Money with Monika

While neoclassical economics postulates that individuals are inherently efficient, when it comes to investing, pragmatism and logic are often overshadowed by what is referred to as behavioural biases. These biases push investors towards making errors by making them take decisions based on impulse and perception rather than factual analysis. Some common biases include loss aversion bias, personalization bias and herd mentality. Tune in to this episode of Money With Monika Season 3 to understand how these behavioural biases work and how one can rein them in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Rs 7,000 crore to Rs 2 lakh crore - that is how the asset base of exchange-traded funds in India has grown over the last 5 years. ETFs are a kind of mutual fund, but with one big difference - as the name suggests, they are listed on exchanges and are traded like stocks. They are passive funds, i.e. they mimic an index, and a fund manager doesn't actively choose the constituent stocks. Although ETFs are traditionally cheaper than their non-listed counterparts, retail participation in this category remains subdued, although there is growing interest. Since ETFs are traded throughout the day, their price fluctuates too, unlike other MFs. This is what makes ETFs appropriate for a particular demographic. So are ETFs the right product for you? And if so, then what are the factors you need to keep in mind before you start investing? Listen to this episode of Money with Monika to know more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warren Buffett, the famous investor, once called financial markets 'manic depressive'. He was referring to the swings periodically seen on the bourses. Buffett believes investors shouldn't be influenced by these movements, thus maintaining a perpetually long-term vision. But is this the only way to invest? Those who differ with this 'value' style, subscribe to 'growth' investing. Under this strategy, investors pick fast-growing stocks, even if the price is on the higher side. The markets provide another option - GARP (growth at reasonable price) - for those seeking a compromise between the two paths. However, picking a style becomes a bit more challenging when investing via mutual funds. Tune in to know more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hybrid mutual funds have seen outflows in the recent past but that doesn't necessarily mean that you should keep your distance from this product. Hybrid funds are a tool with which you can invest across asset classes like debt, equity and gold, while maintaining the asset allocation of your choice. Apart from some tax advantages, these have the added benefit of a fund manager ensuring that your debt-equity ratio is maintained without your active involvement. So, with various types of such funds in the market, which should you choose - Aggressive, Balanced, or Conservative? Listen to this episode to understand hybrid funds, and how to invest in them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a rally in the midcap space in the markets, especially after Sebi's news rules regarding multi-cap funds. But, should you capitalize on this development? Should recent, higher returns dictate your plunge into a midcap investment, or should it be a more strategic decision with a long-term vision? And finally, should you pick a midcap fund to expand your portfolio, or are individual stocks the way to go? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investor confidence in debt funds has been shaken in recent years due to episodes in the recent past. While regulators have now jumped into action, did investors enter a product class without understanding it in detail? Do retail investors suffer more as compared to their institutional counterparts when debt funds crash? And, how should you proceed with investing in a financial product which can bolster your portfolio? Tune in and find out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even as the struggle against the Covid-19 pandemic continues, one of the biggest monetary lessons from the global ordeal has been to desist from making knee-jerk reactions when it comes to investments and maintaining healthy asset allocation. In this episode of Money With Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan explains how and when to check the performance of your fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has rudely reinforced the need for a medical cover, but buying a policy remains riddled with a confusing marketplace with plenty of tricks and traps. In this special episode of Money With Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan discusses India's best health insurance plans with Mint's in-house expert Deepti Bhaskaran. The discussion is based on the 8th edition of the Mint SecureNow Mediclaim Ratings. Monika Halan is a consulting editor, Mint, and author of the book 'Let's Talk Money'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smart money managers have a key rule- never bundle your life insurance with your investments. Bundled insurance plans neither give you a good life cover nor a good return and in India, these are built like traps. In this episode of the special series of Money with Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan explains why one should stop buying bundled life insurance plans in India and how it destroys one’s savings. Monika Halan is a consulting editor, Mint, and author of the book, Let's Talk Money. Tune in for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced people to ask some tough questions about their money life. In this episode of the special series of Money with Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan talks about 6 Money Ratios which give a broad direction in which one should move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As firms deal with declining revenues amid COVID-19 pandemic, employees at the senior level after facing salary cuts are now in line for layoffs. In this episode of Money with Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan explains why employees in their 50s are at serious risk of losing their job and their career at this moment. So, what can they do about it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government wants banks, insurance firms, jewellers and others to report 11 transactions to the income tax department. In a move to catch tax evaders, the government wants disclosure of certain transactions, not by the taxpayer but by the firms they deal with. Will this nudge the unwilling to pay their taxes? In this episode of Money with Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan explains how the new notification works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) put restrictions on who can open current accounts with which bank. Is this move part of a larger plan to stop banking frauds? In this episode, Monika Halan explains how the move will prevent the siphoning off of money. Listen and find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Securities and Exchange Board of India has become the first financial regulator to settle the debate regarding the classification of advisors and agents when it comes to financial instruments. Meanwhile, other regulators like the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, and the Reserve Bank of India are still lagging behind. Tune in for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The writing down of Yes Bank's AT1 bonds worth over Rs 8,400 crore in the aftermath of the scandal earlier this year had caused some alarm. But what seems to have heightened investor anxiety is the Reserve Bank of India's stance to complaints filed against the write-off. Join Personal finance expert Monika Halan for more insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, commercial real estate prices have begun to fall. But it remains to be seen whether the trend will be replicated in the residential market. What has kept home prices high in India is the entrenched system of bribes - from the initial stage of land-use change, to approvals for the final project. Personal finance expert Monika Halan explains how elimination of corruption from the sector can lead to a drastic fall in prices, and until that happens, what you should consider before investing in real estate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent economic crisis are forcing everyone to make tough financial choices. Should you switch from a debt fund to a bank deposit? Should you get out of the equity market? Should you choose to pay the instalment of your SIP or EMI? In this edition of Money With Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan answers these, and other tough questions that you are facing already, or are likely to in the near future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the Indian economy which was already grappling with a deepening slowdown. Now, India's Gross Domestic Product is estimated to contract by around 5% in the current financial year. The economy will have to grow by 11% in order to get back to the FY20 level. While India has done better than many developed countries in the services sector, our manufacturing potential is yet to be adequately utilized. This is one avenue that can help India not just recover from the COVID-induced economic crisis, but also grow stronger in the long run. But how can the country achieve this? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From covid-19 pandemic to meteor shower, 2020 has been a year of unprecedented events. In this special series of Money with Monika, personal finance expert Monika Halan explains the process of writing a will and how it can be transformative for you and your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the realisation that one can always reduce expenditure further, to setting up an adequate emergency fund - personal finance expert Monika Halan shares 6 health and wealth lessons learned during the Covid-induced lockdown. A big lesson for investors has been the recent recovery in the markets after a bloodbath, demonstrating the folly of panic-stricken selling of equity investments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices