OneWhen was the last time someone told you to exit a mutual fund or stock you’ve been holding for years?
TwoWhen was the last time you actually saw what your investments are earning, after tax and after currency moves?
ThreeWhen was the last time anyone looked at your full portfolio, across countries, accounts, and asset classes, and gave you advice tailored to you?
If the answer to any of these is “never” or “I’m not sure,” this short survey is for you. Halfway through, there’s a real calculation about cross-border investing that most people have never seen for themselves. Your honest answers help me understand what investors actually experience.
5 minutes
First, the easy part
Where do you currently live?
Your story so far
A few things about your investing journey.
When did you move from India?
Right now, what does your investing situation actually look like?
Today, where does most of your invested wealth sit?
Roughly, how much do you currently have invested across all your accounts?
Helps me understand context. Skip if you’d rather.
How it feels right now
Two questions about your current experience.
Which of these match how you currently feel about managing money across countries?
Check all that resonate. Skip any that don’t.
When you make an investment decision, who’s usually involved?
Check all that apply.
Do you currently use any of these to manage your finances?
Check all that apply.
A short calculation
Most NRIs never see this calculation for themselves.
The story below is set in Dubai. If you live somewhere else, your currency and tax rules differ, but the same dynamic plays out.
Aarav and Priya both moved from Bangalore to Dubai. In May 2021, each had AED 100,000 saved up. Aarav remitted his to India and bought a Nifty 50 fund. Priyakept hers in dirhams and bought an S&P 500 ETF. Both indices had a strong five years.
Today, in May 2026, this is where their money sits, in dirhams (the currency they earn and spend in):
Aarav
Invested in India
Started with
AED 100,000
Worth today, in dirhams
AED 128,600
+28.6%
Priya
Invested in US
Started with
AED 100,000
Worth today, in dirhams
AED 184,400
+84.4%
The gap
AED 55,800
Same starting capital. Same five years. Same effort. The difference: where the money sat, and what currency and tax did to it.
Most NRIs see the headline returns. Few ever calculate what those returns become after the rupee weakens and after Indian capital gains tax.
Where Aarav’s gain went
Nifty 50 return over 5 years (in rupees)
+75%
Rupee weakened from 19.94 to 25.77 against the dirham
−29% drag
Indian capital gains tax on realized gains (12.5%)
−5% drag
One-time remittance friction
−0.2%
Net result, in dirhams
+28.6%
Step
Aarav
Priya
Starting position
Started with
AED 100,000
AED 100,000
Converted to local currency
INR 1,994,000 at 19.94 INR/AED
USD 27,229 at 3.6725 peg
After 0.2% conversion friction
INR 1,990,012
USD 27,175
Five years of market return
Index return (price + dividends)
+75% Nifty 50
+85% S&P 500
Holdings before tax
INR 3,484,511
USD 50,212
Capital gains tax
Tax owed if realized today
INR 171,187 12.5% LTCG above ₹1.25L
USD 0 NRA + UAE: 0%
Holdings after tax
INR 3,313,324
USD 50,212
Today, in dirhams
Converted back to AED
AED 128,572 at 25.77 INR/AED
AED 184,403 at 3.6725 peg
Final, rounded
AED 128,600
AED 184,400
FX rates from RBI Reference Rate Archive (validated against Google Finance). Index returns from NSE Indices and S&P Dow Jones Indices. Indian LTCG of 12.5% above ₹1.25L per Section 112A, Finance (No. 2) Act 2024. UAE residents pay no capital gains on foreign securities. Non-resident aliens pay no US capital gains with W-8BEN filed. Money assumed to stay invested where placed; Aarav’s tax shown as if realized today.
Calculation uses Nifty 50 and S&P 500 returns from May 2021 to May 2026. AED-INR validated against Google Finance / RBI (19.94 in May 2021, 25.77 in May 2026). AED-USD pegged at 3.6725. Indian LTCG: 12.5% on equity gains above ₹1.25L per Section 112A. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Not investment advice; tax rules vary by individual circumstances and warrant professional review.
A short calculation
Most NRIs never see this calculation for themselves.
Aarav and Priya both moved from Bangalore to London. In May 2021, each had GBP 100,000 saved up. Aarav remitted his to India and bought a Nifty 50 fund. Priyakept hers in pounds and bought an S&P 500 ETF. Both indices had a strong five years.
