Investing Insights

Hosted by Morningstar, Ivanna Hampton, Sarah Hansen

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208

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A thoughtful look at investing opportunities and risks beyond the market headlines, plus personal finance and retirement tips, from Morningstar.

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60 recent

August 14, 202615 min

Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire

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/  X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 7, 202613 min

Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

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/  X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 31, 202611 min

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

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 What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026 Follow Morningstar on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/  X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 24, 202615 min

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

It's hard to escape the artificial intelligence hype. It's everywhere. Companies are adopting AI into their processes. Many people are talking to chatbots. And investors are making bets on which firms or themes will win. But do you need to own an AI ETF to benefit from the boom? Or do you already have enough exposure? Morningstar's associate director of US passive strategies research Dan Sotiroff has investigated whether the additional volatility of an ETF focused on AI is worth the risk. For the Best Long-Term Bet in the AI Economy, Look to the Past On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:16 How AI shapes broad market ETFs 00:03:53 Are there still opportunities for smaller companies as large tech firms dominate? 00:05:12 What to know about thematic AI ETFs 00:08:59 Are ETFs the ideal way to invest in AI? 00:10:33 ETF picks for getting AI exposure 00:13:38 What to keep in mind about the AI tech trend Watch more from Morningstar: Don’t Leave Tax Savings on the Table: How to Conduct a Midyear IRA Checkup What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026 Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth Follow Morningstar on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/  X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 17, 202610 min

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

Consider getting your IRA in shape this summer instead of waiting for the calendar to flip to next year. A midyear checkup could help you optimize your retirement account to benefit from its tax advantages sooner than later. Morningstar's FundInvestor newsletter has highlighted investment ideas for folks who want to keep it simple, maximize tax advantages, or strive for capital appreciation. Morningstar's senior principal of ratings Russ Kinnel shares his favorite fund ideas for an IRA. IRA Favorites for Your Retirement Saving Plan On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:16 IRA basics and how Russ Kinnel invests in his IR 00:01:58 One-stop fund favorites for keeping it simple 00:03:45 Funds for maximizing tax advantages 00:06:38 Ideas to take the most advantage of tax-free compounding by focusing on capital appreciation 00:08:44 Could the funds also work in a Roth IRA? Watch more from Morningstar: What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026 Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete? Follow Morningstar on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/  X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 10, 202618 min

What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026

Market volatility tends to challenge investors' willpower to stick to their plan. That's understandable because it tends to be easier to say you will focus on the long-term until uncertainty emerges. Geopolitics and artificial intelligence stirred up their share of highs and lows in 2026. What lessons can you learn from past market-moving events to stay invested? And where are the opportunities in the second half of the year? Dominic Pappalardo is the chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Wealth. It's part of registered investment advisor, Morningstar Investment Management. What’s Ahead in 2027 and Beyond for Inflation, Fed Rate Cuts, and More On this episode: 00:00:31 Welcome 00:01:18 Stock market's first six months of 2026 00:01:41 Events driving this year's market highs and lows 00:06:02 Staying invested during drawdowns and volatility 00:10:04 Morningstar's mid-year market outlook 00:12:19 Fixed-income and equity sector opportunities 00:14:55 Investor takeaways for the second half of 2026 Watch more from Morningstar: Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/dividend-investing-how-find-right-balance-between-income-growth-2 Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete? https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/are-mutual-funds-becoming-obsolete-2 Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/brace-your-portfolio-mega-ipos-2 Follow Morningstar on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 26, 202615 min

Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth

There's just something about dividends. The popular investing strategy attracts retirees and other investors who need regular cash payouts, as well as those who like the tangible return dividends represent, even if they are reinvesting those distributions back into their portfolio. But what are the tradeoffs, and are they worth it? It depends on who you ask. From the pages of the Q2 2026 issue of Morningstar Magazine, several specialists argue against chasing higher yield. Instead, they encourage investors to balance dividends and total return. Jerry Kerns, who's the editor in chief, joins Investing Insights to discuss the magazine’s spotlight. Featured Article: Subscribe to Morningstar Magazine On this episode:  00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:35 What dividend investing is and its appeal 00:03:55 Yield chasing trade-offs and dividend cut signals 00:07:47 Why consider buyback yield alongside dividend yield 00:09:44 Dividend stocks Morningstar analysts find attractive 00:10:45 Gold-rated funds and insights into the strategies 00:12:00 How income investors can strike the right balance Watch more from Morningstar:  Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete?  https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/are-mutual-funds-becoming-obsolete-2 Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/brace-your-portfolio-mega-ipos-2 The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/portfolio-that-has-been-beating-classic-6040-why-it-matters-you-2 Follow Morningstar on social:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/  X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 19, 202619 min

Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete?

