Podcasts about morningstar

Morningstar's Christine Benz and investing-history legend Dr. William Bernstein announces the Jonathan Clements "Getting Going on Savings" Initiative. In 2024, Jonathan was diagnosed with a terminal illness and decided to use the proceeds from a final book to kick-start a new program that will directly help fund Roth IRAs for young adults (especially from low-income households) to the tune of $1,000 each. The John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is assisting with the project and 'Catching Up to FI' is proud to spread the word by replaying this conversation that originally aired on the 'Bogleheads on Investing' podcast (5/27/25).   ===    VOTE FOR US: PLUTUS AWARDS  === We need your vote for the 2025 Plutus Awards! You can now vote for your hosts behind "Catching Up to FI” - Bill Yount & Jackie Cummings Koski.   ✅ WHAT IS THE PLUTUS AWARDS? The Plutus Awards recognize excellence in independent financial content. That's the best podcasts, books, video channels, blogs, and more.     ✅ VOTE  If you've gotten value from our content and think we are worthy of recognition,  please support by casting your votes here > >>  https://plutus.awardsplatform.com/. There's a short registration needed to vote and you'll be in and out in just a few minutes.    ✅ DEADLINE The deadline to vote is August 30th, 2025. Winners will be announced in October.   ✅ CATEGORIES Below are the categories we have been nominated for and we'd love your vote in each of them.  Catching Up to FI Best New Personal Finance Content Creator - Audio Content Creator of the Year: Audio People's Choice: Audio Best Financial Advisor Content/Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP Plutus Storyteller Award Best Traditional Retirement Content Best Personal Finance Content for Underserved Communities Best Personal Finance Content for Women   Other categories  Best New Personal Finance Content Creator - Written (F.I.R.E. for Dummies) Best New Personal Finance Book (F.I.R.E. for Dummies) Plutus Resilience Award (Jackie Cummings Koski) Best Financial Independence or Retire Early Content (F.I.R.E. for Dummies)  

We take a look at how much franking credits adds to an investor's returns, and whether the obsession with the tax credits is justified.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we've released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We've always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We've shared our journeys with you, and you've shared back. We've listened to what you're after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is currently in presale which is an important time to build momentum. If anyone would like to support this project you can buy the book now. Thanks in advance!Purchase from AmazonPurchase from Booktopia To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fixed-income investors, bonds are rising to the occasion and looking attractive again. Their yields are higher, and they have delivered as diversifiers against stock sell-offs this year. Yet, uncertainty has muddled the outlook as the bond market seeks clarity about tariffs, inflation, and interest rates.Paul Olmsted covers US fixed-income strategies for Morningstar Research Services. The senior manager research analyst explains why you need bonds for a balanced portfolio.Let's start with how you're thinking about the bond market in 2025. Can you talk about what you have considered key moments this year? As a follow-up, what is at the core of the bond market's concerns?We're recording this episode on July 30th around 10:30am. The Fed is expected to announce their interest-rate decision this afternoon. Market watchers are predicting the Fed will hold rates steady. High interest rates pose a risk to bonds. What other risks should investors watch out for now? Some bond investors are seeking a “Powell hedge” due to expectations that Trump could oust the Fed Chair. What are they hedging against, and is this something everyday investors need to think about? What's the probability of Trump firing Powell before the Fed Chair's term ends in May 2026, and who would be the ideal candidate? We have talked about how the memory of the worst bond market ever in 2022 is still lingering. However, bonds served as diversifiers during stock sell-offs earlier this year. Why do you think bonds can't shake the bad rap?What's the optimal bond allocation in a diversified portfolio during a high-rate environment? Should investors focus more on whether their holdings are short- or long-term, or is credit quality a bigger issue?What are the best bonds for portfolio diversification?What's the takeaway for fixed-income investors for the rest of 2025? Read about topics from this episode.  Investors Should Embrace Elevated Bond Yields3 Principles to Invest By, Whatever Comes NextWhy the Fed's Independence Matters to Markets, the Economy, and Your Wallet4 Top-Performing High-Yield Bond FundsTariffs and Dollar Weakness Tested US ResilienceIncome Opportunities Remain at the Front End of the Yield Curve What to watch from Morningstar. Covered-Call ETFs Are Booming. But Not All Yield Is GoodThis Dividend Investing Strategy Deserves a Second LookMarket Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025 Read what our team is writing.Paul OlmstedIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

