Investing Insights

4.2 (502)
INVESTING
UPDATED WEEKLY

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

1D AGO

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

Thanks to its tax benefits, your IRA can be a powerful tool to optimize your portfolio. Investment firms often see a big influx of new contributions into individual retirement accounts in the early part of each year as investors rush to meet the April 15 deadline. If you’re one of the many investors adding new funds to your IRA, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning Christine Benz has some ideas on how to make the most of those contributions and improve your portfolio in the process. How to Get the Most Out of Your IRA Contributions On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:16 2026 IRA Contribution Limits 00:01:45 How to Decide Between a Traditional and Roth IRA 00:03:52 Stock Investing Mistakes to Avoid With Your IRA 00:05:20 How to Invest Your IRA When You're Early in Your Career 00:08:13 How to Assess Your IRA in the Middle of Your Earning Years 00:10:23 The Advantages of Non-US Stocks and How to Diversify Your IRA 00:14:30 How to Derisk Your Portfolio as You Approach Retirement 00:16:47 Rebalancing Your IRA Without Tax Consequences 00:17:48 Is it ever too late to Contribute to Your IRA? Watch more from Morningstar: 3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing? 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 Editor's note: An earlier version of this episode published with the wrong episode name and description. Both have been updated. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20 min
JAN 30

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

merging-market funds will have a tough act to follow in 2026. The category racked up big gains last year following small returns for years. And a mix of factors like trade tensions prompted many investors to shift their dollars outside the US. Should you add emerging-market funds to your portfolio? And which ones were winners or losers? Morningstar’s senior principal of ratings Russ Kinnel dug into the data. The editor of the FundInvestor newsletter is here to tell you want he found. Subscribe to Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter. On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:20 Why Emerging‑Market Funds Surged After Years of Sluggish Returns 00:02:29 Market Shifts of Leadership in Asia 00:03:36 2025’s Winning Emerging-Market Funds 00:05:08 2025’s Losing Emerging-Market Funds 00:09:34 What’s Next for Emerging‑Market Funds in 2026? 00:10:21 How Fidelity Contrafund’s Will Danoff Built a Successful Stock-Picking Record 00:13:38 What Everyday Investors Can Learn from Danoff Watch more from Morningstar: How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing? How to Generate Steady Income in 2026 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.

16 min
JAN 23

How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings

If you’re newly retired or will join the ranks soon, it’s time to think about how you plan to spend your nest egg. Morningstar researchers are helping new retirees figure out where to begin. The recently published State of Retirement Income report concluded that the starting safe withdrawal rate for people beginning their retirement in 2026 is 3.9%. That number might appear low. However, the team has analyzed several strategies to lift it to almost 6%. Morningstar portfolio strategist Amy Arnott has investigated the data and joined the podcast to explain flexible withdrawal strategies. How Much Can You Spend in Retirement? Here’s Your Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate for 2026 https://apple.news/ALEEtAf1FTAm7WUFGvYvXVQ On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:26 Understanding the 3.9% Safe Withdrawal Rate 00:02:33 How Flexible Strategies Lift Withdrawal Rates Up to 5.7% 00:03:48 Flexible Approaches for Retirees Seeking Predictable Paycheck-like Income 00:05:40 Inside the Vanguard Dynamic Spending Method 00:07:15 Highest Lifetime Spending & Highest Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate 00:09:20 Leaving a Legacy and Strengthening Your Portfolio 00:14:30 4 Financial To-Dos to Kick Off the New Year Watch more from Morningstar: Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing? How to Generate Steady Income in 2026 All in on Magnificent 7? Where You Should Invest Next 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.

24 min
JAN 16

Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing?

Quantum computing stocks have surged in popularity over the past year, capturing investors’ enthusiasm on the coattails of the artificial intelligence boom. These buzzy names took off last summer after a slew of announcements and research breakthroughs from the biggest players in the tech industry like Alphabet GOOGL/GOOG, Amazon AMZN and Microsoft MSFT. Quantum computing promises to be one of the most transformative technological developments of the next few decades, but Morningstar’s analysts caution that mainstream market adoption could be a long away. Dan Romanoff, a senior equity research analyst on the technology team at Morningstar, discusses new developments in the quantum computing landscape and the best way for investors to get exposure in their portfolios now. Quantum Computing Market Insights On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:28 What Is Quantum Computing? 00:04:37 Why Are Computing Stocks Attracting Investors? 00:12:45 Quantum Technology Isn’t Yet Ready for the Mainstream 00:18:19Quantum Could Represent a $200 Billion Market 00:22:48Winners and Losers in Quantum Computing Stocks 00:25:28How To Invest in Quantum Computing Now Watch more from Morningstar: How to Generate Steady Income in 2026 All in on Magnificent 7? Where You Should Invest Next 9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025 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.

31 min
JAN 9

How to Generate Steady Income in 2026

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: Maximizing Yield in an Uncertain Market On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:33 Income investing in 2026 00:04:02 Bond market breakdown: short, intermediate, or long term? 00:07:39 Global bonds and hedging strategies 00:13:27 Equity Opportunities Beyond the US 00:15:31 REITs vs Utilities 00:17:14 Building Resilient Income Streams Watch more from Morningstar: All in on Magnificent 7? Where You Should Invest Next 9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025 Where to Invest in 2026 After This Year’s Market Volatility 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.

19 min
JAN 2

The Market Is All in on the Magnificent Seven. Where Should Investors Look Next?

