Investing Insights

Higher interest rates have ushered in an era where income opportunities abound. That’s following years of parched cash flow streams and low rates, especially in fixed income. However, risks like stubborn inflation and elevated stock valuations exist. Morningstar researchers believe it’s important to identify income opportunities that could be resilient in today’s market. Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Wealth, joined Investing Insights to discuss where to look.

Editor's note: The host misspoke when referring to Morningstar Holland’s chief European market strategist. His name is Michael Field.

Income Investing Strategies for 2026...

Is your portfolio making a big bet on the Magnificent Seven? Mega-cap names like Nvidia, Alphabet, and Apple belong to the exclusive club that has largely driven US returns higher in recent years. Their success has led to market concentration. Portfolios tracking broad benchmarks have seen their diversification decrease and risk increase. How can you prepare your portfolio to absorb potential shocks? And where are the opportunities beyond the Mag Seven? Morningstar Holland’s Chief European Market Strategist Michael Field is one of the researchers who investigated this.

Beyond the Magnificent Seven: Unlocking Value in a Concentrated St...

This week, we’re looking back at three discussions we held earlier this year on Investing Insights about exchange-traded funds that income investors might find attractive. Morningstar ETF specialists, Bryan Armour and Dan Sotiroff, talked about dividend, bond, and covered-call ETFs in 2025.

Subscribe to Morningstar’s ETFInvestor Newsletter.

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:33 Dividend investing can result in exposure to factors like value, quality, and low volatility. Can you briefly explain one, what is factor investing, and then where do dividend ETFs typically land?

00:03:21 How do you find a dividend ETF that...

Market volatility has left its imprint in 2025. Turbulence from tariffs, tech, and more have shaken investors’ confidence at times. Many folks looked for safety during those down periods. Yet, the US stock market overall has delivered a strong performance. So, who are the leaders and laggards as this year comes closer to wrapping up? And what should you watch with 2026 fast-approaching? Morningstar Indexes strategist and columnist Dan Lefkovitz has examined this year’s investment performance.

5 Investing Surprises From 2025

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:02:45 Market volatility ebbed and flowed in 2025. How volatile was the U...

A shift in mindset can help investors cope with market uncertainty.

2025 was a case study in the futility of trying to predict the market. Wall Street had lofty expectations for stocks entering the year. Then the tariff shock in April rattled the markets and many firms lowered their annual stock forecasts in response. They later raised them—after stock prices rebounded. With the new year on the horizon, Morningstar’s 2026 Global Outlook report is offering investors tactics to weather whatever the future may hold.

Morningstar strategists and an analyst will discuss key challenges facing investors in 2...

Most retirees want to spend as much as they can without having to worry about running out of money. Morningstar’s State of Retirement Income research analyzes retirement spending strategies to determine the highest safe starting withdrawal rate for new retirees in 2026. Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning and co-host of The Long View podcast, breaks down the research and shares some ideas about how you can boost your retirement spending.

What’s a Safe Retirement Withdrawal Rate for 2026?

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:00:46 Each year, you and you...

Exchange-traded funds can help you cut your tax bill. All funds must distribute capital gains from the stocks and bonds that they sell throughout the year. The gains can leave you stuck with unwanted taxes. ETFs and mutual funds differ when it comes to tax efficiency. It starts with how the investments are traded and how the transactions are treated. The differences can result in ETF investors owing less than mutual fund investors or nothing at all because ETFs can minimize their capital gain distributions. Bryan Armour, Morningstar’s director of ETF and passive strategies research for North America, ex...

Your portfolio might be due for an end-of-the-year cleanup. The Morningstar US Market Index is up about 15% through mid-November 2025, and overall performance has been strong for years (even after 2022’s down market). That said, some stock sectors have performed significantly better than others, and performance can vary widely even within a sector. That could mean you’relikely holding some winners and some losers. Tax-loss harvesting could help trim your tax bill to save some money. While you’re tuning up your portfolio, it could also be a good opportunity to bring your asset allocation back into balance. Morningstar portfolio strategist...

Investors are betting big on bond exchange-traded funds. Hundreds of billions of dollars have poured into bond ETFs in the first nine months of 2025. And more of these strategies have hit the market over the past several years. It’s important to remember that some bond ETFs are riskier than others. What should investors consider before tweaking their portfolio? Dan Sotiroff, a senior manager research analyst at Morningstar Research Services and the editor of the Morningstar ETFInvestor newsletter, discusses that and shares five top ideas for income investors.

Subscribe to Morningstar ETFInvestor for the full list of hi...

Are you getting the most out of your fund’s performance? Over the past 10 years, the average dollar invested in US mutual funds and exchange-traded funds earned 1.2% less per year than what those funds returned during the same period. That’s the top-line finding in this year’s Mind the Gap study, which aims to address the question of where investors succeeded in capturing most of their funds’ returns, and where they fell short. Jeff Ptak, a managing director for Morningstar Research Services, breaks down the takeaways from the report and what investors can do if they want to avoid le...

How is the weakening dollar affecting your portfolio? The world’s reserve currency fell sharply in the first half of 2025, making it a bruising year. It has recovered some but still sits below where it started the year. Other currencies like the euro, Japanese yen, and Mexican peso look stronger against the greenback. Several factors could influence whether the dollar roars back or recedes. Why should the dollar’s performance matter for everyday investors like you? Morningstar Indexes strategist Dan Lefkovitz explains why and what you can do to protect your portfolio from currency fluctuations.

The bifurcation of t...

This year’s uncertainty is producing a somewhat surprising group of winning and losing asset classes. And there are still two months to go in 2025. Many investors are rerouting their investments into different asset classes because of geopolitical risks like the US trade war, elevated inflation, and high interest rates. A more recent development is the budget battle in Washington, D.C. While the macro environment is pressure-testing portfolios, it’s also serving as a reminder about the benefits of diversification. So, which asset classes are leading and lagging as 2025 prepares to wrap up? And how’s the classic 60/40 portfo...

Over the past few years, just a few large-cap technology stocks have powered the stock market’s returns. That trend shows no signs of abating anytime soon, as demand for artificial intelligence continues to send the tech sector higher. 