In this episode of the Power of Zero Show, David McKnight looks at headlines, such as those from Vanguard, BlackRock or Morningstar, that have predicted a dismal forecast for stock market returns over the next decade. Since such articles predict 4-5% annual growth for the next decade, many investors are pondering whether they should take some chips off the table. Back in 2015, those same institutions and companies stressed that valuations were too high and that, since the markets had a great run, it couldn't possibly continue anymore. Vanguard forecasted 4-6% returns, BlackRock predicted 4.5-5% returns, while Research Affiliates predicted an anemic 1.5-2% returns. However, from 2015 through 2024, the S&P 500 posted a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of roughly 11.9% - proving those predictions wrong! In fact, such forecasts by stock market research institutions turned out to be off by 5-6%.  David believes that financial institutions making failed predictions about the future of the stock market isn't just the exception, it's the rule. In the 2015-2024 timespan, we had a global pandemic that shut down entire economies, interest rates fell to zero, then spiked in record time, massive government stimulus, a tech boom, a crypto craze, and the rise of AI. - How many of those events could have been predicted in 2015? David doesn't recommend putting too much stock in long-term market forecasts by large financial institutions because, even if they might be well-researched, they're still guesses. For David, you shouldn't let fear drive your investment behavior. Not only should you stay invested over the next 10 years, but you should focus on investing inside tax-free accounts. Think about a balanced, comprehensive tax-fee approach that takes advantage of every nook and cranny in the IRS tax code.  David refers to tools such as Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, and some properly structured cash value life insurance policies like Indexed Universal Life. What drives long-term stock market returns? “It isn't predictions, emotions, or headlines, it's innovation and productivity. If you look around, you can see that those things are accelerating, not slowing down,” says David.     Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Vanguard BlackRock Morningstar Research Affiliates S&P 500 Warren Buffett

Today on the podcast we welcome back Cliff Asness. Cliff is the founder, managing principal, and chief investment officer at AQR Capital Management. Cliff writes often about investing and financial matters on AQR's website and has been a prolific researcher throughout his career, with his contributions appearing in many of the leading scholarly journals, including the Journal of Portfolio Management, Financial Analyst's Journal, the Journal of Finance, and the Journal of Financial Economics. Before co-founding AQR, Cliff was a managing director and director of quantitative research for the asset management division of Goldman Sachs. Cliff Asness, welcome back to The Long View.BackgroundBio@CliffordAsness“Cliff Asness: Value Stocks Still Look Like a Bargain,” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, May 31, 2022.Macro Forecast, Market-Timing, and Equities“2035: An Allocator Looks Back Over the Last 10 Years,” by Cliff Asness, aqr.com, Jan. 2, 2025.“(So) What If You Miss the Market's N Best Days?” by Cliff Asness, aqr.com, June 5, 2025.“Why Not 100% Equities,” by Cliff Asness, aqr.com, Feb. 12, 2024.“Exceptional Expectations: US vs. Non-US Equities,” by Antti Ilmanen and Thomas Maloney, aqr.com, Q2 2025.Alternative Assets and Artificial Intelligence“In Praise of High-Volatility Alternatives,” by Cliff Asness, aqr.com, Sept. 4. 2024.“Should Hedge Funds Hedge?: Why Some Alts Should Have a Beta of 1.0,” by Cliff Asness, aqr.com, March 28, 2025.“We Have ‘Surrendered More to the Machines,' Says Quant Fund Titan Cliff Asness,” by Costas Mourselas and Amelia Pollard, ft.com, June 3, 2025.“CIO Perspectives: An Interview With Cliff Asness,” aqr.com, Sept. 1, 2024.OtherWisdomTree“AQR Launches the AQR Fusion Mutual Fund Series,” AQR Funds News, aqr.com, June 25, 2025.Asian Financial Crisis

David "DB" Andry returns to the podcast for a 4th time to discuss RED VECTOR coming out August 27th from Mad Cave Studios. (FOC is August 4th). The series is written by David and frequent collaborator Tim Daniel, illustrated by Chris Evenhuis, colored by Sjan Weijers, and lettered by friend of the podcast Buddy Beaudoin. David talks about how Red Vector is influenced by Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, and Enemy Mine, the importance of keeping the characters' motivations nebulous to keep the reader asking questions, his excitement at getting to work with Evenhuis and Weijers, and he answers the age-old question first posited by comic book philosopher Grant Stoye, "Where do your ideas come from?". David also talks about what readers can expect from the end of Crush Depth. It's always a good time chatting with David! 

