Investing Insights

Latest Episodes:

The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

We have a special episode for you this week. The author behind the popular Ask the Analyst column on Morningstar.com is coming to the table. Morningstar portfolio strategist Amy Arnott is going into the mailbag to answer readers’ questions about bonds, including TIPS and other portfolio matters.

Submit your question to the Ask the Analyst column created and written by Morningstar's Amy Arnott.

On this episode:
00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:36 How Bond ETFs Work and Comparing TIPS, I Bonds, Treasuries

[This video states that an investor can use $5,000 from a tax refund to purchase I bonds in excess of the $10,000 limit. The US Treasury discontinued this tax-refund option on Jan. 1, 2025. ].
00:05:06 Municipal Bond Fund Losses After a Fed Rate Hike
00:06:58 Where to Hold Bonds: Roth vs. Traditional IRA, and TIPS Ladders
00:09:15 Paying for Law School Tuition: Which Accounts Come Into Play
00:10:30 Simplifying 231 Holdings and Limiting Capital Gains on Fund Swaps
00:14:11 What to Know Before Submitting Your Ask the Analyst Question

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This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

The menu of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds can appear to go on and on, and it’s probably hard not to feel overwhelmed when you’re researching what works for your portfolio. A popular annual feature in Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter narrows the choices from thousands to about a few dozen. Russ Kinnel has done the hard work for you and is here to share investment ideas from his Thrilling Funds list. He’s the newsletter editor and Morningstar’s senior principal of ratings.

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:11 What's New in Morningstar's FundInvestor Newsletter
00:01:55 How Funds Make the Thrilling Funds List
00:03:43 Large-, Midsize, and Small-Company Funds From Fidelity, Vanguard and More
00:06:22 Bond ETFs, Global Stock Funds, and Municipal Bond Funds That Stand Out
00:08:50 Why Fidelity Contrafund and Other Popular Funds Just Missed the Cut
00:10:02 How Investors Can Find Out How Their Funds Stack Up Against the Criteria

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year?
Don't Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields
How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio

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This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Are wide-moat stocks’ struggles a sign of their protection diminishing? That’s the big question from the Q3 issue of Morningstar magazine. Key market moments this year heavily weighed on some stocks with competitive advantages. Why did they stumble? Morningstar magazine Editor-in-Chief Jerry Kerns is returning to Investing Insights to discuss this issue’s cover story.

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:06 What Is a Moat and Its Five Sources
00:03:24 Why Examine Wide-Moat Stocks' Performance Now
00:04:12 What's Behind the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index's Rough Stretch?
00:06:59 Are Moats Really a Sign of Quality?
00:07:38 Key Takeaway on Wide-Moat Stocks
00:08:12 Other Highlights from This Quarter's Morningstar Magazine

Watch more from Morningstar:

Don't Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields
How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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Don’t Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Higher bond yields are attracting more attention and more money. US bond ETFs pulled in almost $54 billion in August. Core and core-plus bond ETFs make up about $8.5 billion of that. These funds tend to provide shelter during market storms to ease a portfolio’s rocky moments. They also provide steady and predictable income. As bond rates sit higher than they have in the past, how can you benefit while also taking a conservative approach? Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar.

Why Higher Bond Yields Can Be 'a Great Thing'

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:00:50 How core and core-plus bond ETFs work
00:04:22 Billions flowing into core and core-plus bond ETFs this year

00:05:55 How active fund managers capitalize on higher bond rates
00:08:36 What higher bond yields mean for income investors
00:09:51 Core bond ETFs earning Gold and Silver ratings
00:11:17 Core-plus bond ETFs Morningstar analysts like

Watch more from Morningstar:

How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement
New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

he dominance of artificial intelligence is swelling globally. Its massive growth is weighing heavily on stock markets, pressuring bond markets, and even growing to outsized proportions in emerging markets. These developments are increasing concentration risks in everyday investors' portfolios. What should you look for, and how do you guard against the AI surge? Tom Lauricella is Morningstar's chief global markets editor and the editor of the Smart Investor newsletter.

Markets Brief: Your Portfolio Is More Concentrated Than You Think

On this episode:
00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:18 Any signs of the AI stock rally slowing down?
00:02:01 Semiconductor stocks vs. other industries
00:03:11 Concentration risk in emerging-market funds
00:06:33 How AI is blurring lines between growth and value
00:10:34 Big Tech's AI debt binge and the outlook for bond yields
00:14:23 What to know about the Anthropic and OpenAI IPOs

Watch more from Morningstar:
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement

New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution
Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire

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401(k) Millionaires: Here’s How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Becoming a 401(k) millionaire can require decades of hard work and sacrifice. Previously, a seven-figure nest egg shined as the gold standard among retirement planners. But the shine has dulled as a portfolio of that size no longer guarantees the same security. What steps should you take to protect your savings and avoid going broke in retirement? Sheryl Rowling has a list of tips. The certified public accountant is the editorial director of financial advice for Morningstar.

