Pocket Money

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has blamed the mass exit of foreign investors from Indian stocks on “ease of liquidity, ease of availability” – presumably referring to the money pouring into the markets from domestic retail investors. Secondly, on the question of tax cuts on capital gains, while remaining noncommittal, she has said that it’s a “healthy debate to have”, sparking a growing climate of anticipation around possible cuts in Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax (which is currently 12.5%) in the forthcoming Budget. The OPM-wallahs, however, seem convinced that reducing, or abolishing, the Long-Term Capital Gains tax of 12.5% is the silver bullet that could bring back foreign portfolio investors, and revive Indian stocks. However, are taxes the main reason foreign portfolio investors have been exiting Indian stocks? What if lowering capital gains tax has the opposite effect – of encouraging them to sell more? What are the chances that tax cuts would revive your SIP returns? Vivek Kaul has some answers. Host: G Sampath, Podcasts Editor, The Hindu Producer and editor: Jude Francis Weston

Do write to us with your personal queries at pocketmoney@thehindu.co.in

Mis-selling of financial products is rampant in India. The single biggest mis-sold product is life insurance. People get ripped off by bank relationship managers (RMs), and by insurance agents. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has for long been a spectator. But last month it released a consultation paper proposing some sectoral reforms. We will discuss the IRDAI proposals in this episode. But before that, three datapoints that exemplify the sheer scale of insurance mis-selling. One, commissions can consume up to 80% of your first year premium on some policies. Two, from 2022-23 to 2024-25, insurance premiums grew by only 28%, but commissions grew by 125%! Three, just 48%, or less than half of all new policies survive into the sixth year -- what the industry calls ‘persistency rate’. A persistency rate of 48% means, more than half the time, when people buy a life insurance policy, they surrender it within five years, after having paid one or more premiums -- this is personal wealth destruction on a massive scale. Why is this happening, and will IRDAI’s proposed reforms make a difference? All this and more in the second episode of Pocket Money, with business columnist and author Vivek Kaul. Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Do mail your personal finance queries and dilemmas to: pocketmoney@thehindu.co.in.

In this episode, Vivek Kaul unpacks foreign investor outflows, record SIP inflows and falling markets, exploring what these trends mean for valuations and whether investors should continue their SIPs.

The Nifty has fallen 13.5% since the beginning of 2026. Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn around $33 billion from Indian equities this year alone. But at the same time, monthly SIP inflows touched an all-time high of Rs32,490 crores in September.

Who is reading the market right – is it us or them? Why are foreign portfolio investors withdrawing? Does the steady inflow of SIP money risk supporting valuations even when corporate earnings don’t justify them?

All this and more in the first episode of Pocket Money, with business columnist and author Vivek Kaul.

Host: G Sampath

Producer and editor: Jude Weston

Have a question about your money? A personal finance doubt you need help with? Write to us at pocketmoney@thehindu.co.in

From the week's biggest financial news to decisions that affect your money, we connect the headlines to your wallet

📆 Every Friday at 4 p.m. Stay tuned!