a Special Needs Child (00:00 – 00:00) Building a Child Investment Portfolio with the Right Equity Allocation https://www.sebi.gov.in/legal/master-circulars/jun-2024/master-circular-for-electronic-gold-receipts-egrs-_84369.html If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    18 min
  3. War and Paise

    MAR 19

    War and Paise

    As geopolitical tensions escalate and markets react sharply, Monika connects the dots between global conflict and personal finance, reminding listeners that volatility is an inherent part of equity investing. Using recent market corrections as a backdrop, she explains how different parts of the market respond to stress — with small and mid caps falling more sharply than large caps — and why seemingly “safer” indices behave differently depending on their structure. The key lesson: risk and return are always linked, and understanding that relationship is critical during turbulent times. Through simple portfolio examples, Monika demonstrates how asset allocation acts as a shock absorber. Investors with a mix of debt and equity see significantly lower drawdowns compared to those fully invested in equities. She reiterates the importance of diversifying not just across asset classes but also within equity, and of rebalancing portfolios periodically. Market downturns, she emphasizes, are not anomalies but tests of whether your portfolio truly reflects your risk appetite — and whether you’ve built in enough stability to stay invested without panic. In listener queries, Lalita Tiwari discusses navigating a mid-career break, reduced income, and prioritising between liquidity, debt repayment, children’s education, and retirement; Srinivas from Hyderabad asks about structuring long-term STPs from a large lump sum and whether indirect methods across fund houses make sense; and Dr. Priya Shivkumar seeks advice on exiting ULIPs, reviewing insurance-heavy portfolios, and preparing for retirement with limited working years remaining. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) Market Crashes, War and Why Asset Allocation Matters Most (00:00 – 00:00) Equal Weight vs Market Cap Indices and Understanding Risk in Your Portfolio (00:00 – 00:00) Managing Money During a Career Break and Resetting Financial Priorities (00:00 – 00:00) STP Strategies for Large Lump Sums and Keeping Debt Allocation Simple (00:00 – 00:00) Exiting ULIPs, Insurance Mistakes and Preparing for Retirement https://x.com/monikahalan/status/2030882254843687050?s=20 If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠  Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    19 min
  4. What Story Do GDP Numbers Tell

    MAR 12

    What Story Do GDP Numbers Tell

    As India’s revised GDP numbers are released with a new base year of 2022–23, Monika unpacks the deeper story hidden beneath the headline growth print. She explains how the economy continues to grow at a stable rate above 7%, driven on the production side by manufacturing and services, and supported on the expenditure side by household savings and government capital expenditure. While consumption remains the backbone of growth, private investment needs to accelerate to complete the virtuous cycle of rising wages, stronger demand, and sustained high growth. Monika walks listeners through why this GDP release is structurally significant. The updated methodology incorporates new surveys, GST data, digital public finance systems, and expanded data sources to better reflect today’s economy. A major shift to “double deflation” in manufacturing aims to measure real growth more accurately by adjusting both input and output prices. She also addresses the recurring debate on data credibility, distinguishing between methodological improvements and allegations of manipulation, and explains why large-scale tampering across multiple data systems is implausible. The takeaway: the data suggests steady, resilient growth — not spectacular, but meaningful in a turbulent global year. In listener queries, Devasri Jegan, a recent BBA graduate, asks how to overcome beginner confusion and where to start investing; Arpita Mondal writes in about rising silver prices and whether she should invest after sharp moves; Vineet Sharma from the Gulf shares his journey of building a ₹4 crore FD corpus through discipline and leverage and seeks guidance on starting mutual fund investing at 48 while redefining life goals; and Saurabh Garg’s recent speech on GDP methodology also comes up in the broader discussion on interpreting official data. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) What the New GDP Data Reveals About India’s Growth Story (00:00 – 00:00) Base Year Changes, Double Deflation and Can We Trust the Data? (00:00 – 00:00) Starting Your Investment Journey Without Getting Overwhelmed (00:00 – 00:00) Silver Prices, Commodity Hype and Asset Allocation Discipline (00:00 – 00:00) Starting Mutual Funds at 50 After Building Wealth Through FDs Saurabh Garg speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n71JFcBoDQ&t=728s  PIB release https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2233518®=3&lang=2  If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    17 min
  5. RBI’s New Mis-selling Rules

    FEB 26

    RBI’s New Mis-selling Rules

    As complaints of insurance mis-selling by banks finally prompt regulatory action, Monika examines the Reserve Bank of India’s draft Responsible Business Conduct guidelines and what they could mean for customers. The proposed rules aim to require suitability assessments, explicit consent, and restrictions on coercive sales practices, signalling a shift toward holding banks accountable for putting customer interests ahead of sales targets. Drawing on years of research and documented evidence, she explains how mis-selling has persisted through opaque disclosures, aggressive commissions, and weak enforcement, eroding public trust in the banking system. Monika argues that while the intent of the new rules is welcome, their effectiveness will depend on clear definitions of suitability, independent monitoring, and reforms to the commission structures that incentivise harmful sales. Without these structural fixes, regulation risks becoming symbolic rather than transformative. She also reflects on how banks could instead build long-term, trust-based relationships with customers by offering transparent financial planning and aligning their incentives with household financial security rather than short-term product sales. In listener queries, Vijay Panchal from Ahmedabad asks whether to combine Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana with equity investing for his daughter’s future and whether to prioritise NPS or PPF for retirement under the new tax regime; Nitin Gupta from Dehradun seeks clarity on the tax and ownership implications of mutual fund investments held in his minor son’s name as he approaches adulthood; and Hemanth Thyagraj from Bangalore asks how to balance home loan prepayments with ongoing mutual fund investing while pursuing long-term financial independence. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) RBI’s New Mis-Selling Rules and What They Mean for Bank Customers (00:00 – 00:00) Suitability Framework, Commissions and Fixing Incentives in Financial Product Sales (00:00 – 00:00) SSY vs Index Funds and Choosing Between NPS and PPF (00:00 – 00:00) Managing Mutual Funds Held in a Child’s Name After They Turn 18 (00:00 – 00:00) Balancing Home Loan Prepayment with Long-Term Investing https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Content/PDFs/01CBDRAFT11022026ADD95448CA7E4662A409F78D829072C7.PDF https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S014759671730046X https://m.rbi.org.in//scripts/Bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=3370 https://youtu.be/q9kmG-443vo?si=IuTsFG9pbFmysTMD https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E8939c5w16_NIvshQbcUXW1iZtMLJVcS/view?usp=drivesdk If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    22 min
  6. What the New Consumer Price Index Means For You

    FEB 19

    What the New Consumer Price Index Means For You

    As India updates the way it measures inflation, Monika explains why the revision of the Consumer Price Index base year from 2012 to 2024 matters and what it really means for households. Drawing on new data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, she breaks down how the CPI basket evolves over time to reflect changing consumption patterns — from the decline of outdated products to the rise of digital services, transport, and other modern expenses. The episode clarifies how shifts in weightages, especially the reduced share of food and the higher share of services, will influence headline inflation and policymaking. Monika also explains why the CPI is an average that may not match individual experience, and how the new index should give policymakers a more accurate picture of real household spending pressures. She highlights that lower food weight may make inflation appear less volatile, while costs that matter most to many middle-class families — healthcare, education, housing, and services — continue to rise faster than the headline number. The key takeaway: inflation data is improving, but personal financial planning should always be based on one’s own spending patterns, not just official statistics. In listener questions, Anonymous asks how global developments such as U.S. debt concerns, de-dollarisation, and shifting geopolitical power could affect Indian markets and whether investors should change their asset allocation or SIP strategy; Djay from Mumbai seeks guidance on retirement planning for couples and how to estimate and invest toward a child’s education corpus; and Ramya Srinivasan writes about deploying proceeds from a property sale, weighing PMS investments against mutual funds, and the best way to move a lump sum into equity over time. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) What the New Consumer Price Index Means for You (00:00 – 00:00) How Changes in the CPI Basket and Weightages Affect Inflation and Policy (00:00 – 00:00) Global Risks, Market Crashes and Staying Invested Through Uncertainty (00:00 – 00:00) Planning Retirement as a Couple and Building a Child Education Corpus (00:00 – 00:00) PMS vs Mutual Funds and How to Deploy a Large Lump Sum https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/why-india-needs-a-new-gold-standard-101770307424675.html https://www.mospi.gov.in/uploads/latestreleasesfiles/1770893247472-Press%20Relase%20of%20CPI%20for%20Jan26.pdf If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠  Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    23 min
  7. What will the trade deals change?

