The Curious Case of Finqalab's 0.25%
WHERE'S THE FIRE? 🔥
Seems like it’s become the industry’s favorite pastime to create a ruckus about Finqalab’s 0.25% commission fee, so I decided to run the numbers myself – and (surprise surprise), the difference is curious indeed.
Here’s what the numbers look like (I’ve tried to make this easy even for a layman to understand – seems like that’s the benchmark one needs to set here)
The table you see above is the total amount you’d be paying per transaction (trade, if you will) if you were paying the supposed industry standard 0.15% against Finqalab’s “criminal” (take that with a pinch of salt) 0.25%.
The numbers above feel out of place? Even a 3rd grader could’ve put this table together – fair play – lets get to the essential substance of the issue. Shall we take a real world scenario? As real as it gets? Sure..
THE PRACTICAL 🔍
Lets start with a stock – National Foods (NATF)? We all know how it has rallied lately like there was no tomorrow?
I bought 15,000 shares of NATF on 24th June 2025 at Rs 285.88/share. With Finqalab, my cost was Rs 286.6 per share. At another broker charging 0.15%, my average cost or “entry price” would’ve been Rs 286.31. That’s a gap of 29 paisa per share. Big deal? Let’s look further..
Fast forward – IF I liquidate at yesterday’s closing price (i.e 28th August 2025), my profit with Finqalab comes to Rs 1,249,843, while at the industry’s beloved 0.15% it’s Rs 1,259,721. The difference? Rs 9,878. Bigger picture – a whopping 29% in just 65 days no matter who you’re trading with.
Here’s a table for those math geeks who think I did some magic trick and pulled a rabbit out of the hat
Now that we’ve addressed the elephant in the room (partially), let’s take a step back and ask ourselves by putting all this in perspective – are we really crying over Rs 9,878 rupees when we’re walking away with over a Rs 1.2 million profit in 65 days? Does the phrase Penny wise, pound foolish ring a bell?
“But you’re talking about a one-off trade.. For a high-frequency trader (scalping multiple times daily) that difference compounds and can start eating into margins.. Dozens of trades a month, thinner profit spreads..” Yada yada
Yes Yes, I hear you – let’s give you the panadol you so richly deserve because this must really be hurting (No that wasn’t a BUY call for HALEON).
SO IS FINQALAB RIPPING US OFF WITH A HIGHER BROKERAGE FEE? 💰
That statement could’ve been true – the only problem.. Finqalab preaches, educates and tries to inculcate the values & the importance of making wealth, not money. How is this related? Let me dumb it down a little.. Going back to the basics: Brokerage houses make money every time you trade. So you pay a fee when you buy.. You pay a fee when you sell. Unfortunately, for those complaining – Finqalab never urges or prompts you to SELL (unless they see some drastic fundamental change). They are NOT breeding traders, they want you to invest and generate wealth in the long run.
YOU’RE SINGING PRAISES BECAUSE YOU GOT LUCKY? 🥠
Guilty as charged? No (Sorry to disappoint) – the aforementioned example is just one of the many exposures I’ve had in due course. In case you missed it (scroll up and check – I know you will), I said IF I liquidate my holding.. I haven’t. Why? Because I’m not a trader looking to book profits at the drop of a hat. If a business is fundamentally worth investing in, we aren’t asked to jump ship just because a correction is due, there’s been a one-off bad result, or a war has broken out. As a very wise man once told us – “You don’t break up on one fight”
FINQALAB IS A CULT - THERE’S NOTHING MORE TO IT 🙋♂️
I call this the flawed perception of epic proportions. Sadly, such talks only highlight the sorry state of affairs where financial illiteracy is at its peak, the system has been flawed since its inception and now we just don’t want to evolve because we know no better. The perfect broker is gauged by the quality and speed of “tips”, even if the source is “Trust me Bro” – is that what we’ve regressed to? Trust me Bro?