A highly concentrated market can—and has—turbocharged returns, but it also comes with downsides. As tech stocks soar, fund investors may find themselves with portfolios that are significantly less diverse than expected thanks to the outsize influence of a handful of firms like Nvidia NVDA and Microsoft MSFT. Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Wealth, discusses how tod...

ETF Share Classes Are a Go for Dimensional: Here’s What Investors Need to Know

On this episode:

What was your reaction to the SEC removing these regulatory hurdles? 

Let’s first start with the rule change regarding crypto ETFs. Can you explain what new investment choices could be available, and what would they track? 

How soon could firms release new crypto ETFs? 

They’re already spot crypto ETFs trading. Could new competition push down fees overall? 

How have crypto ETFs performed so far in 2025...

Investors’ exuberance is fueling this year’s stock rally, but will key economic risks dampen the market’s mood? The current bull run has lifted stocks from their springtime lows to higher levels in autumn. The artificial intelligence boom is one of the big factors driving it. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is dealing with the challenging situation of balancing the weakening job market and stubborn inflation. The Fed cut interest rates for the first time in 2025 in the third quarter, but the path forward from here is less certain. Morningstar Inc Senior Markets Reporter Sarah Hansen discusses seven key market...

It might be tempting to buy dividend stocks with the highest yields, but not all dividend payers are safe. Those big payouts could be signaling that a company’s fundamentals are cracking. Looming financial risks could wreak havoc on income-focused investors’ portfolios. But there are ways to spot dividend traps. Morningstar Indexes strategist and columnist Dan Lefkovitz explains how to avoid the risks.

Both healthcare and consumer defensive sectors are lagging the broader stock market this year, but for different reasons.

Dan Kemp, chief research and investment officer at Morningstar Investment Management Europe, explored what’s behi...

There’s a tug-of-war between investing in cash and long duration bonds in today’s interest environment. The longer-end of the yield curve may look more appealing since anticipation is building about interest rate cuts. Morningstar’s economics team and market watchers are predicting the Federal Reserve will lower rates more than once in the final months of 2025. What may matter more is the time horizon for your financial goals. Morningstar Inc Portfolio Strategist Amy Arnott has examined why for some investors, sticking with cash is a less risky and better approach.

Oracle’s transformation is serving as a rem...

Exchange-traded fund launches have continued to accelerate, but not every shiny new strategy is worth owning. Good investment strategies can compensate investors with an appropriate return for the risks they take on. What kinds of ETFs are able to deliver over the long term, and which ones fall short? Dan Sotiroff is joining me today to explain the hidden risks in stock ETFs and what investors should look out for. Dan is a senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services and the editor of Morningstar’s ETFInvestor newsletter.

Can you talk about the idea tha...

Nvidia counts several of its Magnificent Seven pals as customers buying its sophisticated AI chips. And the world’s most valuable company says it could earn even more if geopolitical tensions between the US and China eased. But investors are debating whether the market is experiencing an AI boom or AI bubble. How should buy-and-hold investors think about investing in AI—are there any undervalued stocks left today? Dave Sekera is chief US market strategist at Morningstar Research Services and co-host of The Morning Filter podcast.

Learn about the new Morningstar Medalist Ratings for semiliquid funds during a li...

The revenue of US dividend stocks isn’t necessarily made in America. A portfolio of popular dividend-paying stocks is likely exposed to currency or geopolitical risks. That’s due to international revenue exposure: Some US-based companies earn 50% or more of their money outside of the country. A recent analysis of 35 dividend-paying stocks in Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter found several well-known names generate sizable revenue overseas. So, how should investors balance US vs. non-US equity exposure? Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter editor David Harrell explains what investors should know.

Learn about Morningstar’s new Medalist Ratings for semiliquid...

Is the 60/40 portfolio living up to its reputation of resilience this year? The merit of a classic portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds has been a matter of debate in recent years. A diversified 60/40 strategy failed to protect investors in 2022’s broad market crash—in fact, an all-stock portfolio would have held up better. However, a historical deep dive from Morningstar concluded that the tried-and-true approach lessened the pain in almost all of the worst market crashes in 150 years better than an all-stock portfolio. Morningstar Inc Portfolio Strategist Amy Arnott discusses the 60/40 portfolio’s ups and downs and its performance in 202...

It can sometimes seem like there’s an endless number of mutual funds for you to invest in. But not all of them are a right fit for your portfolio—and some aren’t worthy investments at all. A popular feature from Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter greatly shrinks the list and can help you home in on the winners. Russ Kinnel is the newsletter editor and senior principal of ratings for Morningstar Research Services. And he’s here to brag about his thrilling funds list.

On this episode:

Let’s begin with the idea behind t...

Investors are piling into global gold ETFs for a safe haven from uncertainty. Demand surged in the first half of 2025, according to a new report from the World Gold Council. The industry trade group points to geopolitical turmoil, global trade policies, and higher gold prices for driving interest in these ETFs. The lure of investing in gold ETFs can vary from wanting to diversify a portfolio, hedge against inflation risks, or simply bet on rising prices. Bryan Armour explains what you should know about this speculative asset. He’s the director of ETF and passive strategies research for North Am...

Fixed-income investors, bonds are rising to the occasion and looking attractive again. Their yields are higher, and they have delivered as diversifiers against stock sell-offs this year. Yet, uncertainty has muddled the outlook as the bond market seeks clarity about tariffs, inflation, and interest rates.Paul Olmsted covers US fixed-income strategies for Morningstar Research Services. The senior manager research analyst explains why you need bonds for a balanced portfolio.

Let’s start with how you’re thinking about the bond market in 2025. Can you talk about what you have considered key moments this year? 

As a fol...

Daniel Sotiroff, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains how covered-call ETFs work along with the popular investment’s risks and rewards.

On this episode:

Amy Arnott, portfolio strategist for Morningstar Inc., discusses how a popular dividend investing strategy works, and who would or wouldn’t benefit from it.

On this episode:

This part of the episode includes a correction: A response about which dividends are taxable versus...

Michael Field, European Market Strategist at Morningstar Holland, talks about tariff risks for key sectors and European stock performance as market volatility persists.

On this episode:

President Trump pushed his tariff deadline from July to August. How are global markets reacting to the uncertainty during this tariff watch?

The EU is one of America’s largest trading partners. How important is it for these two sides to strike a deal? 

And what’s at stake if they don’t before the deadline?

More than two dozen countries make up...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc’s senior markets reporter, discusses the uncertain outlook for the third quarter and how investors should prepare for market volatility.

What Was Surprising From Q2 Market Volatility

Mixed Expectations as Trump’s Tariff Deadline Approaches

How Should Investors Prepare Themselves for Market Volatility?

How Tariff Uncertainty Could Affect Company Earnings

How Trump’s Tax and Spending Bill Raises Concerns About Federal Deficit

How the Fed’s Decision on Interest Rates Could Affect the Yield Curve

Should Investors Brace for More Market Volatili...

Two Morningstar research leaders join Investing Insights to discuss whether US investors should consider international stocks and fixed income. They are Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist, and Philip Straehl, chief investment officer for the Americas, for Morningstar Wealth, part of registered investment adviser, Morningstar Investment Management.

Key Takeaways:

How the Markets Have Been Handling Volatility in 2025

Why Economic Data Has Stayed More Stable Than the Markets During Volatility

Why the Timing and the Scale of the Tariffs Were a Shock to the Market  

Will International Stocks Outperform US...

Lan Tran, manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the benefits and limitations of digital investment advice. Plus, a look at the best and worst robo-advisors of 2025.  

What Is a Robo-Advisor?

Robo-Advisors vs. Traditional Advisors

Who Should Use a Robo-Advisor?

Benefits of Digital Investment Advice vs. a DIY Approach

Do Robo-Advisors Offer Retirement and Taxable Accounts?

Limitations of Robo-Advisors

Robo-Advisor Fee Structure

How Robo-Advisors Are Taking a Hybrid Approach to Financial Advice

How Morningstar Rates the Best Robo-Advisors of 2025

...

Bryan Armour, director of ETF and passive strategies research for North America at Morningstar Research Services, discusses private equity ETFs and private credit ETFs. Armour also previews his session at the 2025 Morningstar Investment Conference featuring two ETF experts.

Hear From Experts on Private Asset ETFs at the 2025 Morningstar Investment Conference 

How Do Private Equity and Private Credit Investments Work?

Why Access to Private Markets Is Expanding

How Private Assets Pose a Challenge in ETFs

Private Asset ETF Performance: PRIV and XOVR

What Does Morningstar Think of Private A...

Amy Arnott, Morningstar Inc. portfolio strategist, discusses the success of the 60/40 portfolio and how diversification is paying off during market volatility this year.

How Diversification Has Held Up Against Market Volatility in 2025

Which Asset Classes Have Been Strong Diversifiers in 2025?

Which Asset Classes Have Struggled as Diversifiers?

How Have US vs. Non-US Stocks Performed in 2025?

Can Investors Still Turn to Fixed Income During Market Volatility?

How Correlations Between Asset Classes Is Key to Diversification

60/40 Portfolio vs. Diversified Portfolio

Why the 60/40 Portfolio Outperformed in...

David Harrell, editor of Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter, talks about the dividend stocks that earned a spot on the newsletter’s annual Dividend Growers list. Harrell also discusses how to approach dividend investing.

What Qualifies a Dividend Stock to Be on the DividendInvestor’s Annual Dividend Growers List?

13 Elite Companies With Fast-Growing Dividends

This part of the episode includes a correction: In an earlier version of this podcast, a section about companies included on the DividendInvestor’s DividendGrowers list and a follow-up question about companies that weren’t included was inadvertently cut during production...

Dan Lefkovitz, Morningstar Indexes strategist and columnist, explains how factor investing works. And he discusses which stocks outperformed and underperformed during this year’s market volatility.  

What Is Factor Investing?

What Factors Have the Strongest Performance Amid Market Volatility in 2025?

Berkshire Hathaway and Other Low-Volatility Stocks Outperformed During Market Volatility

Why Lower-Volatility Stocks Help With Capital Preservation in the Long Term

Which Factors Have Lagged the Broader Stock Market in 2025?

Nvidia and Other Quality Stocks Underperformed During Market Volatility? 

How Factor Investing’s Performance in 2025 Fits In...

Dan Sotiroff, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains how TIPS ETFs work, their performance in 2025, and what to consider before buying the treasury inflation-protected securities.  

Key Takeaways:

What Are TIPS?

TIPS ETFs vs. TIPS

Flows Into TIPS ETFs in 2025 Surprises Morningstar’s ETFInvestor Editor

How TIPS Have Performed Against the Bond Market in 2025

How Higher-for-Longer Interest Rates Could Create Higher Risk

Should Investors Look to Short- or Long-Term TIPS During Market Volatility?

What’s the Best Account to Hold TIPS ETFs?<...

Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Investment Management’s Wealth group, discusses how trade talks over tariffs could ripple through the bond market and whether import taxes are the right move for Hollywood movies.

Key Takeaways:

What a Potential Trade Deal Between the US and UK Means for Market Sentiment

What Countries Need to Strike a Trade Deal to Calm Wall Street?

What Persistent High Tariffs and Falling Imports From China Could Mean for the US

How Japan Moving Out of US Treasuries Could Rattle the Bond Market

Gregg Warren, senior analyst with Morningstar Research Services, discusses the succession, dividend, and stock portfolio questions he would ask at this year’s Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Warren previously pitched questions as part of the meeting’s analyst panel.

Key Takeaways:

Morningstar Analyst on Pitching Questions at Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting   

Succession Planning for Berkshire Hathaway’s Insurance Business   

What Investors Need to Know About Warren Buffett’s Successor   

Should Greg Abel Spin Off Berkshire Hathaway’s Businesses or Issue a Dividend?   

What We Are Listening for From Buff...

Amy Arnott, Morningstar Inc. portfolio strategist, discusses why her team’s starting safe withdrawal rate is more conservative than the popular 4% rule. Plus, a new metric to help determine financial priorities during retirement.

How ‘The State of Retirement Income’ Report Helps Investors Know Their Safe Withdrawal Rate

Conservative Estimate for Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate

Why Has the Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate Gone Down? 

Flexible or Dynamic Strategies to Increase the Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate 

What Is the Spending-Ending Ratio? 

Retirement Spending Strategies That Leave Legacy Funds 

Strategi...

Amy Arnott, Morningstar Inc. portfolio strategist, discusses which investments have performed best and worst in past recessions. Gold prices are rising during the current market volatility. Arnott explains why it might not be the best time to buy the precious metal.

Key Takeaways:

Why Current Market Volatility May Not Be Ending Soon

How to Keep Yourself Steady During Market Volatility

How Investors Nearing Retirement Can Avoid Sequence-of-Return Risk During Market Volatility

How Retirees Can Mitigate Market Volatility Using the Bucket Approach

Which Asset Classes Have P...

Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Investment Management, discusses the escalating US-China trade war, the 90-day tariff pause, and raised recession risk during this market volatility.

Key Takeaways:

What an Escalating Trade War Between the US and China Could Mean

Macroeconomic Trends and Rising Deglobalization After Trump’s Tariffs  

What Trump’s 90-Day Pause on Tariffs Means for the Markets and Economy  

How Market Volatility Could Persist After a Tariff-Induced Stock Selloff and Rebound  

Why Fixed Income and Equities Are Responding Differently During Market Volatility  

Morningsta...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc. senior markets reporter, discusses the market volatility in the first quarter of 2025 and the portfolio strategy that paid off for investors.

What’s the Difference Between the Stock Market and the Economy? 

How Stock Market Trends in 2025 Have Shifted From Last Year 

Worries About Changes Fanning Market Volatility  

How Tariffs Could Impact Growth, Inflation, and Consumer Prices 

Market Volatility Sends Investors Rushing to Gold 

What Are the Risks of a Recession in 2025? 

Why Portfolio Diversification Is a Winning Strategy During Market Volatilit...

Zach Evens, a passive strategies analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses two ETFs that use data from Unusual Whales to track congressional stock trades. He explains why investors might be drawn to these funds and the potential risks that they face.

Key Takeaways:

Why Investors May Want to Follow Congressional Stock Trades

Are Members of Congress Good at Picking Stocks?

The Firms Behind the ETFs: Subversive Capital and Unusual Whales

Limitations of the Data on Congressional Stock Trades

How Democrats and Republicans Invest Differently

Both...

Karen Anderson, director of healthcare equity research for Morningstar Research Services, discusses the forces shaping the landscape and where she sees opportunities for investors.  

Key Takeaways:

Why Healthcare Stocks Have Been Resilient During the Market Downturn

How Regulatory Changes Could Affect the Healthcare Industry

Why Healthcare Stocks’ Valuations Look Attractive From a Bottom-Up View

How Have Healthcare Stocks’ Valuations Changed Historically?

How Stock Valuations Differ Within the Healthcare Sector  

How an Aging US Population Affects the Healthcare Sector  

Will GLP-1 Drugs Continue to Grow?   Duration: 00:21:37

Russ Kinnel, senior principal of ratings for Morningstar Research Services, researched which alternative, equity, and value funds could provide a good hedge during a market sell-off.

What is the Downside Capture Ratio? 

Why Funds with A Low Downside Capture Ratio Make Good Diversifiers 

How Does a Fund’s Maximum Drawdown Line Up with Its Downside Capture?  

Why Savers Should Look for Low-Risk Investments 

Floating-Rate Funds to Help Protect a Bond-Heavy Portfolio Against Interest-Rate Risk 

Alternative Funds for Diversification  

What is Arbitrage? 

Large-Blend Funds to Help Pre...

Sheryl Rowling, editorial director for financial advice at Morningstar Inc, discusses the financial and tax issues that could come up during and after a gray divorce.

Limiting the Financial Impact of a Gray Divorce

How to Budget After Divorce

What to Do if There’s a Budget Shortfall 

Social Security Divorce Benefits

Gray Divorce Near Retirement

Will a New Tax-Filing Status Result in Higher Taxes? 

How to Fairly Split Assets in Divorce 

How to Avoid Tax Penalties When Dividing Retirement Accounts

Pros...

Dan Lefkovitz, strategist for Morningstar Indexes, talks about what he finds noteworthy in the bond market today. Philip Straehl, chief investment officer for the Americas for Morningstar Wealth, a part of registered investment adviser Morningstar Investment Management, explains why employees who own company stock should protect their total wealth.

Bond Market in Q1 2025

Why Did the 10-Year US Treasury Yield Go Up After 2024 Interest Rate Cuts 

Why Bond Investors Are Worried Following the US Presidential Election

What’s the Bright Side for Bonds?

The Importance of Portfolio Diversification

M...

David Harrell, editor of Morningstar’s StockInvestor newsletter, investigated stock valuation trends from a watchlist with 120 names across the market. He reveals which stocks are relative bargains.

The Evolution of the Morningstar Style Box

What Is the Value-Growth Score for Stocks?

Why Investors Should Look Deeper Than Overall Market Trends

Investigating Stock Valuation Trends on the Tortoise and Hare Watchlist

Small-Cap Stock Findings

Are There Any Mega-Cap Stocks on Morningstar StockInvestor’s Watchlist?  

Which Stocks Earned the Minimum Value-Growth Score?

Which Stocks...

Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America for Morningstar Research Services, explains how dividend income and dividend growth strategies work. He also discusses why four dividend ETFs from Vanguard and Schwab earn top marks.

Comparing Income and Growth Dividend ETF Strategies

Blindspots in Dividend  ETF Investing

Are Company Payouts Expected to Increase Over Time for Dividend Growth ETFs?

Judging the Performance of Dividend ETF Strategies 

What is Factor Investing?

Writing Your Factor Exposure Checklist for Dividend ETFs

Gold-Rated Dividend Growth ETFs from Va...

Dan Sotiroff, a senior manager research analyst for Morningstar, explains how lower fees on dozens of Vanguard investments will likely benefit both investors and the popular money manager. Plus, we hear from the hosts of our new podcast, The Morning Filter. David Sekera, Morningstar's chief US market strategist, and Susan Dziubinski, an investment specialist at Morningstar Inc., discuss how they cut through the noise of the stock market each week.

Vanguard Fee Cuts 2025

Why Is Vanguard Cutting Fees Now?

6 Noteworthy Vanguard Funds and ETFs With Cheaper Expense Ratios 

Vanguard Signals to I...

Preston Caldwell, senior US economist for Morningstar Investment Management, discusses the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision, his outlook for inflation in 2025, and the potential impact of US tariffs.

Fed Meeting January 2025: Was Pausing Interest-Rate Cuts a Good Move? 

Outlook for Inflation in 2025

How a Strong Jobs Market Fits into the Fed’s Outlook

Why Mortgage Rates Rose When Interest Rates Fell

When is the Next Fed Meeting in 2025?

Are Interest Rates Going Down in 2025?

How Mass Deportations Could Affect Businesses and Consumers

How US Ta...

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Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, explains why the markets are closely watching inflation and what some forecasters expect. Seth Goldstein, strategist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses whether the new Trump administration’s policies could affect the electric vehicle industry and his outlook for Tesla’s stock.

What’s Changed About the Inflation Outlook

Why Inflation is Running Hotter Again

What Stubborn Inflation Means for Investors and the Economy

Markets’ Response to Inflation 

Why Investors Need to Pay Attention to Inflation Drivers

What Economists Think Is Next for Infla...

Russ Kinnel, director of ratings for Morningstar Research Services, compares open-end funds and actively managed ETFs from Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, and Capital Group. Matthew Dolgin, senior equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses what he thinks of Netflix’s stock and where the streamer could profit next. 

Open-End Funds vs. Active ETFs

Advantages of Active ETFs

Appeal for Day Traders

Disadvantage of Active ETFs

Which Investors Should Consider Swapping Mutual Funds for ETF Counterparts

Comparing Open-End Funds and Active ETFs on Key Factors

How T...

Jack Shannon, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how fund companies are looking to put private assets in the hands of everyday investors. He explains the risks and opportunities in private equity and private credit, and where this trend could go in 2025.

What Are Private Assets? 

Risks of Private Assets vs. Public Assets 

Why Fund Companies Want to Give Retail Investors Access to Private Assets 

How Investors Can Access Private Assets Today 

Why Funds Choose Private Credit Instead of Private Equity 

Why Companies Stay Priva...

Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Investment Management, discusses where to find the highest bond yields this year and whether corporate bonds are still attractive.

Why Cash is No Longer King

Is a 3% Interest Rate Forecast a Wake-Up Call?

Why It's a Good Time for Investors to Move Out of Cash

Why Investors Should Move Longer Term in Fixed Income

Are Corporate Bonds Still Attractive?

Where We Are Seeing Promising Yields From Global Bonds  

What to Keep in Mind When Investing in Global Bonds Duration: 00:14:17

Tom Lauricella, Morningstar Inc global markets editor, explains why the market reacted poorly to the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate outlook. The Smart Investor newsletter editor also discusses some of 2024’s biggest headlines such as inflation, the broader stock market rally, and new leadership in Washington.

Why the Fed Scaled Back from Four Interest-Rate Cuts to Two for 20255

Did the Market Bounce Back After the Drop Following the Fed Rate Decision?

Why the Fed Isn’t Saying They Are Seeing a Stronger Economy in 2025

Will Trump’s Tariffs Cause Inflation to Rise?

Will...

Russel Kinnel, director of ratings for Morningstar Research Services, discusses large growth’s impressive run in 2024 and why it might be time to rebalance if you haven’t in a while.

What is Driving Growth’s Impressive Run?

Why Is it Important to Rebalance Now

What Triggered Growth’s Largest Selloffs Since 2000

What Was Unusual About the Growth Correction in 2022

Top-Rated Bond Funds that Could Help with Saving for an Emergency Fund

Bond Funds that are Defensive if Growth Gets Crushed  

Small-Value Funds Out of Sync With...

Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist at Morningstar Investment Management, discusses why long-term yields spiked in the wake of the election, what's next for fixed-income in 2025, and how investors can take advantage of higher yields in their portfolios.

Why Did Bond Yields Rise in the Wake of the Election?

How Investors Are Thinking About Rising Bond Yields

What the Current Run-Up in Bond Yields Tells Us About the Markets

How Do Today’s Yields Compare to History?

Will the Flat Yield Curve Start to Steepen?

How Bond Yields Af...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, discusses the ins and outs of tax-loss selling and where investors can look for potential opportunities to harvest losses in their portfolios.

What is Tax-Loss Selling?

Are There Limits to How Much You Can Offset Capital?

How to Evaluate Your Cost Basis to Find Loss Opportunities

What is the 30 Day Rule for Tax-Loss Selling?

Why Investors Should Think About Tax-Loss Selling When Markets Are Up

How to Make Tax-Loss Selling a Part of Your Portfolio Maintenance St...

David Harrell, editor of Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter, makes the case for dividend investing. However, he also points out the pitfalls, like dividend fallacy, that income-focused investors should watch out for. 

Why Investors Are Divided About Dividend Investing 

The Pitfall of Dividend Fallacy 

Warning Signal for Dividend Traps

Should Investors Focus on Total Return Rather Than Dividends Alone?

How a Dividend-Focused Investment Strategy Can Help with Safe Withdrawal Rates

Why Investors May Not Want to Create Their Own Dividend

Why Long-Term Performance Matters When Looking at Di...

Mark Miller, Morningstar contributor, talks about the new $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for Medicare Part D coming in 2025. Plus, learn what you should know before switching between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare during open enrollment.

Traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Why Seniors Shouldn’t Just Roll Over Their Plans in 2025

2025 Medicare Part D Changes

Medicare’s New Prescription Payment Plan

What Should Seniors Do If Their Medicare Advantage Plan is Being Eliminated?

What You Need to Know About Switching Between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage  

Where You Can Go...

Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America for Morningstar Research Services, talks about the best way for most retail investors to leverage and which leveraged ETFs look promising. Travis Miller, strategist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how tech companies are looking to nuclear energy to fuel data centers’ surging demand.

Why Leverage Has a Debatable Reputation in Investing

Volatility Drag and Leveraged ETFs

Why Does Leverage Kill ETFs?

What Are ETPs?

A Better Way for Investors to Use Leverage in Their Portfolio

How Can In...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine talks with author and researcher Howard Gleckman about long-term care.  

How Long-Term Care Differs from Conventional Healthcare

Why Americans Need More Long-Term Care Than Ever Before

Long-Term Care Isn’t Just in Nursing Homes

Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care Costs?

Who Should Consider Long-Term Care Insurance?

The Financial Implications of Continuing...

Katie Binns, director of product management for Morningstar Indexes, discusses bank loans’ benefits even as interest rates are expected to fall. William Kerwin, equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services who covers Apple, reveals the two main things he wants to hear about on the earnings call.