    FEB 12

    What will the trade deals change?

    As global trade tensions reshape the economic landscape, Monika unpacks what India’s recent wave of trade agreements really means. Triggered in part by sharp tariff actions and the growing use of trade as a geopolitical weapon, India has moved quickly to diversify its export markets and reduce dependence on any single partner. This episode explains, in simple terms, how tariffs, free trade agreements, and shifting supply chains affect growth, jobs, and markets — and why these deals matter far beyond headline diplomacy. Monika walks through the major agreements signed with the UK, EU, EFTA nations, Oman, New Zealand, and the United States, and explains how they could boost exports, attract investment, and create jobs in sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, technology, and services. She also discusses the broader macro impact — from strengthening India’s negotiating position globally to supporting long-term GDP growth and market sentiment — while reminding investors that short-term market reactions often miss the bigger structural story. In listener questions, Avinash Mundhra asks about moving beyond basic index investing into strategy-based indices and whether ULIPs linked to such indices make sense; Venkatesh Kumaran from Spain seeks guidance on balancing loan repayment with saving for future goals and on investing in Indian mutual funds as an NRI planning to return; and Gaurav Madan writes about whether model-driven advisory approaches to mutual fund selection are superior to simple, transparent investing methods. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) Why India Is Signing Trade Deals After the Tariff Shock (00:00 – 00:00) How New FTAs Could Boost Exports, Jobs and GDP (00:00 – 00:00) Mid- and Small-Cap Index Funds, Multicap Funds and the ULIP Debate (00:00 – 00:00) Paying Off Loans vs Investing and NRI Mutual Fund Considerations (00:00 – 00:00) Choosing Equity Mutual Funds and the Risks of Model-Based Advisory If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠ Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠

    19 min
  8. Work-in-progress Budget 2026

    FEB 5

    Work-in-progress Budget 2026

    As Budget 2026 unfolds, Monika frames it as a continuation budget - a work-in-progress focused less on headline reforms and more on keeping the economic machinery running smoothly. With pressure on the fiscal deficit after last year’s tax relief and GST cuts, the big concern was whether the numbers would hold. Despite weak nominal growth and a low GDP deflator, higher corporate taxes, indirect taxes, and dividends have helped contain the fiscal deficit at 4.4%, with only a marginal dip projected next year. For markets, this signals fiscal discipline at a time of global uncertainty. Monika breaks down the key priorities shaping this budget - a sharp rise in defence spending, sustained capital expenditure, and a clear push to align India with strategic technologies such as semiconductors, rare earths, cloud infrastructure, and domestic IP creation. Running through the speech is a stated intent to simplify rules, ease compliance, and reduce friction between the state, businesses, and citizens, even as execution risks remain. On the personal finance front, there are no fresh income-tax changes, relief comes via lower TCS on overseas spending, and clarity emerges on sovereign gold bond taxation, while higher STT on derivatives sends a strong signal against excessive speculation. In listener questions, the focus turns to what this budget really means for everyday investors - how changes to SGB taxation affect gold allocations, why the STT hike matters mainly for F&O traders and not long-term investors, and why market reactions immediately after the budget may not reflect India’s underlying growth story. The takeaway remains consistent: budgets will come and go, markets will react and recover, but maintaining the right asset allocation matters far more than chasing short-term noise. Chapters: (00:00 – 00:00) Budget 2026 as a Work-in-Progress Framework (00:00 – 00:00) Fiscal Deficit, Defence Spending and Growth Priorities (00:00 – 00:00) Sovereign Gold Bonds and Capital Gains Tax Changes (00:00 – 00:00) TCS Relief and Easier Property Transactions (00:00 – 00:00) STT Hike, Market Reaction and What Investors Should Do If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠  Monika’s book on basic money management ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s book on mutual funds ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Calculators ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠

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About

Let's Talk Money is your guide to financial stability and freedom. Join Monika Halan, a trusted financial expert, as she delves into a wide array of topics each week. From tackling debt to making friends with the stock market, from gold to mutual funds, Monika's insights are your compass to financial wellness. But that's not all! Monika's here to answer your money questions. Send them in, and she'll help you make informed decisions. It's time to take control of your financial destiny with Monika Halan. So, Let’s Talk Money!

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