Your 7-Figure Retirement Fund Might Not Stretch As Far As You Think. Here’s How to Change That

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:20 Why seven-figure retirement portfolios need extra planning finesse
00:01:58 Why the retirement-to-RMD window matters
00:03:40 How taxpayers can approach the new SALT deduction
00:04:50 Building a cash bucket for market downturns
00:06:15 Retirement money missteps worth avoiding
00:09:41 Shifting asset allocation and key takeaways

Watch more from Morningstar:

New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution

Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire
Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

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New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

New exchange-traded funds are sprouting up quickly. In 2025, more than 1,000 ETFs launched. The crop included promising funds as well as those taking on unnecessary risks. The field could expand soon to include hundreds of riskier ETFs. As investment choices evolve, how can everyday investors spot what’s a good fit for their portfolio?  Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar. 

New ETFs with Sensible Investment Approaches Are Becoming Harder to Find

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:11 How ETFs have evolved since the 1990s

00:02:38 New ETF trends and how providers compete

00:07:34 Risks and costs behind leveraged and inverse ETFs

00:11:04 Promising new ETFs worth a look

00:12:21 What to watch out for

00:13:13 Key takeaways for evaluating new ETFs

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire

Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

Target-Date Funds With Annuities Are Gaining Ground. Is That Good for Your Retirement Plan?

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Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Will you give yourself permission to fully enjoy your nest egg? Many retirees spent years saving to enjoy this chapter of their lives, but when they finally get there, a lot of them hold back. Of course, lavish spending can be a problem in retirees' golden years. But so can not spending enough! New Morningstar research has found retirees often withdraw their money very conservatively, even when they're not especially afraid of running out of money. As a result, they might deny themselves a dream vacation or trying new hobbies. So, what's behind it, and how can you learn to spend more in retirement and still live within your means? One of the researchers is Dr. Danielle Labotka, who's a behavioral scientist for Morningstar.

Is Your Cautious Retirement Spending Doing More Harm Than Good?

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:02 Why Morningstar researchers studied retirement underspending

00:02:28 How retirees decide how much to spend

00:03:23 Why simple withdrawal strategies generally lead to underspending

00:04:42 What typically happens to retirees' wealth over time

00:05:27 Why cautious spending persists even when retirees can afford more

00:07:37 Three ways to tell if you're underspending in retirement

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

Target-Date Funds With Annuities Are Gaining Ground. Is That Good for Your Retirement Plan?

AI ETFs Are on the Rise. Are They Worth the Risk?

Follow Morningstar on social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

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Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks? Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Picking winning stocks is just part of the battle to beat an index. Active managers make investing moves when opportunities arise or dry up. They also rely on a team of analysts and state-of-the-art tools to help them uncover the next big investment idea. Yet, an in-depth dive into the top 100 largest active US stock funds reveals most active managers earn lower returns than their index. So, what are the pros' missteps? And what can everyday investors like you learn from them? Jeff Ptak analyzed years of stock fund data. The managing director of manager research for Morningstar explains what he found.

The Biggest Active Stock Funds Picked the Right Stocks. They Still Lagged

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:00:55 What is a hypothetical 'do-nothing' portfolio?
00:02:54 Hits and misses during 2025's strong market
00:04:16 The do-nothing portfolio's performance during up and down years
00:05:17 Hypothetical $10K growth over a decade
00:06:27 How active managers can do a better job of beating their index
00:07:35 Overcoming the urge to make portfolio tweaks

Watch more from Morningstar:

Target-Date Funds With Annuities Are Gaining Ground. Is That Good for Your Retirement Plan?

AI ETFs Are on the Rise. Are They Worth the Risk?

Don’t Leave Tax Savings on the Table: How to Conduct a Midyear IRA Checkup

Follow Morningstar on social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

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Target-Date Funds With Annuities Are Gaining Ground. Is That Good for Your Retirement Plan? Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Guaranteed income in retirement sounds pretty nice, but what are the trade-offs to make it happen? Several big asset managers offer target-date funds with built-in annuities. However, it's difficult to compare one against another because their strategies tend to differ. And retail annuities' dubious reputation has set up a hurdle for mass adoption. But recent important developments could clear the path for these funds to appear in 401(k)s and other retirement plans. New Morningstar research explores why target-date funds with annuities are gaining ground in the US. Jason Kephart has dug into the data. Morningstar's senior principal of multi-asset manager research is here to explain what he found.

As Fidelity Adds Target-Date Fund With Guaranteed Income, Here’s What You Should Watch For

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:00:59 What annuities are and why they got a bad rap

00:02:05 How in-plan annuities differ from retail versions

00:02:26 Why a proposed Department of Labor rule matters for 401(k) plans

00:03:08 Is momentum building for guaranteed income in 401(k)s?

00:04:18 Income annuities vs. guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits

00:07:09 What retirement savers should know now

Watch more from Morningstar:

AI ETFs Are on the Rise. Are They Worth the Risk?

Don’t Leave Tax Savings on the Table: How to Conduct a Midyear IRA Checkup