What Are Bank Loans?

Bank Loans vs. Junk Bonds

The Role of Bank Loans in Your Portfolio

Why the Market for Bank Loans Has Grown

Companies With Bank Loans Today

Why Bank Loans Are Less Volatile Than Junk Bonds

Ho...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine talks with financial planning expert Jeff Levine about the importance of tax planning in retirement.

Why Tax Planning is Key When Withdrawing from Your Retirement Portfolio

Will Your Taxes Decrease in Retirement?

Key Tax Strategies for Retirees Before They Have to Take RMDs

Do Rules of Thumb for Retirement Spending Make Sense?

How to...

Dan Lefkovitz, Morningstar Indexes strategist, discusses why it’s important to be ready for a range of outcomes during a market rotation. Nic Owens, equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about his outlook for Boeing stock ahead of earnings.

Trends from the Q3 Market Rotation Extending into Q4

 Key Moments Sparked Market Volatility 

Will Value Stocks Make a Comeback?

 Value and Small-Cap Stock Outlook

What’s Fueling Dividend Stocks Outperformance Against the Broader Market?

Bond Performance in Q3 and Early Q4

What Investors Need to Watc...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine sits down with Washington Post personal finance columnist and author Michelle Singletary. They talk about the difficult psychological transition from saving to spending in retirement.

Transitioning from Saving to Spending in Retirement

How to Plan for Retirement When Your Spouse Doesn’t Retire at the Same Time

Are Annuities Helpful for In-Retirement Cash Needs?

Delaying...

Secure Act Concerns

Rules for Traditional and Roth IRAs and Changes for Inherited IRAs

Will Beneficiaries Need to Withdraw RMDs Every Year?

Do People Who Inherit IRAs Still Need to Follow the 10-Year Rule?

Why Congress Wants Inherited IRA Heirs to Follow the 10-Year Rule

What Is Required of Non-Spouse Beneficiaries When Someone Passes After Starting RMDs?

What Happens if the Original Account Owner Dies Before Taking Required Minimum Distributions?

Can Non-Spouse Beneficiaries of Inherited IRAs Do a Rollover?

When Should People Born...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine sits down with wealth manager Harold Evensky, who inspired Christine’s work in retirement portfolio bucketing.

How the Bucket Approach to Retirement Planning Helps Investors

How the Bucket Approach Helped Keep Clients Steady During Market Downturns

Benefits of Limiting Cash in Retirement Portfolios

Why Investors Should Avoid Too Many Retirement Buckets  

Why Prioritizi...

Morningstar Inc editor Margaret Giles discusses the triple-tax-benefits of HSAs, how they compare to other tax-advantaged accounts, and whether you can save too much. Greg Carlson, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, highlights the providers that received Morningstar's top ratings.

What is an HSA?

Who is Eligible for an HSA?

HSA vs FSA

How to Maximize the Triple-Tax Benefits of HSAs

How Do HSAs Compare to Other Tax-Advantaged Accounts?

Can You Save Too Much in an HSA?

How Has the HSA Landscape Evolved...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine sits down with personal finance expert Manisha Thakor to address the question of “What is enough?” when it comes to retirement.

Do You Have Enough Financial Resources to Retire?

How Retirement Spending Changes as We Age

Planning for Long-Term Care in Retirement  

Non-Financial Planning for Retirement

How to Establish a Sense of Identity Awa...

Karen Andersen, biotechnology strategist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses what GLP-1 drugs’ demand means for the biopharma industry’s five-year outlook. And whether the weight-loss drugs pose a threat to snack food stocks.

Why GLP-1 Drugs Are in Demand 

Competition Between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly

How Expanding the Conditions GLP-1 Drugs Treats Could Influence Insurance Coverage

Are Weight Loss Drugs a Threat to Snack Food Stocks?

Big Pharma’s Looming Patent Cliff

How Medicare Negotiations Impact the Pharmaceutical Industry

What is a Biologic Drug?

Up...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine sits down with senior nerd at Kitces.com and assistant professor of finance Derek Tharp. They talk through how adjusting your spending throughout your retirement can enable you to spend more in the long run.  

How Actual Retiree Spending Deviates from Conventional Retirement Research

Why Early Retirees Can Spend More Than the 4% Guideline

How to Adjust Your Ret...

Preston Caldwell, senior US economist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses why the Federal Reserve made an aggressive interest-rate cut now. And what these lower rates mean for borrowers.

Morningstar’s Take on the Federal Reserve’s First Interest-Rate Cut in 2024 

What is the Neutral Rate of Interest?

Was the Half-Point Interest Rate Cut as “Timely?” 

Risks that Could Cause Inflation to Reheat

What Signs from the Job Market Could Spur the Fed into Action?

Does the Fed’s Forecast for Interest-Rate Cuts Line Up with Morningstar’s Expectations?<...

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, interviews financial experts about different aspects of retirement in ‘How to Retire,’ the companion podcast to her book of the same name. In this episode, Christine sits down with Yahoo Finance columnist and author Kerry Hannon to talk through the benefits of meaningful work in retirement.

Benefits of Working Past Traditional Retirement Age

What Does the Data Tell Us About People Who Work Longer?

How to Make Working Longer a Part of Your Retirement Plan

Dealing With Age Discrimination in the Wo...

Dan Lefkovitz, Morningstar Indexes strategist, explains how following the money can reveal how exposed your portfolio is to geopolitical risks. Christine Benz, Morningstar Inc director of personal finance, is the author of the new book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement. Benz joins Investing Insights to discuss her new book and how to avoid easy-to-miss pitfalls of retirement planning.

 Is Globalization Waning?

Why the U.S., China, and Japan Are Turning to Global Income

Big Tech’s Influence on Global Revenue

How Nvidia Is Pushing the U.S...

Senior equity analyst Jaime Katz with Morningstar Research Services discusses consumer demand for recreational vehicles and the impact interest rate cuts could have on the industry. She breaks down Morningstar's outlook for Polaris and Malibu Boats, two undervalued manufacturers that have long-term growth potential.

How Consumer Demand in the Recreational Vehicle Industry Has Evolved

What Factors Are Impacting Recreational Vehicle Companies?