Today, in May 2026, this is where their money sits, in pounds (the currency they earn and spend in):
Aarav
Invested in India
Started with
GBP 100,000
Worth today, in pounds
GBP 130,500
+30.5%
Priya
Invested in US
Started with
GBP 100,000
Worth today, in pounds
GBP 169,200
+69.2%
The gap
GBP 38,700
Same starting capital. Same five years. Same effort. The difference: where the money sat, and what currency and tax did to it.
Most NRIs see the headline returns. Few ever calculate what those returns become after the rupee weakens and after the layered tax (Indian LTCG plus UK CGT).
Where Aarav’s gain went
Nifty 50 return over 5 years (in rupees)
+75%
Rupee weakened from 102.47 to 128.60 against the pound
−20% drag
Indian capital gains tax (12.5%) plus UK CGT top-up under the India-UK tax treaty
−9% drag
One-time remittance friction
−0.2%
Net result, in pounds
+30.5%
Step
Aarav
Priya
Starting position
Started with
GBP 100,000
GBP 100,000
Converted to local currency
INR 10,247,000 at 102.47 INR/GBP
USD 139,900 at 1.399 USD/GBP
After 0.2% conversion friction
INR 10,226,506
USD 139,620
Five years of market return
Index return (price + dividends)
+75% Nifty 50
+85% S&P 500
Holdings before tax
INR 17,896,386
USD 258,297
Capital gains tax
Indian LTCG paid at source
INR 943,124 12.5% above ₹1.25L (Section 112A)
—
UK CGT top-up under DTAA (24% on GBP gain after credit)
GBP 1,345 credit for Indian tax already paid
GBP 20,895 24% above £3,000 allowance
Today, in pounds
Converted back to GBP, post-tax
GBP 130,484 at 128.60 INR/GBP
GBP 169,169 at 1.359 USD/GBP today
Final, rounded
GBP 130,500
GBP 169,200
FX rates from Google Finance (validated against RBI). Index returns from NSE Indices and S&P Dow Jones Indices. UK CGT at 24% higher rate (post-October 2024 budget) per HMRC GOV.UK, £3,000 annual exempt amount for 2025-26. India-UK DTAA provides foreign tax credit for Indian LTCG. Money assumed to stay invested where placed; tax shown as if realized today.
GBP-INR validated against Google Finance (102.47 in May 2021, 128.60 in May 2026). GBP-USD derived consistently. UK CGT at 24% higher rate per HMRC. India-UK DTAA mechanics: Aarav pays Indian LTCG of 12.5% on his rupee gain, plus UK CGT top-up with credit for Indian tax already paid. Tax rules vary by individual circumstances and warrant professional review. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Not investment advice.
A short calculation
Most NRIs never see this calculation for themselves.
Aarav and Priya both moved from Bangalore to Berlin. In May 2021, each had EUR 100,000 saved up. Aarav remitted his to India and bought a Nifty 50 fund. Priyakept hers in euros and bought an S&P 500 ETF. Both indices had a strong five years.
Today, in May 2026, this is where their money sits, in euros (the currency they earn and spend in):
Aarav
Invested in India
Started with
EUR 100,000
Worth today, in euros
EUR 132,500
+32.5%
Priya
Invested in US
Started with
EUR 100,000
Worth today, in euros
EUR 174,400
+74.4%
The gap
EUR 41,900
Same starting capital. Same five years. Same effort. The difference: where the money sat, and what currency and tax did to it.
Most NRIs see the headline returns. Few ever calculate what those returns become after the rupee weakens and after tax wherever they live.
