Podcast
Investing Insights
Hosted by Morningstar, Ivanna Hampton, Sarah Hansen · EN
A thoughtful look at investing opportunities and risks beyond the market headlines, plus personal finance and retirement tips, from Morningstar.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Best Opportunities for Fund Investors Today
6d ago00:11:02Tap to summarizeMorningstar stamps what it thinks about a fund’s future with this Medalist Rating. You’ve probably seen a star with the word Gold, Silver, or Bronze next to a fund you were researching on Morningstar.com. This represents the fund’s Morningstar Medalist Rating. The manager research team recently reworked and simplified how they judge funds to create a simpler process for investors to understand. The new methodology also brings more transparency and stability. Some funds’ ratings rose, while others fell or held steady. What were the key factors that led to the upgrades and downgrades, and which funds gained or lost status? Morningstar Senior Principal of Ratings Russ Kinnel was in a room where it happened. Russ, who is also the editor of Morningstar FundInvestor, is here to talk about it. How Morningstar’s New Medalist Rating Methodology Affects 11 of America’s Largest Funds On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:33 Why Morningstar refreshed its Medalist Rating methodology 00:02:43 How the new criteria evaluate active and passive funds 00:03:07 Rating changes across fund categories and equity style boxes 00:04:09 Fidelity Contrafund, Pimco Income, and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index reviewed 00:06:25 Upgrades for target date, bank loan, and allocation funds 00:08:44 High fees trigger downgrades for some funds Watch more from Morningstar: 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 Bond ETF Flows Just Flipped. Here’s What It Means for You https://www.morningstar.com/bonds/bond-etf-flows-just-flipped-heres-what-it-means-you How Big Tech’s Bond Spree and Rising US Debt Are Creating Risks and Opportunities https://www.morningstar.com/bonds/how-big-techs-bond-spree-rising-us-debt-are-creating-risks-opportunities 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.
Transcribe →Will Vacation Inflation Affect Your Summer Travel? Here’s What to Know
2w ago00:12:25Tap to summarizeMacroeconomic conditions are squeezing US airlines and travelers just in time for the summer travel season. Higher fuel costs due to the conflict in the Middle East are pushing up ticket prices. The latest Consumer Price Index report showed fares rose by about 3% in April. Meanwhile, choices for cheap seats decreased when Spirit Airlines went out of business in May. The ultra low-cost carrier blamed soaring energy prices. What does this uptick in energy inflation mean for airlines’ profits and travelers’ wallets? Nic Owens is an equity analyst for Morningstar and covers the North American airlines. April CPI Report Shows Inflation Broadening As Energy Spike Impact Spreads On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:21 Energy prices and airline profit outlooks 00:02:40 How this summer's travel demand stacks up 00:04:01 Which Big Four airlines are most and least vulnerable 00:05:44 Who will compete for Spirit's former customers 00:07:00 Tips for travelers 00:08:51 What Morningstar’s analyst thinks about airline stocks Watch more from Morningstar: Bond ETF Flows Just Flipped. Here's What It Means for You How Big Tech's Bond Spree and Rising US Debt Are Creating Risks and Opportunities 10 Exceptional Stocks With Double-Digit Dividend Raises 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.
Transcribe →Bond ETF Flows Just Flipped. Here's What It Means for You
3w ago00:15:58Tap to summarizeltrashort bond funds are experiencing highs and lows this year. They racked up a record $24 billion monthly inflow in March. But their fortunes reversed in April. Investors yanked out $1.6 billion. It was the biggest monthly outflow for the category in about two years. Ultrashort bond funds and similar fixed-income investments attract investors seeking a safe haven. They also generate cash and help moderate portfolio risks. So why are investors leaving now? What should you know before adding them to your portfolio? Morningstar’s ETFInvestor newsletter editor Dan Sotiroff is here to answer that. And the associate director of US passive strategies research will reveal which shorter-term bond ETFs have high ratings from Morningstar. Subscribe to Morningstar Investor Newsletters https://newsletters.morningstar.com/ On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:33 Three types of shorter-term bonds explained 00:03:54 Comparison to money market funds and CDs 00:07:05 Why investor poured into funds before reversing course 00:08:34 Who else are these suited for beyond income investors 00:11:11 Top-rated ultrashort and short-term bond ETFs 00:13:22 Top-rated short-term government bond ETFs 00:14:09 Takeaway for income investors Watch more from Morningstar: How Big Tech’s Bond Spree and Rising US Debt Are Creating Risks and Opportunities 10 Exceptional Stocks With Double-Digit Dividend Raises Investors May Be Ignoring Big Market Disruptions. Is There Risk to the Rebuff? 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.
Transcribe →How Big Tech's Bond Spree and Rising US Debt Are Creating Risks and Opportunities
4w ago00:16:11Tap to summarizeIs a global debt emergency on the horizon? Big Tech’s bond-issuing spree is helping to pay for its massive artificial intelligence buildout. And it’s not expected to slow down this year. Meanwhile, the US federal deficit has swelled to about $39 trillion, according to the US Treasury Department. That’s raising red flags about the potential impact on the Treasuries market. Government and corporate debt are growing but for different reasons. How should investors think about it? Dominic Pappalardo is the chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Wealth. It’s part of registered investment advisor, Morningstar Investment Management. Why Bonds Still Have Long-Term Appeal Despite Recent Wobbles On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:29 Big Tech's AI bond-issuing spree explained 00:03:51 What's driving the US federal deficit higher 00:06:04 Calls to prepare for a bond market emergency 00:07:38 Government vs. corporate debt key differences 00:08:45 Potential risks lurking in today's bond market 00:10:33 Bond portfolio opportunities and investor takeaways Watch more from Morningstar: 10 Exceptional Stocks With Double-Digit Dividend Raises Investors May Be Ignoring Big Market Disruptions. Is There Risk to the Rebuff? Vanguard Wrote the Playbook for Success. Now, It Must Evolve to Stay on Top 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.
Transcribe →10 Exceptional Stocks With Double-Digit Dividend Raises
May 100:13:34Tap to summarizeA rare group of dividend-paying stocks are standing out for their exceptional qualities. They’ve racked up five straight years of dividend growth of 10% or more. And they’ve passed several rigorous checks. Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter editor David Harrell dug into the data to identify this year’s class of Dividend Growers. Subscribe to Morningstar’s DividendInvestor newsletter. On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:08 Dividend Growers qualifications and key caveats 00:03:17 How the 2026 Dividend Growers list changed from last year 00:04:11 Meet the three newcomers: Intuit, Motorola Solutions, and TJX 00:05:43 Near-miss stocks and why the group’s average yields run higher 00:08:19 Who dividend growth stocks suit 00:11:13 Which 2026 Dividend Growers look undervalued now Watch more from Morningstar: Investors May Be Ignoring Big Market Disruptions. Is There Risk to the Rebuff? Vanguard Wrote the Playbook for Success. Now, It Must Evolve to Stay on Top Vanguard Is Entering a New Era. Can It Keep Winning for Another 50 Years? 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.
Transcribe →Investors May Be Ignoring Big Market Disruptions. Is There Risk to the Rebuff?
Apr 2400:16:34Tap to summarizeWhat’s fueling Wall Street’s optimism? While geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran are dominating headlines, US stocks recently hit an all-time high. The global oil shock is just one major disruption to rattle investors before receding this year. The enthusiasm for the artificial intelligence boom also waned in early 2026. So, what should investors make of the market’s fluctuating mood? Tom Lauricella is the global markets editor for Morningstar Inc. and the editor of Smart Investor newsletter. What War? US Stocks Hit Record Highs On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:20 Markets’ Response to the Iran War 00:02:40 Why Stocks Hit Record Highs Despite the Oil Shock 00:04:50 Earnings Season and Investor Sentiment 00:05:49 Big Tech Crosswinds and the Bond Market 00:09:04 Concerns About Private Credit Markets 00:11:07 Inflation, the Fed, and Leadership Transition Watch more from Morningstar: Vanguard Wrote the Playbook for Success. Now, It Must Evolve to Stay on Top Vanguard Is Entering a New Era. Can It Keep Winning for Another 50 Years? These 8 Funds Could Help Steady Portfolios During Rough Markets 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.