On the flipside – If calling a user base that’s growing rapidly, being taught the fundamentals of investing and becoming financially independent is called a “cult” – Frankly, I’d take that any day.
For the well versed – Finqalab is in essence, a community that has been built with the vision of educating the masses on what wealth generation truly means. The fundamentals of business is more important than that Satta tip Abdul Ghafoor trader bhai just passed in secrecy over whatsapp (No intentional reference to any trader, dead or alive).
SO WHAT IS FINQALAB’S SECRET JUICE LIST? 🥤
Finqalab’s Juice List isn’t your average stock list – it’s the creme de la creme. Think of it as their high-energy, high-conviction lineup of stocks with real “juice” – handpicked through sharp fundamental research and smart technical setups. Instead of drowning in endless tickers, you get a filtered list of the market’s most exciting opportunities, the ones with the best shot at delivering outsized returns. It’s where the noise stops, and the alpha starts.
I COULD’VE MADE THE SAME MONEY WITH ANOTHER BROKER? 💸
Yes & No! NATF was added to the “Juice List” long before NATF started trending – Why and how? There are some brilliant minds at Finqalab that work against the trading mentality and are tasked with focusing solely on fundamentals, identifying stocks that they feel are genuinely going to commence their journey in the near term. So while you noticed the stock after it had been “UC-ing” for the past few months, we were already locked and loaded because the juice list had been updated well before your newly found stock came in fashion.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE FINQALAB COMMUNITY? 🧑🤝🧑
The Finqalab community isn’t just another group of investors – it’s a collective of sharp, like-minded market enthusiasts who thrive on sharing knowledge, insights, and strategies. What makes it stand out is the culture of transparency and collaboration – members openly discuss trades, break down setups, and celebrate both wins and lessons learned. Instead of navigating the markets alone, you’re plugged into a support system that constantly fuels your learning curve. It’s where raw ideas get refined into actionable strategies, and where you always feel one step ahead because you’re never thinking in isolation. Think of it as discussing next steps at your family dinner table – the only difference? Everyone is just as invested and knowledgeable (if not more). Bon Apetite?
WHO IS FINQALAB FOR? 🧙
Finqalab isn’t for everyone – and that’s the point. It’s not built for people chasing “quick tips” from their chai wala or gambling their savings on hearsay. Finqalab is for those who want to build sustainable wealth, not just make short-term money.
It’s for:
- Long-term investors who believe in fundamentals and want to grow alongside solid businesses.
- Professionals & entrepreneurs who don’t have the time to chase daily rumors but want reliable research and insights.
- Learners who may be new to investing but are eager to understand the why behind their trades instead of blindly following noise.
- Seasoned investors who value community-driven perspectives and want to sharpen their own thinking with other sharp minds.
At its core, Finqalab is for anyone who’s tired of the broken “tip-based” system and instead wants a serious, structured, and empowering approach to investing. If you’re here to actually learn, grow, and create wealth — this is where you belong.
SO… STILL CRYING OVER 0.25%? 😢
Finqalab isn’t just your run-of-the-mill brokerage. The coveted Juice List (something a Finqalab user would proudly talk about), the fundamental & technical calls, the research – that’s where the real value lies. That edge is what gets me to these million-plus profits in the first place.
So if someone isn’t willing to pay an extra 9,878 rupees for an advantage worth millions, maybe they shouldn’t be investing at all.
This isn’t financial advice (obviously) – but if you want to see what I’m talking about, here’s where you start 👇
About the Author (Disclaimer Alert!!!)
Contrary to popular belief, the author is not on Finqalab’s payroll, hasn’t been bribed with free shares, and sadly isn’t getting any “secret Juice List” privileges. He’s just another investor chasing sustainable wealth who happens to believe Finqalab actually walks the talk. His credentials? A stint as a research analyst at another brokerage house, a current gig making and marketing products to pay the bills, and a quiet wish that he was the brainchild behind the Finqalab success story (spoiler: he isn’t).