Where Aarav’s gain went
Nifty 50 return over 5 years (in rupees)
+75%
Rupee weakened from 89.03 to 111.18 against the euro
−25% drag
Indian capital gains tax (12.5%) covers the German liability under DTAA
−6% drag
One-time remittance friction
−0.2%
Net result, in euros
+32.5%
Step
Aarav
Priya
Starting position
Started with
EUR 100,000
EUR 100,000
Converted to local currency
INR 8,903,000 at 89.03 INR/EUR
USD 121,600 at 1.216 USD/EUR
After 0.2% conversion friction
INR 8,885,194
USD 121,357
Five years of market return
Index return (price + dividends)
+75% Nifty 50
+85% S&P 500
Holdings before tax
INR 15,549,089
USD 224,510
Capital gains tax
Indian LTCG paid at source
INR 817,386 12.5% above ₹1.25L (Section 112A)
—
German Abgeltungsteuer (after Teilfreistellung 30% and Sparer-Pauschbetrag €1,000)
€0 additional Indian tax exceeds German liability
EUR 16,630 18.46% effective on equity ETFs
Today, in euros
Converted back to EUR, post-tax
EUR 132,503 at 111.18 INR/EUR
EUR 174,443 at 1.175 USD/EUR today
Final, rounded
EUR 132,500
EUR 174,400
FX rates from Google Finance (validated against ECB). Index returns from NSE Indices and S&P Dow Jones Indices. German Abgeltungsteuer at 26.375% (25% + 5.5% solidarity surcharge) per BMF. Equity ETF Teilfreistellung of 30% per §20 InvStG (Investment Tax Act), giving effective rate of 18.4625% on equity ETF gains. Sparer-Pauschbetrag €1,000 per individual. India-Germany DTAA provides foreign tax credit. Money assumed to stay invested where placed; tax shown as if realized today.
EUR-INR validated against Google Finance (89.03 in May 2021, 111.18 in May 2026). EUR-USD derived consistently. German Abgeltungsteuer at 26.375% with 30% Teilfreistellung for equity ETFs (effective 18.46%) and €1,000 Sparer-Pauschbetrag per BMF. India-Germany DTAA provides foreign tax credit; Indian LTCG covers Aarav’s German liability. Tax rules vary by individual circumstances and warrant professional review. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Not investment advice.
Now, your reaction
Two questions about what you just read.
Did you know this kind of gap could exist for cross-border investing?
When you read Aarav’s situation, how does it make you feel about your own?
What you’d want
If you had a tool that did this calculation continuously across all your accounts, what would you most want from it?
Pick the three that matter most to you. If you’re torn between options, that’s the signal we need most.
If it existed
What would feel like a fair monthly price for this?
For reference
A CA in India for NRIs (filing and basic advisory)
$200–500 per year
Local tax filing in your country of residence
Varies by country
An online research / advisory subscription
$10–30 per month
A personal financial advisor (1–2% of assets)
$80–160 per month on a $100K portfolio
Almost done
One last thing.
Would any of these be useful to you?
Pick whichever apply. Each one means I’ll reach out by email about that specific thing. No marketing lists, no third parties.
For you, specifically
Different situation, same kind of question.
You invest in India, and that comes with its own set of decisions that nobody really helps you with. Which mutual funds are still worth holding. Whether to add global exposure. How to know when to exit. How to make sure your portfolio actually matches your goals.
The next five questions are about what you’ve experienced, what you’ve tried, and what would actually help. Your answers shape this directly.
About 3 minutes.
Your situation
Right now, what does your investing situation actually look like?
How it feels right now
Which of these match how you currently feel about your investments?
Check all that resonate. Skip any that don’t.
What you’d want
If you had a tool that monitored your full portfolio and gave you specific recommendations, what would you most want from it?
Pick the three that matter most to you. If you’re torn between options, that’s the signal we need most.
If it existed
What would feel like a fair monthly subscription price for this?
For reference
A CA for ITR filing (basic salaried, with mutual funds)
₹3,000–5,000 per year
A CA with tax planning and advisory (HNI / complex)
₹15,000–30,000 per year
An online research subscription with model portfolios
₹2,000–5,000 per year
A SEBI-registered financial advisor (1–2% of assets)
₹4,000–8,000 per month on a ₹50L portfolio
Almost done
One last thing.
Would any of these be useful to you?
Pick whichever apply. Each one means I’ll reach out by email about that specific thing. No marketing lists, no third parties.
That’s everything
Thank you, truly.
You gave me five minutes of honesty. That’s more than most surveys deserve.
Your answers are now part of how this product gets shaped. Not a generalization across thousands. Yours, specifically, alongside a few hundred other voices that matter.
What happens next
i.If you opted in to anything, I’ll reach out by email within 48 hours with the details.
ii.The portfolio analysis takes a couple of days; the call is a calendar link; the findings come when ready.
iii.If something in the calculation has stayed with you in a way that feels unhelpful, please reach out. No pitch, just a conversation.