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 Stock Market On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:49 The Magnificent Seven’s strong returns have benefited many investors. Why is their dominance a risk? 00:02:07 Your team highlighted a noteworthy stat in the report. The top 10 US stocks make up about 35% of the overall market. That’s almost double from a decade ago. What does that signal to you? 00:02:39 Can you explain what the hidden cost of market concentration is? 00:03:07 If the top stocks hold so much of the gains, where does that leave the rest of the market? 00:03:41 Let’s focus on key periods of market concentration. How does the current environment compare to the dot-com bubble? 00:04:11 And what about now versus the global financial crisis? 00:04:40 What if investors pulled back due to market concentration concerns in the last decade? Why would that have backfired? 00:05:51 How can investors manage the risk of market concentration in their portfolios? 00:05:50 Morningstar has identified investment opportunities for 2026. Why does the team favor US small caps over US large caps? 00:06:59 Another opportunity is the healthcare sector. What companies do Morningstar analysts think could fend off the competition for 10 years or more? 00:07:35 Morningstar encourages international diversification. Can you talk about the regions outside the US that look attractive for stock investors? 00:08:03 What’s the takeaway for diversifying beyond the Magnificent Seven in 2026? Watch more from Morningstar: 9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025 Where to Invest in 2026 After This Year’s Market Volatility Why Betting Against Nvidia in the AI Arms Race Could Be a Mistake 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.

9 min
12/26/2025

9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025

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 provides the optimal, or just rightamount, of factor exposure? And what should appear on our checklist? 00:04:40 Four dividend ETFs hold Morningstar’s Medalist Rating of Gold. Let’s start with the two dividend growth ETFs from Vanguard that hold these marks. 00:05:17 Explain why Vanguard’s top dividend income strategy also impressed Morningstar analysts. 00:06:07 The final and fourth Gold-rated dividend ETF mixes both income and growth strategies. Talk about the one from Schwab.Bond ETFs are having a banner year. Why are investors turning to these investments? 00:09:01 What makes a core bond ETF a solid portfolio building block? 00:10:02What’s the top idea that’s received high marks from Morningstar? 00:11:39We’re shifting from the least risky to the next level up, core-plus. What do these bond ETFs typically offer that an index-tracking ETF does not? 00:11:21 Can you tell us one intermediate core-plus bond ETF that’s earned a Gold rating from Morningstar? 00:11:56 Multisector bond ETFs take on a bit more risk than the previous two categories, and that comes with an expectation of more income. Should income investors skip the others and start here? 00:13:11It’stime for the third top idea. What multisector bond ETF should folks consider? 00:13:36 High-yield bond ETFs are the riskiest among the categories we’re discussing today. What additional risks are investors taking on for the juicy yields? 00:14:42 Morningstar does not currently rate any actively managed high-yield bond ETFs. Is there one that income investors should watch? 00:16:41What’s making covered-call ETFs so popular in 2025? 00:17:09 Their yields lookvery high. What is driving them? 00:18:31 What types of trade-offs are investors making? 00:19:51 Which covered-call ETFs do Morningstar analysts consider a solid choice for investors, and why? Watch more from Morningstar: Where to Invest in 2026 After This Year’s Market Volatility Why Betting Against Nvidia in the AI Arms Race Could Be a Mistake Here’s What Your Retirement Spending Rate Should Be in 2026 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.

23 min
12/19/2025

Where to Invest in 2026 After This Year’s Market Volatility

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 US stock market this year compared to recent years? 00:03:51 What has driven the volatility this year? 00:05:16 During these down periods, where did investors hide or seek safety? 00:06:04 Let’s zoom in on the investment leaders and laggards this year. What areas are outperforming, and which ones are underperforming? 00:06:43 You research the performance of investment factors which can drive risk and return. What has been the leading factor this year, and why? 00:08:32 Leadership changed throughout the year. What caused those changes? 00:09:33 Q4 will end in a few weeks. What areas should investors watch as we head into 2026? 00:11:22 We’ve discussed market volatility in 2025. What takeaways can we bring with us into the new year? Watch more from Morningstar: Why Betting Against Nvidia in the AI Arms Race Could Be a Mistake Here’s What Your Retirement Spending Rate Should Be in 2026 How ETFs Help You Cut Your Tax Bill 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.

14 min

See All (183)

Ivanna Hampton

Host
Margaret Giles

Host
Sarah Hansen

Host
Amy Arnott

Guest

4.2

out of 5

502 Ratings

Good advice in small bites

11/23/2025

Robin in Michigan

Another great podcast in the Morningstar family. I use this show as a teaser into diving deeper on various topics in the Morningstar platform.
It’s time

12/21/2025

Future-is-bright

I’ve listened through some rough times. There is good content to the show but the host really doesn’t appear to have a grasp of any of the topics. Markets, economics, retirement, she is holding the show back. Ivana is limiting the learning for the audience.
Great Show

09/04/2025

Dave_21012

This is a great show covering a wide range of investing topics. Ivanna Hampton is an excellent host and gets a lot of great minds to share information about investing that listeners can use. I try to listen every time a new show comes out.
Please change the host!

09/27/2025

Shashank Ganpule

I listen to this podcast regularly. A lot of helpful topics are covered by the knowledgeable guests that are invited. But I get turned off by the host. She just reads the questions already prepared by someone. She does not demonstrate any knowledge of what is being discussed or does not react in any way to represent how an ordinary listener might react. If you want to hear an example of that, listen to “The Daily” by New York Times.