Bryan Armour, Morningstar’s director of ETF and passive strategies research for North America, and Dan Sotiroff, Morningstar’s associate director of US passive strategies research, explain why ETFs and collective investment trusts or CITs are challenging mutual funds. How Active ETFs Are Reshaping Fund Fees On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:30 How ETFs and mutual funds are alike and different 00:03:34 What investors prefer now 00:06:10 Cases when owning a mutual fund instead of an ETF could be beneficial 00:09:58 Are ETFs still synonymous with passive investing? 00:12:33 Notable names behind the active ETF launches 00:14:58 Are mutual funds an endangered species? Watch more from Morningstar: Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You The Best Opportunities for Fund Investors Today Follow Morningstar on social:  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/  X https://x.com/MorningstarInc  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/?hl=en  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/posts/?feedView=all  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 12, 202613 min

Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs

2026 is the year of the mega-IPO. SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI are working their way through the pipeline as anticipation builds for their blockbuster debuts. Elon Musk’s conglomerate is leading the shift from private to public markets. Demand is appearing to skyrocket to buy the companies the moment their stocks are publicly available. But is that the right move if you’re investing for the long term? Or are there better opportunities among stocks that are down on fears of AI competition, such as software as a service, or SaaS, stocks? These big private firms’ public arrivals will also affect index funds and 401(k)s. So what should you make of all this? Paul Condra is the global head of private markets research for PitchBook, a Morningstar company. He and his colleagues are presenting this topic at the upcoming Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago. Why We Think the SpaceX IPO Is Overvalued On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:46 Why SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI Are Going Public Now 00:03:10 Why Morningstar Values SpaceX at Half the IPO Price 00:04:34 How Retail Investors Should Approach Buying SpaceX Stock 00:05:56Anthropic's IPO and Its Trillion-Dollar Valuation 00:07:12 OpenAI's Broken Economics and IPO Prospects 00:08:47 New Index Rules and What They Mean for Your 401(k) Watch more from Morningstar: The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You https://www.morningstar.com/portfolios/portfolio-that-has-been-beating-classic-6040-why-it-matters-you The Best Opportunities for Fund Investors Today https://www.morningstar.com/funds/best-opportunities-fund-investors-today Will Vacation Inflation Affect Your Summer Travel? Here’s What to Know https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/will-vacation-inflation-affect-your-summer-travel-heres-what-know Follow Morningstar on social: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ X https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/?hl=en LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/posts/?feedView=all Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 5, 202613 min

The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You

Don't underestimate the benefits of portfolio diversification. A well-diversified portfolio can ride waves of market volatility, and new Morningstar research found that's what happened in 2025. When uncertainty emerged at times during the generally bullish market, the report identifies which asset classes performed well, which didn't, and how the classic 60/40 portfolio fared. So, what are the biggest challenges for portfolio diversification today? Amy Arnott is one of the co-authors of the 2026 Diversification Landscape Report. Why Portfolio Diversification Has Paid Off—but More Isn’t Always Better On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:19 Market trends shaping investor sentiment in 2026 00:02:27 Leading and lagging asset classes year to date 00:03:15 Inside Morningstar's 2026 Diversification Landscape Report 00:04:11 60/40 vs. diversified test portfolio and how each performed 00:07:38 Rising inflation and what it means for bonds 00:10:48 How retirees and risk-averse investors can manage volatility Watch more from Morningstar: The Best Opportunities for Fund Investors Today Will Vacation Inflation Affect Your Summer Travel? Here’s What to Know Bond ETF Flows Just Flipped. Here’s What It Means for You Follow Morningstar on social: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ X https://x.com/MorningstarInc Instagram https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/?hl=en LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/posts/?feedView=all Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Listen to episodes

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?

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

What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026

Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth

Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete?

Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs

The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You

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