Finishing off this comic book month with a movie that fits both the genres that matter, Constantine. Jesse had previously had a negative opinion about this one but we're gonna find out if his tastes have matoored or not.Before that we have to talk a trailer for a new Christmas horror, The Silent Night Deadly Night remake. After that we're making up for Jesse missing last week's Punisher episode so we decided to check out the Dirty Laundry, Punisher short starting Thomas Jane.Then it's onto Constantine where we'll finally let you know if it is indeed... A BLOODY GOOD FILM!We encourage everyone to watch along while you listen and make sure to comment and let us know what you think. If you haven't already please follow us on Facebook, TikTok, "X" and Instagram @bloodygoodfilmpodcast and remember...Keep it bloody buddies!!!https://linktr.ee/BloodyGoodFilmPodcast...#fantasticfour #reedrichards #doom #invisiblewoman #mrfantastic #humantorch #superman #constatine #vomics #frankcastle #thephantom #comics #newepisode #thephantom #ghostwhowalks #podcast #superheropodcast #punisher 

What does it look like when billion-dollar funds put impact at the core of their investment strategy?In this 3-in-1 compilation episode, we revisit conversations with investors managing tens of billions across public fixed income, public equities, private equity, and impact-focused real estate. Each one makes the case that environmental and social outcomes aren't a tradeoff – but a source of lasting value and market-beating returns.Meet the leaders turning billions into measurable impact:Michele Giddens, Co-Founder and CEO of Bridges Fund ManagementBridges was launched in 2002 with £40 million – including just £10 million in catalytic capital. Today, it manages over £2 billion across private equity, impact real estate, and outcomes contracts. From the start, its mission has been to invest in solutions that drive both a more inclusive economy and a more sustainable planet – ideally, both at once. Michele describes their theory of change simply: addressing systemic social and environmental challenges isn't a tradeoff – it's a way to unlock high-performing markets. Whether it's converting inefficient office buildings into low-carbon co-living hubs or financing housing solutions for marginalized youth, Bridges targets overlooked problems with market-driven solutions.Full episodeBen Dear, Founder and CEO of Osmosis Investment ManagementOsmosis was built on a simple but overlooked idea: companies that generate more economic value while using less carbon, water, and waste will outperform. Ben believed resource efficiency wasn't just good for the planet – it could be a consistent, data-driven investment factor.He was right. Today, Osmosis manages over $17 billion in global public equity strategies, all powered by their own proprietary environmental data. They collect and standardize metrics across carbon, water, and waste – giving them a lens on corporate performance that most investors miss.Their low-risk flagship targets just 0.5–1% above benchmark returns – yet still outperforms two-thirds of global equity funds on Morningstar. Their higher-alpha strategies deliver 2–3% annually, while cutting portfolio footprints by up to 70%.Check out the full interview: Part 1Part 2Stephen M. Liberatore, Head of ESG and Impact for Global Fixed Income at NuveenNuveen manages just over $1 trillion globally – and Steve oversees more than $20 billion of that in ESG and impact-focused public fixed income, across 38 distinct funds.While most associate impact with private markets, Steve has built one of the world's largest impact bond strategies by focusing on public debt. His theory of change is rooted in scale: in 2023, public fixed income financed over $800 billion in climate transition – ten times more than private equity and venture combined.Every security in Steve's portfolios must deliver a direct, measurable environmental or social outcome. That means no sustainability-linked bonds with vague KPIs. Instead, the team targets use-of-proceeds instruments that reduce financing costs for projects like clean energy, affordable housing, and ecosystem restoration – while delivering market-rate returns.Full episode—Connect with SRI360°:Sign up for the free weekly email updateVisit the SRI360° PODCASTVisit the SRI360° WEBSITEFollow SRI360° on XFollow SRI360° on FACEBOOK

Portfolio Pitfalls: 5 Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make – Timing the market, lack of international equity exposure, taking on too much investment risk, attempting to predict the movement of interest rates, and lacking protection against inflation are just some of the mistakes many investors can make. Chris Boyd, Jeff Perry, and Russ Ball offer advice on these issues and others as they explore how common portfolio mistakes can derail retirement plans. See below a link to a related Morningstar article. #financialplanning #investing #stocks #bonds #stockmarket #investormistakes #inflation #markettiming #internationalinvesting #investmentrisk #interestrates https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/5-investment-portfolio-mistakes-avoid Click the link below to register for our upcoming webinar, “Don't leave a digital mess.” https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6040334700710880088 For more information or to reach TEAM AMR, click the following link: https://www.wealthenhancement.com/s/advisor-teams/amr  

For the third year running, earnings of Australia’s largest companies are set to shrink this earnings season, with Morningstar predicting another 1pc contraction for the ASX 20.For many companies, current stretched valuations don’t reflect the growth outlook. But there are still opportunities in the market for investors.Lochlan Halloway, Equity Market Strategist at Morningstar, talks to Sean Aylmer about the upcoming profit season, and identifies the companies Morningstar has picked as potentially offering value.The information in this episode is general in nature, and doesn’t take into account your own circumstances. You should do your own research and seek professional advice before making investment decisions.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We run through why dividends are valuable for investors, and a valuation technique for shares that investors are usually quick to dismiss.A message from Mark and ShaniFor the past five years, we've released a weekly podcast to arm you with the tools to invest successfully. We've always strived to provide independent, thoughtful analysis, backed by the work of hundreds of researchers and professionals at Morningstar.We've shared our journeys with you, and you've shared back. We've listened to what you're after and created a companion for your investing journey. Invest Your Way is a book that focuses on the investor, instead of the investments. It is a guide to successful investing, with actionable insights and practical applications.The book is currently in presale which is an important time to build momentum. If anyone would like to support this project you can buy the book now. Thanks in advance!Purchase from AmazonPurchase from BooktopiaThis week in Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column, he looks at the investment theory of mean reversion. Simply, what goes down, must come up. A deep exploration shows that this type of strategy can be successful for individual investors, and he calls out 5 ASX opportunities using this strategy. The largest asset manager in the world, Blackrock has declared that the 60/40 portfolio should be rethought. They also believe that a 70/30 portfolio is likely to deliver 6.5% going forward. In this week's Future Focus column, Shani takes a look at what the research says, and what investors can realistically do to still achieve their goals. Over a year has now passed since Guzman y Gomez's ASX debut. So in the latest edition of Ask the analyst, Joseph thought it would be a good idea to catch up with Morningstar's consumer sectors analyst Johannes Faul. Johannes discussed his view on Guzman's long-term prospects in Australia, what might be baked into the share price at recent levels, and why Johannes is more cautious on Guzman's international prospects than the market. The recent surge in crypto - especially Bitcoin - has reignited debate over the role of these alternative assets in modern investing. In this week's Young & Invested, Sim unpacks what's fuelling the latest bull run and explores whether crypto deserves a strategic position in the long-term portfolios of young investors.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

07-26-25Support the show: https://www.loveneverfailsus.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Sotiroff, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains how covered-call ETFs work along with the popular investment's risks and rewards. On this episode:What are covered-call ETFs, and how do they work?Why are retirees and other income investors drawn to these ETFs? What's making them so popular this year?Their yields look very high. What is driving them?What types of trade-offs are investors making?ETFs are known to be tax-efficient investments. What are the tax considerations for covered-call ETFs?Should you hold covered-call ETFs in a taxable or tax-deferred account?What's the optimal retirement account to hold covered-call ETFs?Let's talk about covered-call ETF performance in 2025. What have you've seen?Which covered-call ETFs do Morningstar analysts consider a solid choice for investors, and why? Read about topics from this episode. Should You Own a Covered-Call ETF Like JEPI? Is It Time to Reconsider Dividend Funds? 3 Great ETFs for Jittery Markets Covered-Call and Buffer ETFs: Stock Investing With Less Gain but Less PainCovered-Call and Buffer ETFs: Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?100% Downside Protection ETFs: What's the Catch?Our 2025 ETF Predictions: A Midyear ReviewCovered-Call Stock Funds Like JEPI Are Popular. Should They Be?The Active ETFs That Led Inflows During 2025's First Half5 Charts on How Tariff Trouble Rocked US Fund FlowsInvestors, Be Careful When Buying New ETFsTax-Efficient Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors25 Top Picks for Tax-Efficient ETFs and Mutual FundsHow to Maximize the Tax Efficiency of an ETF Portfolio3 Great ETFs for an IRA in 2025The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio What to watch from Morningstar. This Dividend Investing Strategy Deserves a Second LookMarket Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US? Read what our team is writing.Daniel SotiroffIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Send us a textOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Steven Zeiger, Managing Director at KB Financial Services and at Veralytic about changing the way we think about money and life insurance policy analysis.Key takeaways:How independent benchmarks can help.Why life insurance policies are complex. How advisors can get started analyzing a life insurance policy.Why this is a new fiduciary era for life insurance. The value of independent research. Connect with Steven Zeiger:KB Financial Website (here) LinkedIn (here)Resources mentioned:Ethical Edge (here)Morningstar (here)Value Line (here)VeralyticZinnia (here)A Shot Across the Bow by Barry Flagg and Steven Zeiger - read the article (here)Bio: Steven Zeiger serves as a Managing Director at KB Financial and has been asked to educate members dozens of  groups such as STEP, ACTEC, NAEPC, PLI,  THE ABA, and over 30 other organizations on the application of prudent investor guidelines to life insurance product selection and portfolio management.  These guidelines are based on established and proven asset management doctrine- benchmarking, analysis of cost, performance and risk, etc.. Steven helps fiduciaries guide their clients' insurance decisions based on the only patented prudent process for life insurance selection and retention. Steven is published in Trust & Estates  Magazine.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

La cuarta hora de Capital Intereconomía comienza con una entrevista a Javier Riaño, de IronIA Fintech, quien presenta las últimas novedades de la plataforma y cómo están mejorando la experiencia del inversor digital. En el Foro de la Inversión, José María Concejo (CEO de Horos AM) y Miguel Rodríguez (gestor de Horos AM) hacen balance de su patrimonio gestionado, repasan su filosofía de inversión y comparten su visión sobre los mercados y las oportunidades más relevantes para la recta final del año. Cierra la hora el consultorio de fondos con Fernando Luque, editor de Morningstar, resolviendo dudas de los oyentes sobre productos de inversión y estrategias para optimizar sus carteras.

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: Why you know the return you'll ultimately realize if you hold a bond to maturity, but can't know the return you'll eventually realize if you instead hold a bond fund ( 7:13 )A commonsense intuitive answer why bond prices decrease (increase) when interest rates increase (decrease) ( 9:56 )His thoughts on holding only fixed maturity instruments such as CDs, bullet ETFs, individual bonds and MYGAs for a fixed income allocation instead of traditional open-end bond funds ( 13:56 )How to distribute money from a 401(k) when you can't pick which particular investments to sell within it ( 22:44 )Will U.S. income tax rates eventually increase, and by how much ( 31:23 )How to make an investment policy statement ( 43:41 )What distribution plans and strategies typically look like for his clients ( 51:23 )Links in this episode:Morningstar article - How to Create an Investment Policy StatementTo send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comMy company newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

Don and Tom explore the value of changing your mind in the face of new data—financial and otherwise. Sparked by Christine Benz's recent Morningstar piece, they reflect on how their own views on DIY investing, target date funds, and even TIPS have evolved over time. Listener questions cover annuity taxes, Bitcoin inflation claims, covered call ETFs, and whether CDs beat bond funds in retirement. Grumpiness levels: elevated but entertaining. 0:04 Flexibility in finance: Why it's okay to change your mind 1:16 Christine Benz says she's rethinking the DIY retirement approach 2:48 The underrated value of real financial advice (Vanguard Alpha) 3:51 Why advice matters more in retirement than during accumulation 5:36 All-in-one funds like target date strategies get a new look 6:41 Trick: Adjust your target date fund based on risk tolerance 7:47 Target date glide path flattens at retirement (~50% stock) 8:24 TIPS funds vs. laddering: Christine's third “meh” shift 9:53 Equities = effective inflation hedge; tips may be redundant 10:29 Don's personal changes: Target date funds and 4% rule flexibility 12:07 Vanguard survey: Advisors = peace of mind + time savings 13:23 Money and emotion: #1 cause of murder and divorce 14:57 Listener Q: What to do with a low-cost deferred annuity at Fidelity 17:09 Stop obsessing over who pays taxes—spend and enjoy 19:20 Listener Q: Bitcoin vs. dollars—why price comparisons fail 20:07 Bitcoin isn't a currency. It's just volatile 20:31 Listener Q: Are JEPI/JEPQ “safe” for dividends? Nope 22:04 Covered call ETFs carry hidden risks and higher costs 23:50 Listener Q: Why use bond funds instead of CDs or money market? 25:03 Bond funds vs. CDs: risk, return, and long-term expectations 27:08 Don's rant: Stop trying to game the system—good enough is good enough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in for another episode of Give The People What They Want! with Zoe Alexandra, Indian journalist Prasanth R, and Roger McKenzie, international editor of Morning Star, as they reflect on two years since the coup and popular uprising in Niger, the Doha agreement between the DR Congo government and M23 militias, the return of Venezuelan migrants home from El Salvador, the climate crisis and its relationship with soaring food prices, Abahlali baseMjondolo's stand against xenophobia, as well as the new Freedom Flotilla, Handala, which set sail recently.

La cuarta hora de Capital Intereconomía comienza con una entrevista a Javier Riaño, de IronIA Fintech, quien presenta las últimas novedades de la plataforma y cómo están mejorando la experiencia del inversor digital. En el Foro de la Inversión, José María Concejo (CEO de Horos AM) y Miguel Rodríguez (gestor de Horos AM) hacen balance de su patrimonio gestionado, repasan su filosofía de inversión y comparten su visión sobre los mercados y las oportunidades más relevantes para la recta final del año. Cierra la hora el consultorio de fondos con Fernando Luque, editor de Morningstar, resolviendo dudas de los oyentes sobre productos de inversión y estrategias para optimizar sus carteras.

Don and Tom defend the long-maligned 60/40 portfolio, diving into a 150-year Morningstar study that reveals its lower volatility and emotional survivability—even if it underperforms an all-stock portfolio over time. They tackle fixed indexed annuities head-on, debunking the myth of market returns without risk, citing high commissions, surrender charges, lack of liquidity, and poor transparency. Several listener calls highlight confusion over annuity strategies and Roth vs. pre-tax retirement contributions, including a deep dive from a New York City teacher juggling pensions, 403(b)/457 plans, and Roth conversions under new IRS rules. The show wraps with a playful rant about birthday freebies and a PBS show rec (“Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office”). 0:04 The truth about balanced portfolios and the 60/40 myth 1:50 Why bonds failed in 2022—and what 150 years of history say about diversification 3:27 Bear markets: 60/40 vs. all stocks during crises like the Great Depression 4:53 Trade-offs: long-term growth vs. sticking with the plan 6:49 Financial Flinch Reflex: the PSA ad returns 7:09 Caller John asks: “What's so bad about fixed indexed annuities?” 8:00 Don unloads: high fees, misleading returns, and awful disclosures 10:11 John presses for alternatives: what's safe and simple with decent return? 13:02 Don's CD ladder strategy vs. annuities 15:08 Why opacity, commissions, and complexity make these products unsuitable for most 16:21 Caller Charles: a planner wants to manage his annuity—for a fee 17:21 Why even “fixed” annuities might not belong in fiduciary portfolios 20:47 The growing gray area: commissions vs. fiduciary care 22:17 Ranking annuities: worst to best (indexed, variable, fixed, immediate) 24:58 Summary: “Lazy products” sold for commission, not client success 26:39 Caller Brian: NY teacher strategizes 403(b), 457, Roth, and future pension 28:29 Navigating new Roth rules, Rule of 55, and using a 7% fixed option 30:15 Don and Tom: stick with pre-tax now, convert later in lower-bracket retirement 33:02 Mechanics of Roth catch-ups: plan providers still in the dark 35:29 Birthday freebies! Tacos, cookies, burgers… and existential dread 36:57 Red Robin, Denny's, and the pursuit of the free Grand Slam 38:06 Book chat: Don's still slogging through the Franklin bio 39:13 Must-watch: Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office on PBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Paul Merriman shares insights into upcoming events, including his presentation at the Garrett Planning Network Retreat, as well as his reflections on asset allocation, government bond strategies, and the benefits of various portfolios for different life stages. Tune in for a deep dive into how different funds and asset classes perform over the long term, and how to optimize your investment strategy, regardless of age or risk tolerance.Key Topics Covered:1. Long-Term Returns ComparisonPaul compares two small-cap value funds: the Vanguard Small Cap Value Fund (VSIAX) and the DFA Small Cap Value Fund (DFFVX). To find long-term returns for these funds, Paul uses Morningstar's chart function, which allows users to view the maximum (MAX) historical data for any given fund, helping to compare the performance of these funds since their inception 2. Best Asset Allocation for RetireesThe best asset allocation for retirees typically depends on individual factors, such as risk tolerance and life expectancy. Generally, Paul suggests a moderate equity allocation of 40-60% in stocks, with the rest in fixed income, for retirees who have enough saved up to comfortably fund their retirement .3. Asset Allocation for an 83-Year-Old RetireeFor an 83-year-old retiree, Paul discusses a more conservative portfolio with two-thirds in bonds and one-third in equities. This conservative approach, which mirrors the allocation in Vanguard's target-date funds, aligns well with retirees who are less reliant on aggressive growth but still need some equity exposure to combat inflation .4. Why Use Three Government Bond Funds?Paul advocates for a diversified bond strategy that includes TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities), short-term government bonds, and intermediate-term government bonds. This combination offers a balance of safety, growth potential, and reduced volatility compared to using just one bond fund, and provides a more stable return over time.5. How the Worldwide 4 Fund Portfolio WorksThe Worldwide 4 Fund Portfolio is structured with 25% in large-cap blend (U.S), 25% in large-cap value (INTL), 25% in small-cap blend (INTL), and 25% in small-cap value (U.S.), giving you a diversified mix of U.S. and international equities. This approach optimizes for both size and value, ensuring a balanced exposure to market growth, volatility, and global investment opportunities.6. Should a 26-Year-Old Use the 2 Funds for Life Portfolio Yes, a 26-year-old could benefit from the 2 Funds for Life Portfolio, which typically includes the A TARGET DATE FUND and a small-cap value fund. This strategy allows young investors to focus on equity growth, benefiting from the long-term appreciation potential of small-cap value stocks while minimizing risks associated with bonds at an early stage7. Managing the 2 Funds for Life Portfolio with S&P 500 & Small-Cap Value For someone using only the S&P 500 and small-cap value fund, Paul suggests a flexible allocation approach. You might start with a 50/50 split, or adjust according to your risk tolerance. The small-cap value fund tends to be more volatile but offers higher returns over time, while the S&P 500 provides more stability with lower volatility .8. Can There Be a 3 Funds for Life Portfolio?Yes, a 3 Funds for Life portfolio could include the S&P 500, large-cap value, and small-cap value. Paul suggests mixing these three equity asset classes to achieve a balanced portfolio that offers growth potential without overexposing yourself to risk.⁠Resources:1928-2024 Quilt Chart (K1a)⁠⁠Sound Investing Table (H2a)⁠Chris Pedersen's 2 Funds for Life Table: For more detailed insights, visit ⁠Chris Pedersen's 2 Funds for Life table⁠.