Transcribe →Vanguard Wrote the Playbook for Success. Now, It Must Evolve to Stay on Top
Apr 1700:22:13Tap to summarizeVanguard redefined investor-first for the better, and it’s aiming to maintain that reputation. Vanguard revolutionized passive investing when it created the first retail index fund. The behemoth asset manager continues to attract swells of everyday investors and money with headline-making fee cuts that put pressure on rivals to follow suit. But Vanguard is also seeking to develop an edge in new areas. It’s going full force on active bond ETFs, for example, and creating a target-date trust series to provide retirees the security of a predictable income. This week’s episode is the second of a two-part series examining what’s going on with Vanguard in 2026. Dan Sotiroff, associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar, covers Vanguard. Vanguard Is Entering a New Era. Can It Keep Winning for Another 50 Years? On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:40 Vanguard's Growth: Challenges of Doubling Its Client Base 00:03:28 Vanguard's Evolving Leadership 00:06:15 Fund Fee Cuts and Revenue Impact 00:10:17 Target-Date Fund Series With TIAA to Offer Guaranteed Income 00:12:04 Combining Public and Private Assets in Multi-Asset Investments With Wellington and Blackstone 00:14:39 Active Fixed-Income Push and Two New High-Yield Bond ETFs 00:19:51 Vanguard's Top Priorities for 2026 Watch more from Morningstar: Vanguard Is Entering a New Era. Can It Keep Winning for Another 50 Years?These 8 Funds Could Help Steady Portfolios During Rough Markets Why Bond Funds Benefit from Active Management 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.
Transcribe →Vanguard Is Entering a New Era. Can It Keep Winning for Another 50 Years?
Apr 1000:16:08Tap to summarizeWill Vanguard’s next 50 years live up to its first half century? The popular investment firm counts millions of everyday investors among its clients. Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji joined the firm from its rival, BlackRock. Ramji is influencing Vanguard’s direction while keeping the overall mission intact. But the company continues to evolve under the new leadership, with a greater emphasis on advice and the launch of new funds. This episode is the first of a two-part series examining what’s going on with Vanguard in 2026. Dan Sotiroff, Vanguard analyst and the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar, joined Investing Insights. Vanguard Investors Cleaned Up https://www.morningstar.com/funds/vanguard-investors-cleaned-up On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:28 Vanguard’s New Era Under CEO Salim Ramji 00:02:56 Vanguard Splits Into Two Investment Advisors 00:07:17 Analyst’s Thoughts on the Firm’s SEC Scrutiny and Fine 00:10:03 Seeking ETF Share Class Approval for Active Funds 00:12:01 New Active Equity ETFs and Coverage Outlook Watch more from Morningstar: These 8 Funds Could Help Steady Portfolios During Rough Markets Why Bond Funds Benefit from Active Management These Top Tech Stocks Can Stand Up to AI Risks 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.
Transcribe →These 8 Funds Could Help Steady Portfolios During Rough Markets
Apr 300:10:38Tap to summarizeToo many funds and stocks in a portfolio can create clutter and make rebalancing time-consuming. Allocation funds such as balanced funds can make it easier to stay diversified and invested during market volatility. That’s because these funds automatically rebalance, moderating big gains and losses. And the funds can provide exposure to more than one security type and market. Russ Kinnel, senior principal of ratings for Morningstar and editor of Morningstar FundInvestor newsletter, discusses his list of the best balanced and allocation funds. Subscribe to Morningstar FundInvestor newsletter. On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:00:48 Balanced funds and market volatility 00:01:18 Who allocation funds are designed for 00:03:30 Foreign exposure in Vanguard Global Wellesley Income fund 00:04:40 Dividend income focus at Vanguard Global Wellington and American Funds Capital Income Builder funds 00:05:22 Inflation‑protection strategies in Pimco and T. Rowe Price funds 00:07:45 Key takeaways on balanced and allocation funds Watch more from Morningstar: Why Bond Funds Benefit from Active Management These Top Tech Stocks Can Stand Up to AI Risks 2 Cautionary Tales from Private Equity and Private Credit Markets 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.
Transcribe →Why Bond Funds Benefit from Active Management
Mar 2700:15:42Tap to summarizeActive management can still win in the bond market. Opportunities abound for active managers to best their passive peers and benchmarks. And here’s why: they have access to tools, asset classes, and flexibility that their competition does not. Right now, the bond market is ripe for them to succeed. A deep dive in Morningstar Magazine’s first quarter 2026 issue makes the case why everyday investors should consider adding active bond funds to their portfolio. Eric Jacobson, senior principal of fixed-income strategies for Morningstar, and Maciej Kowara, principal of fixed income strategies for Morningstar, co-authored the article. Subscribe to Morningstar Magazine to read independent investment research for free. On this episode: 00:00:00 Welcome 00:01:33 Why Active Management Still Works in Bonds 00:02:25 Who Trades in the Bond Market 00:03:18 Finding Inefficiencies in Fixed Income 00:04:26 When Passive Bond Funds Can Hurt Investors 00:06:01 How to Spot a Good Active Bond Fund 00:08:10 What Gives Active Managers an Edge Watch more from Morningstar: These Top Tech Stocks Can Stand Up to AI Risks 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 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.
Transcribe →