Monika Halan is a trusted personal finance writer, speaker and media personality, who helps families get their money decisions right. She is a best selling author and Adjunct Professor at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, a Ministry of Corporate Affairs think tank. She is a regular speaker on financial literacy, regulation, inclusion and consumer issues in retail finance. She has a Master’s in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a second Master’s in Journalism Studies from College of Cardiff, University of Wales, UK. She has worked across various media organisations in India, including Mint, The Economic Times and The Indian Express, and was Editor Outlook Money. She has run four successful TV series around personal finance in NDTV, Zee and Bloomberg India.
Monika also has public policy experience working with the Government of India as an advisor (Swarup Committee) in 2009, was also a member on the Ministry of Finance Committee on Incentives (Bose Committee), has been a member on the Sebi Mutual Fund Advisory Committee since 2010. She was a member of the Task Force set up by the Government of India to put in place the Financial Redressal Agency.
She has three published academic papers in the field of household finance.
- Regulating consumer finance: Do disclosures matter? The case of life insurance. Monika Halan and Renuka Sane, NIPFP Working Paper Series, 2017.
- Misled and mis-sold: financial misbehaviour by retail banks? Monika Halan and Renuka Sane, Journal of Comparative Economics, 2017.
- The case of the missing billions: estimating losses to customers due to mis-sold life insurance policies. Monika Halan, Renuka Sane, Susan Thomas, Journal of Economic Policy Reform, 2014.
She was director on the Financial Planning Standards Board India and is a member of the Editor’s Guild.
She is an author of the best-selling book Let’s Talk Money published by Harper Collins in July 2018. The Hindi translation Baat Paise Ki was released in December 2020. Her first book Seven Steps to Financial Freedom was published by Macmillan in 2005. She is based in New Delhi and was chosen as a Yale World Fellow in 2011.
She tweets at @monikahalan
Monika Halan's blog 
Dear Monika,
Greetings!
I am writing this email to seek advice on sound Financial planning including Investments, Protection and Wealth creation.
I came across your articles/recent interviews in TV, Print Media and leading newspapers. Hence, I feel this is the best way to connect with you, in order to obtain reliable assistance.
I am aged 34 years, male IT professional, married and living in a rented Apartment in Bangalore-INDIA, with my mother and wife as dependents. The rent is Rs 20000/- per month including maintenance charges.
My Mother, a Home-maker, is aged 58 yrs while my wife (Home-maker), is aged 27 yrs. We are planning to have our first child by Feb 2015.
Currently, I earn Monthly take-home pay of 90000/- approx. I have Term Life-Insurance of 75 lacs @ Premium of Rs 15000/- per Annum over 30 year period. I have also opened a PPF account 2 yrs back, which has total accumulation of Rs 35000/- till date. My Savings bank account has Rs 6 lacs.
Our Monthly expenses amounts to 50000/- Rs (including apartment rent). I deposit Rs 10000/- into PPF account every month.
This leaves Rs 30000/- of surplus amount in Savings Bank.
Our Top Goals are as follows:
1. Buy adequate Health-Insurance plan for my Mother, Wife & Self. Kindly advice the best type of plan
2. Buy 4-BHK Apartment worth 1.3Cr by June 2015
3. Purchase a Car worth 11 lacs by March 2014
4. Child Plan / Growth
5. Retirement Corpus by the time I reach 55 years of age
Kindly advice about how to go on investing with Rs 30000/- per month to achieve above desired goals.
I am aware of Mutual Funds (SIP/STP/SWP), Equity, FDs, Short/Mid-Capita income plans, Stocks/Shares/Bonds, however I am not knowledgeable enough to pursue own decisions. So, please let me know in steps to follow through systematically, and also to reduce tax burden. Kindly guide me with suitable/appropriate Investment route which has good returns/profits. I appreciate if you could let me know the names of specific Investment plans. What should my necessary Investment Portfolio look like ?
So basically, I want to plan my finance in diversified investments to achieve goals, using surplus monthly savings. In addition, it would be nice if the returns would beat inflation and thereby meeting monthly expenses down the years.
Further, I wish to increase my income level by bettering my career options down the line in 2 to 3 years. Should you require any clarifications/details, please feel free to let me know.
Looking forward to receive prompt and favorable response,
Truly,
Harsha@9986192286
Bangalore
Hi , I have a home loan for 15 years ,where the first 3 years rates were under teaser loan scheme at 8.5% could you suggest how can I calculate EMI on such a loan , as I am not sure about EMI I am paying? Thanks Vivek
Hi Monika, Found many videos in Youtube and would like to consult related to get Financial Advice for my future. Please let me know how can I reach you over call / email.
Madam,
Why a book as precise as The Layman’s guide to Financial Planning edition 2007 ,(later reprints only) never been revised.
Hi Monika,
Greetings!
Can you kindly share your opinion on smallcases? What kind of investors should invest in smallcases Or refrain from it?