Investing Insights

Maciej Kowara, principal in fixed-income strategies at Morningstar who studies active bond tools, and Eric Jacobson, senior principal and bond-market expert at Morningstar, discuss why active bond funds can outperform passive peers. They cover market inefficiencies, who trades bonds, where mispricings arise across bond types, examples when indexing hurt investors, and the tools and exposures active managers use.

The stock market has cooled on stocks caught up in the whirlwind of artificial intelligence. Fears over whether AI will disrupt a variety of sectors have triggered big sell-offs. Morningstar equity analysts have investigated 132 companies to determine whether that’s the case. They have concluded that AI is not a universal destroyer. The team thinks investors should sort through the wreckage and find newly cheap companies with enduring competitive advantages. Eric Compton, director of equity research for the technology sector at Morningstar, tells you where to look. Moat Ratings Guidebook Amid AI Disruption  On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:28 What are Moats, and How Does Morningstar Use Them? 00:04:11 In-Depth Analyst Review of 132 Companies 00:06:27 Why Cybersecurity Holds Up 00:10:02 Why Design Software Looks Resilient 00:13:10 How Financial Data Benefits From AI 00:15:32 Finding Opportunity After AI Selloffs     Watch more from Morningstar: 2 Cautionary Tales from Private Equity and Private Credit Markets Are You Ready for Tax Day? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You File Avoid This IRA Distribution Error to Protect Your Retirement Cash   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.

Alec Davis, Morningstar PitchBook writer covering public-private market convergence. Jeff Patak, Morningstar managing director specializing in manager research and ETFs. They unpack XOVR’s risky private-holdings approach and SpaceX concentration swings. They also dig into Blue Owl’s halted redemptions, liquidity choices, and fallout for alternative asset managers.

Tax day is quickly approaching, and it’s time to get organized. New tax rules might make it worth your while to itemize rather than take the standard deduction this year. And don’t just file away your 1099 forms—they can offer valuable insight into your portfolio’s tax efficiency. Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, discusses what you need to consider before, and after, you file. Morningstar’s Tax-Planning and IRA Resources for 2026 On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:15 The "Procrastination Penalty" of Last-Minute IRA and HSA Contributions 00:02:35 How to Decide Whether to Itemize or Claim the Standard Deduction 00:04:18 Tips for Itemizing 00:05:37 Other Deductions You May Qualify For 00:07:45 Insights from Your 1099 Forms: Dividends  00:10:40 Insights from Your 1099 Forms: Capital Gains 00:09:39 Insights from Your 1099 Forms: Tax-Exempt Interest 00:12:35 How to Avoid Overpaying Your Taxes   Watch more from Morningstar: Avoid This IRA Distribution Error to Protect Your Retirement Cash  Elevate Your 60/40 Portfolio With These Simple Tweaks Why REIT ETFs Still Work as Real Estate Slumps   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.

Denise Appleby, retirement and IRA specialist nicknamed The IRA Whisperer and Morningstar contributor, explains why IRA owners must track after-tax dollars themselves. She covers how withdrawals are allocated, why custodians often leave taxable amounts undetermined, and the importance of Form 1099-R and Form 8606. Practical steps for rebuilding records and avoiding double taxation are highlighted.

Jason Kephart, senior principal at Morningstar who researches multi-asset strategy, outlines a “total portfolio” refresh for the classic 60/40. He breaks holdings into growth and stability roles. He discusses which assets suit each sleeve, why some credit behaves like equities, and simple rebalancing examples to keep portfolios disciplined.

Dan Sotiroff, associate director of U.S. Passive Strategies at Morningstar and ETFInvestor editor, breaks down REIT ETFs and why investors still use them. He covers index vs active strategies, rate-sensitivity and recent underperformance, tax treatment and best account placement, and top broad REIT ETF picks like Vanguard and Schwab. Practical allocation tips and alternatives round out the talk.

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, breaks down practical IRA and retirement strategies. She covers 2026 contribution limits and how to choose between Traditional and Roth accounts. Short, actionable takes on avoiding common IRA mistakes, allocating to international and emerging stocks, rebalancing inside IRAs, and derisking as retirement nears.

Russ Kinnel, Morningstar ratings chief and FundInvestor editor, reviews the big 2025 rally in emerging‑market funds. He breaks down which funds surged or lagged, why Asia leadership shifted, and how China, value tilts, and index choices shaped results. He also considers what the 2026 outlook means for investors and fund managers.

New retirees will find insights on how to spend their savings wisely without risking their nest egg. The discussion highlights a starting safe withdrawal rate of 3.9%, complemented by flexible strategies that can boost this figure to nearly 6%. Amy Arnott explains methods like the Vanguard Dynamic Spending Method and the Actual Spending Pattern Approach to accommodate fluctuating incomes while preserving capital for legacies. Listeners also gain practical advice on portfolio diversification and navigating tax changes for 2026.