How Interest-Rate Cuts Affect Consumer Demand for Recreational Vehicles

Is Recreational Vehicle Demand Correlated with Oil Prices?

How Wealth and Market Activity Impact Consumer Behavior

What’s...

Why the Employment Retirement Income Security Act Has Been Successful

How Well Workers from Upper, Middle, and Lower Incomes are Saving for Retirement

Retirement Savings by Race and Ethnicity

How the Government and Employers Could Expand 401(k) Coverage  

Improving Social Security  

Would a National Retirement Savings Plan Replace Current Employer Plans?

Do Investors Need Fiduciary Protections like ERISA Extended to IRAs?

What’s At-Stake for Future Retirees 

Read about topics from this episode.  

The Time is Right for a National R...

Russ Kinnel, director of ratings for Morningstar Research Services, discusses mutual funds’ greatest achievement and their competition against ETFs.

Mutual Fund Industry Outlook

How This Law Protects Investors Investing in Mutual Funds

Mutual Fund Market Timing Scandal  

How Mutual Funds Can Stay Competitive to ETFs

Competition from Crypto ETFs

Are Mutual Funds a Good Investment?

Mutual Funds’ Greatest Achievement  

Are Mutual Funds Here to Stay?

Top Mutual Fund Picks

Read about topics from this episode.  

How to Find...

3 Reasons Why Investors Should Streamline Their Accounts

How Low Can You Go with Retirement Accounts?

How You Can Consolidate Tax-Deferred Accounts

Consolidate Retirement Accounts with the Same Provider

The Week Ahead in Markets

Here's What to Expect from Macy’s Upcoming Earnings

What Investors Want to Hear from Macy’s CEO

What Tanked Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management’s Offer to Macy’s

Macy’s Is Focusing on Luxury Sales  

Macy’s Stock Outlook Ahead of Earnings

Read about t...

Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America for Morningstar Research Services, discusses why investors should consider diversifying beyond Magnificent Seven  stocks. Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, explains what caused the sharp stock market selloff. Preston Caldwell, senior US economist for Morningstar Research Services, explores whether the Federal Reserve needs to make an emergency rate cut.

What Caused the Stock Market Selloff?

U.S. Tech Stocks and Bank of Japan Raising Interest Rates

Global Selloff and Big Tech

Should You Shift Your Portfolio Away from the Magnificent Seven S...

Amy Arnott, a portfolio strategist for Morningstar Inc., explains why asset classes like REITs and high-yield bonds may raise a portfolio’s overall level of risk. She also discusses which areas investors should consider when building a diversified portfolio.

Benefits of Diversifying Beyond U.S. Stocks and Bonds

Which Asset Classes Didn’t Move in the Opposite Direction of Stocks?

International Stocks Correlations Have Shifted Towards U.S. Stocks

Should You Have International Stocks in Your Portfolio?

Commodities Stock Performance

What Hurdles Could Commodities Face?

Cryp...

Jack Shannon, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how often active fund managers succeeded in picking top stocks. He also explains whether this information can help investors find better funds.

Are Fund Managers Good at Making Big Stock Bets?

Fund Managers’ Hit Rates

Active Fund Managers’ vs. Passive Index Fund Managers’ Stock Picking Performance  

How an Active Mutual Fund Can Underperform Despite Holding Winning Stocks

High Hit Rates and Topping the Index

When High Hit Rates Matter More or Less

Can Investors Set It a...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc. markets reporter talks about what is driving the AI market rally, and what’s next for AI and the Fab Five. Sean Dunlop, a senior equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains how AI can innovate the restaurant industry. Travis Miller, energy and utilities strategist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses how utilities are powering AI through data center demand.  

Should the AI Market Rally Broaden Its View?

Who Is Driving the Fab Five’s Success?

Will NVIDIA Remain the Leader in the Artificial Intelligence Race?

Tech Companies Strugg...

Manager research analyst Lan Tran with Morningstar Research Services breaks down the strategy of the Alpha Architect 1-3 Month Box ETF, how investors can take advantage of what it has to offer, and whether this fund is worth the hype.

What Makes BOXX ETF Stand Out  

What is a Box Spread?  

Tax Advantages 

Is BOXX ETF Delivering on its Promises?

Will BOXX ETF Attract Investors If Cash Yields Drop?

How Investors Can Take Advantage of BOXX ETF

Will There Be More ETFs Like BOXX?

Key...

Morningstar Research Services’ Bryan Armour, director of passive strategies research for North America; Ryan Jackson, senior manager research analyst; and Daniel Sotiroff, senior manager research analyst discuss what’s driving the rapid of growth active ETFs and how their tax efficiency and lower costs make them an easy win for investors. The team joins host Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc. markets reporter, at the 2024 Morningstar Investment Conference.

Active vs Passive ETFs

What’s Driving the Growth of Active ETFs?

Why Some Active ETFs Are More Successful Than Others

Active ETFs that Managers Have S...

Tom Lauricella, Morningstar’s global markets editor and Smart Investor newsletter editor, discusses how a strong economy has defied expectations, why it’s still worthwhile to invest in bonds, and what to watch for in the second half of 2024.

How is the Market Reacting to the Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Forecast?

Will the Economy Get a Soft Landing?

Nvidia is Driving the Stock Market’s Bull Run

Nvidia Stock Outlook 

Why We’re Seeing More Stock Splits in 2024

New Dividends From Mega-Cap Tech Companies 

What Could P...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc. markets reporter, discusses why the stock market is up today and what could cause it to fall. Preston Caldwell, senior US economist for Morningstar Research Services, explains why he thinks the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates more than once in 2024.

Should You Invest in Spot Ether ETFs?

Lululemon on Track Despite Slowdown in Americas

The Fed’s Inflation Outlook Is a Little Too Pessimistic

Good News from the Fed’s New Inflation Report

Will the Fed Cut Interest Rates in 2024?

How Investors Can...

Amy Arnott, portfolio strategist for Morningstar Inc, discusses why the classic 60/40 investment strategy beat a more diversified portfolio in 2023, and the positive that can come from interest-rate pivots.

The Benefits of Portfolio Diversification  

How Does the 60/40 Portfolio Hold Up Against a Portfolio with More Asset Classes?

Why the Well-Diversified Portfolio Struggled in 2023

Is it Worth it to Invest Beyond the 60/40 Portfolio?

