Simple, but Not Easy

Morningstar
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Simple, but Not Easy

Hello, and welcome to Simple, but Not Easy, where we turn complicated financial developments into actionable ideas. This is a podcast from Morningstar’s Wealth Group, where we equip financial advisors with our best ideas to remove friction and help clients achieve goals.

  1. 12 FEB

    Financial Advisors Take Back Time with AssetMark

    Time is a financial advisor’s most valuable asset. As industry tailwinds push the profession toward greater client-centricity—and as clients demand more from their advisors—many are recognizing the benefits of outsourcing investment management. By doing so, they can focus on what truly drives their business: being in front of clients and strengthening relationships.

    43 min

  2. 23/12/2024

    2025 Outlook: Rotating Between Defense and Offense

    Morningstar Wealth's Chief Investment Officer, Philip Straehl, and Head of Investments, Ricky Williamson share insights on the key themes shaping the investment landscape for 2025 and beyond.

    38 min

  3. 06/12/2024

    Post-Election Recap: Diversification, Fundamental Analysis, and Valuations Will Likely Drive Future Success

    While presidential elections often create tension and leave many feeling on edge, the stock market didn’t share this level of apprehension. Remarkably, October was one of the least volatile months in history leading up to a presidential election. Although this might seem surprising, it’s not entirely unusual. Markets frequently display greater resilience than we might expect. However, it’s important to remember that volatility isn’t always synonymous with selloffs or down days. As Morningstar Wealth Chief Multi-Asset Strategist Dom Pappalardo recently explained during his podcast appearance on Simple, but Not Easy, market activity post-election highlights the varied forms volatility can take. In his role, Pappalardo focuses on helping clients understand how Morningstar's research efforts translate into actionable portfolio management decisions.

    25 min

  4. 29/10/2024

    Strange Times in the US Housing Market – Breaking it All Down

    Some have called this the weirdest housing market in recent history due to the unusual mix of high interest rates and declining affordability. And yet, we still have record high home prices across the 20 largest housing markets in the country. This month, we're diving into the U.S. housing market, a topic very relevant to many investors given a house is often the largest single asset one owns. In this episode, we're excited to shed light on the US housing market, what makes it challenging, what makes it unusual, and what needs to change for it to improve. We're joined by Preston Caldwell, Morningstar's Chief US Economist and Brian Bernard, Director of Equity Research specializing in the industrial sector, which includes homebuilders.

    34 min

  5. 30/09/2024

    Principles-Based Investing, Industry Trends, and Getting to Know Morningstar Wealth CIO, Philip Straehl

    Welcome back to Simple But Not Easy. We hope you had an enjoyable summer and are ready to finish the year on a high note. In today's episode, we're excited to dive deep into the world of investing, market strategies, and the future of wealth management. We'll start by getting to know Philip Straehl, Morningstar's new Chief Investment Officer of the Americas, as he shares insights from his career journey and a wealth of knowledge on the evolving market landscape. From there, we'll explore Morningstar's mission and investment philosophy, and importantly, what sets it apart in an ever-evolving financial world. Wealth management industry trends are also on the agenda, and we'll close with some investing themes that everyone should be thinking about.

    32 min

  6. 16/07/2024

    Opportunity Awaits: A Midyear Outlook

    A special live episode from the Morningstar Investment Conference. Two of Morningstar Wealth’s investment leaders—Matt Wacher and Ricky Williamson—joined the show to help us dig into what’s already happened this year and where we may be headed. The topics covered included: • The Fed and where rates may be headed • Further discussion on fixed-income • US stocks are off to another hot start this year. Can outperformance continue? • Every business is thinking about AI. How is it impacting markets? • And how should investors be preparing for a presidential election? And as always, we address the implications on client portfolios and help consider action items.

    33 min

  7. 07/05/2024

    Lifetime Financial Advice: Enhanced Personalization by Considering Human Capital

    The evolution of financial advice in a few decades time has been nothing short of revolutionary. The industry's transformation has been driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes and evolving investor preferences. Traditional methods of in-person advice have been expanded to include digital platforms, providing investors with greater accessibility and customization. And we've all observed an evolution in financial planning journeys and an increase in the number of advisors making financial planning core to their value proposition. But we still have to ask, is there room for improvement?

    32 min

  8. 14/03/2024

    Baby Boomers to Millennials: Working Across Generations to Help Them Achieve Financial Goals

    Much of the discussion around financial advice tends to be around asset allocation, product selection, and fund structures. These are all worthy conversations and topics we’ve enjoyed discussing previously on this show. But one topic that feels underexplored: how do advisors deliver financial advice to clients across generations? A retired client in their 70s needs a much different advice offering than a 40-year-old client in their prime work years. In this episode, we are diving into the fascinating intergenerational dynamics of financial advice.

    41 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hello, and welcome to Simple, but Not Easy, where we turn complicated financial developments into actionable ideas. This is a podcast from Morningstar’s Wealth Group, where we equip financial advisors with our best ideas to remove friction and help clients achieve goals.

Information

  • Channel
    Morningstar
  • Creator
    Morningstar
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Morningstar Investment Management
  • Show Website
    Simple, but Not Easy

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