In our midyear outlook, we break down some of the biggest factors driving markets in 2025 — tariffs, AI, and the potential for rate cuts — and attempt to help investors sift through the short-term noise while keeping a long-term perspective.

In this episode of The Curious Realm, host Christopher Jordan welcomes publicist, experiencer, and founding member of the Hollywood Disclosure Alliance, Dan Harary. We discuss the groundbreaking new documentary Aliens, UFOs & Hollywood's Hidden Truth – Inside the Fight for Disclosure. For years Hollywood has maintained a dialogue of fear and government control when it comes to the topic of UFOs. How can this paradigm begin to change and how can we begin to reveal the truth behind the smokescreen of subterfuge that has been spun by the Government for generations. In the second part of the episode, we welcome plasma physicist, head of the Clementine moon mission, and author Dr John Brandenberg. We discuss his amazing career in the world of NASA with programs like Mars, the Moon, and more, as well as his book Morningstar Pass: The Collapse of the UFO Coverup, its being optioned as a movie and the facts behind its creation. Join the Curious Realm as we delve into the topics of aliens, UFOs & Hollywood's hidden truth with Dan Harary and the book Morningstar Pass with Dr John Brandenberg. Curious Realm is proudly distributed by: Ground Zero Media &  KGRA, APRTV and the official Curious Realm ROKU App! Curious Realm has teamed up with True Hemp Science, Austin, TX based suppliers of high-quality full spectrum emulsified CBD products and more. Visit TrueHempScience.com TODAY and use code Curious7 to save 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free 50mg CBD edible! Intro music “A Curious Realm” provided by No Disassemble find more great music and content at: NoDisassemble.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/curious-realm--5254986/support.

In this episode of The Curious Realm, host Christopher Jordan welcomes publicist, experiencer, and founding member of the Hollywood Disclosure Alliance, Dan Harary. We discuss the groundbreaking new documentary Aliens, UFOs & Hollywood's Hidden Truth – Inside the Fight for Disclosure. For years Hollywood has maintained a dialogue of fear and government control when it comes to the topic of UFOs. How can this paradigm begin to change and how can we begin to reveal the truth behind the smokescreen of subterfuge that has been spun by the Government for generations. In the second part of the episode, we welcome plasma physicist, head of the Clementine moon mission, and author Dr John Brandenberg. We discuss his amazing career in the world of NASA with programs like Mars, the Moon, and more, as well as his book Morningstar Pass: The Collapse of the UFO Coverup, its being optioned as a movie and the facts behind its creation. Join the Curious Realm as we delve into the topics of aliens, UFOs & Hollywood's hidden truth with Dan Harary and the book Morningstar Pass with Dr John Brandenberg. Curious Realm is proudly distributed by: Ground Zero Media &  KGRA, APRTV and the official Curious Realm ROKU App! Curious Realm has teamed up with True Hemp Science, Austin, TX based suppliers of high-quality full spectrum emulsified CBD products and more. Visit TrueHempScience.com TODAY and use code Curious7 to save 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free 50mg CBD edible! Intro music “A Curious Realm” provided by No Disassemble find more great music and content at: NoDisassemble.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/curious-realm--5254986/support.

