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High interest rates and expensive home prices are keeping some frustrated buyers on the sidelines. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage recently crossed the 7% line and remains there, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. And recently there’s an uptick in some buyers choosing adjustable-rate mortgages that come with a lower loan rate, but higher risk. Meanwhile, macroeconomic conditions are also squeezing homebuilders. So, when could affordability return to the housing market and where can investors find cheap stock opportunities? Suryansh Sharma is the director of equity research for Morningstar and covers the housing industry.     Sign up for PitchBook or Morningstar Direct to read Suryansh Sharma’s full report, US Housing: 2026 Q2.    On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:25 High Mortgage Rates and Prices Squeeze Buyers 00:02:46 How Rate Hikes and Cheap Mortgages Affect Home Sales 00:07:08 Rent vs. Buying: Comparing Monthly Housing Costs 00:08:11 Housing Market Risks, Mortgage Rate Outlook, and One Undervalued Stock 00:11:39 Ask the Economist: How Elections and the Economy Can Intersect    Check out more from Morningstar: Are TIPS ETFs the Best Way to Fight Inflation? The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments 14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark    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/    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.

Is persistent inflation making TIPS ETFs more attractive? Hundreds of millions of dollars flowed into this niche investment in September, according to Morningstar data. Yet, there’s a debate over whether they’re an ideal way to defend against higher costs. Joining me is Dan Sotiroff to discuss what investors should know, including the risk, tax treatment, and top-rated ETFs. He’s the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar.  Ask the Analyst: TIPS ETFs Protect Against Inflation. So Why Did Mine Lose Money?  On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:11 What TIPS ETFs Are and How They Work 00:02:28 Can TIPS ETFs Help Against Elevated Inflation? 00:04:39 Where Investor Money Is Going and How TIPS ETFs Performed 00:07:07 How Interest Rates Affect TIPS ETFs, Plus Other Risks 00:09:13 How TIPS ETFs Are Taxed 00:10:57 Gold- and Silver-Rated TIPS ETFs and Key Takeaways  Listen to more from Morningstar:  The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments  14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year?    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.

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    Watch More From Morningstar: 14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year? Don’t Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields    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/    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.

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.  Sign up for Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter.    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     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/    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.

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.  Sign up for a free subscription to Morningstar magazine.  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    Follow Morningstar on social:  https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ https://x.com/MorningstarInc https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 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.

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    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/    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.

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.    Sign up for the Smart Investor newsletter from Morningstar.    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    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.

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 BackfireWhy Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?   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.

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?   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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.