Monika is back after a short break, and the first thing on the agenda is the topic that’s dominating every conversation—Trump’s tariffs. In this episode, she unpacks what these new trade policies mean not just for the U.S. and China, but for the rest of the world. This isn’t just about taxes on goods—it’s a signal that the global power structure is in flux. As America’s post-war dominance is challenged by China’s rising ambition, we find ourselves in the middle of a massive geopolitical reset.

She lays out the broader picture of a world order in transition, where democracies and authoritarian states are playing by very different rules. The United States, with its checks and balances, is finding it hard to keep pace with China’s centralized decision-making. With Trump’s aggressive stance in his second term, institutions are being bypassed, and uncertainty is running high. But in the middle of this chaos, there’s a surprising resilience in the Indian economy, thanks to strong domestic consumption, manageable debt levels, and relatively low dependence on exports.

In the listener Q&A, Daniel from Kanyakumari shares his investing journey and seeks clarity on whether he's on track for his child’s education and retirement. Sachin from Vadodara wants to know if there’s a single platform to track all his investments and LIC policies. Poonam, a homemaker and army wife, is eager to learn how to manage and grow her family’s savings but doesn’t know where to begin.

Chapters:(00:30 – 09:34) Global Power Shifts and What They Mean for Investors

(09:35 – 11:05) Explaining What a Recession Really Is

(11:06 – 15:49) Structuring a Portfolio for Education and Retirement

(15:50 – 19:07) Tracking Investments and the Need for One Dashboard

(19:08 – 21:01) Getting Started With Money Management at Home

https://www.valueresearchonline.com/

https://licindia.in/

If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠mailme@monikahalan.com⁠

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