Why Interest Rate Pivots Are Painful and Encouraging

Is There an Interest Rate Pivot Right Now?

Do Bonds Still Provide a Diversification Benefit?

...

Jack Shannon, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about the mania around Destiny Tech 100 and how much investors are paying to own the closed-end fund compared with what it’s worth. Margaret Giles, Morningstar Inc editor, discusses how life-stage investing can help pre-retirees and retirees map their priorities.

Nvidia’s 10-for-1 Stock Split

Target’s Weak Sales and Declining Market Share

Vanguard’s New CEO Starting Soon  

Investing for Each Life Stage

Financial Priorities When You Approach Retirement

Why Investors Should Think About Withdrawal Sequencing...

David Harrell is the editor of Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter. He’s also a miles and points enthusiast. He shares what he’s learned from his credit card points journey, including that miles and points aren’t so-called free money.

Credit Card Points

How Do Travel Credit Cards Work?

Why Did Credit Card Companies Start Offering Rewards?

Why Have Credit Card Programs Become a Part of Airlines' Business Models?

Could Credit Card Companies Pull Back on Rewards?

Surcharges with Credit Cards

What is the Cost of Point...

Denise Appleby, IRA Quick Reference Guide author known as The IRA Whisperer, clears up the confusion about what the IRS waived concerning inherited IRAs in 2024. Travis Miller, energy and utilities strategist for Morningstar Research Services, talks about how the artificial intelligence boom is driving data center demand. He also points to 2 cheap utility stocks expected to benefit.

Disney’s Improved Streaming Results  

Uber’s Strong Financial Results in 2024

Palantir’s Performance Led by AI Platform

Opportunities with Artificial Intelligence and Utility Stocks

Utility Stocks: When Will the Market Gi...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, discusses how today’s market volatility could benefit investors who are focused on long-term investing. Mark Miller, Retirement Reboot author, calls the Medicare changes in 2024 at the pharmacy counter “the best news that few people seem to know about.”  

Apple’s Weak 2024 but Optimism for 2025

Amazon’s Impressive First Quarter

Eli Lilly’s Better-Than-Expected Q1

Medicare's Falling Prescription Costs 

Why Are Medicare Prescription Costs Dropping?

How Spending Caps Affect Seniors

Expanded Access to Federal Assistance for Low-Income Seniors

Wi...

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, explains why Apple and Tesla are diverging from the rest of the Magnificent Seven stocks. Also, details into a first ever dividend from Alphabet. Preston Caldwell, senior US economist for Morningstar Research Services, discusses why the Federal Reserve left higher interest rates in place and is changing its bond holdings.

Alphabet’s First Dividend

Boeing’s Focused on Recovering from Past Mistakes

General Motors Strong Start to 2024

The Magnificent Seven Stock Divergence

Apple’s Fallen from Last Year’s Rally  

How Apple Coul...

Netflix’s Incredible First Quarter  

United Flew Just Above Morningstar’s Expectations  

An Investing Guide for Every Life Stage

What is Life-Stage Investing?

Early Career Accumulation

When Would Roth Accounts Make Sense for an Investor?

Why Mid-Career Accumulation Can Be More Complicated

Financial Priorities of Mid-Career Accumulators

Covered-Call ETFs and Passive Strategies  

How Do Covered Call and Buffer ETFs Work?

Which Kind of Investors Are These Strategies Designed For?

Downsides to Buffer ETFs and Covered Call ETFs?

Tax C...

Sheryl Rowling, editorial director for financial advice for Morningstar Inc, talks about four strategies to practice tax-efficient investing all year. Morningstar Sustainalytics’ director of stewardship Jackie Cook discusses three climate change resolutions this proxy-voting season, including one on Bank of America’s ballot.

Tesla Appears It’s Focusing on Profits

JPMorgan Chase Keeps Outlook Steady

Climate Change Resolutions During Proxy-Voting Season

Tax-Efficient Investing: 4 Moves to Make Now

Read about topics from this episode. 

Tesla: Staff Reduction Confirms Our View of Focus on Profits In 2024

JPMorgan Earning...

Matthew Dolgin, senior equity analyst for Morningstar Research Services, talks about why companies are focusing on sports streaming as competition heats up. Plus, the path they could take to improve their financial situations.

Netflix’s Dominance  

Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s New Sports-Focused Streaming Service

How Companies Can Expand into Streaming

The Role of Sports in Streaming

NBA TV Deal

Why are Apple and Amazon Tough Competitors?

Streaming Services With Compelling Growth Stories 

Streaming Company Stock Picks

Read abo...

Dan Sotiroff and Todd Trubey, senior manager research analysts for Morningstar Research Services, discuss what makes a great dividend fund, the trade-offs that are costing some investors, and the risks to watch for.

Dividend Income, Dividend Growth, and Dividend Income and Growth

Dividend Fund Risks

Should Dividend Yield Be a Top Priority? 

Dividend Funds vs Passive Options 

What Advantage Do Actively Managed Funds Have Over Broadly Diversified Passive Funds?

How to Find a Great Dividend Fund

Passively Managed Dividend Fund Picks

Actively Managed Fu...

John Rekenthaler, vice president of research for Morningstar Research Services, explains how Morningstar’s study confirmed the 4% retirement rule and discusses why it’s important for new retirees to be flexible with their spending.

Six Retirement Withdrawal Strategies that Stretch Savings

What Has Changed with Retirement Withdrawal Rates?

Trade Offs to a Conversative Start with Your Portfolio

Risks and Benefits of Changing a Portfolio’s Stock Allocation

Flexible Spending Strategies  

The Role of Guaranteed Income

Key Takeaways

Read about topics from this epis...

David Harrell, editor of Morningstar DividendInvestor newsletter, explains why some income-focused investors may skip adding two new dividend stocks, Meta and Salesforce, to their portfolios. Preston Caldwell, senior US economist for Morningstar Research Services, talks about why he expects more rate cuts than the Federal Reserve’s projections.

Adobe’s Strong Q1 & Disappointing Forecast

Do Salesforce and Meta Pay Dividends?

Meta and Salesforce New Dividends  

What Can Meta and Salesforce Shareholders Expect?

Will Meta and Salesforce Diversify the Pool of Dividend-Paying Stocks?

Mega-Cap Stocks and Dividend Investing

W...