Today on the podcast we welcome back Nick Maggiulli. He's the author of a new book called The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial Life. His first book was called Just Keep Buying. In addition, Nick writes a wonderful blog called Of Dollars and Data, which is focused on the intersection between data and personal finance. In his day job, Nick is the Chief Operating Officer and Data Scientist at Ritholtz Wealth Management. He received his bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University. Nick, welcome back to The Long View.BackgroundBioOf Dollars and DataThe Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial LifeJust Keep Buying: Proven Ways to Save Money and Build Your WealthTopics Discussed“How to Make More Without Working More,” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, July 7, 2025.“How Much House Is Too Much?” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, Oct. 22, 2024.“Rich vs Wealthy: Summarizing the Differences,” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, April 18, 2023.“What Is Liquid Net Worth? [And Why It's So Important],” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, Dec. 5, 2023.“Do You Need Alternatives to Get Rich?” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, May 28, 2024.“Concentration Is Not Your Friend,” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, March 14, 2023.Other“Nick Maggiulli: ‘The Biggest Lie in Personal Finance,'” The Long View, Morningstar.com, April 12, 2022.Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances“High Income Improves Evaluation of Life But Not Emotional Well-Being,” by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton, Princeton.edu, Aug. 4, 2010.“Experienced Well-Being Rises With Income, Even Above $75,000 Per Year,” by Matthew Killingsworth, pnas.org, Nov. 14, 2020.“Income and Emotional Well-Being: A Conflict Resolved,” by Matthew Killingsworth, Daniel Kahneman, and Barbara Mellers, pnas.org, Nov. 29, 2022.Of Dollars and Data Popular Posts“Even God Couldn't Beat Dollar-Cost Averaging,” by Nick Maggiulli, ofdollarsanddata.com, Feb. 5, 2019.Get Good With Money, by Tiffany AlicheThe Millionaire Fastlane, by MJ DeMarcoThe Intelligent Asset Allocator, by William BernsteinHow to Retire, by Christine Benz

Richard Stitt shares his journey from psychiatric patient to co-founder of Morningstar, an organization that has provided invaluable support to individuals with persistent mental illness for 21 years. After finding stability with proper medication and achieving sobriety, Richard transformed his struggles into a mission that has helped countless people find purpose and community.•  Morningstar started 21 years ago after being discharged from Osawatomie Psychiatric Hospital• Organization grew from 12 to 100 members before COVID; now serves about 60 people• Everyone working at Morningstar has experienced mental illness, creating authentic understanding• Services include transportation, social activities, job assistance, and therapeutic groups• Daily schedule includes pick-up services, socialization time, and various support groups at 2 PM• Richard hired successor Doncha McDonald after seeing "a spark in her eye."• Now retiring at age 70 to spend time with his wife and pursue simple pleasures like fishing• Maintained sobriety from methamphetamines for 22 years• Proud of creating a safe environment where people can openly discuss mental health challengesThank you, Manhattan, for supporting Richard and Morningstar over the years. For more information about Morningstar and their work, visit MorningstarMentalHealth.org.GMCFCFAs

La cuarta hora de Capital Intereconomía comienza con una entrevista a Javier Riaño, de IronIA Fintech, quien presenta las últimas novedades de la plataforma y cómo están mejorando la experiencia del inversor digital. En el Foro de la Inversión, José María Concejo (CEO de Horos AM) y Miguel Rodríguez (gestor de Horos AM) hacen balance de su patrimonio gestionado, repasan su filosofía de inversión y comparten su visión sobre los mercados y las oportunidades más relevantes para la recta final del año. Cierra la hora el consultorio de fondos con Fernando Luque, editor de Morningstar, resolviendo dudas de los oyentes sobre productos de inversión y estrategias para optimizar sus carteras.

In episode 78 of Revamping Retirement, hosts Jennifer Doss and Matt Patrick are joined by Lucian Marinescu and Josh Charlson from Morningstar to explore the growing role of private market investments—such as private equity and private credit—within defined contribution (DC) plans. They discuss potential allocations, operational challenges, and the practical implications for plan sponsors, including fees, liquidity constraints, and valuation transparency. Lucian and Josh also share insights on fiduciary due diligence, the importance of transparency, and what sponsors need to evaluate before incorporating private strategies into their retirement plan lineups.

Joe Kalish, chief macro strategist at Ned Davis Research, says that the uncertainty over tariffs, geo-politics, inflation and more has "kind of melted away," allowing themarkets to perform well and recapture record highs.Kalish says that while he likes the looks of global markets and wants a more balanced approach with increased exposure to Europe, Japan and other economies, he hasn't given up on the case of American exceptionalism in the market, especially with the way domestic companies have driven the artificial-intelligence boom that has been driving domestic markets higher. Author Paul Vigna returns to Money Life to discuss his new book —  The Almightier: How Money Became God, Greed Became Virtue, and Debt Became Sin — which is out this week and which examines how billionaires became false idols as savers and investors in the U.S. were forced to take more control of their financial futures. David Trainer of New Constructs turns to a fund that gets a five-star rating from Morningstar for this week's installment of The Danger Zone, saying that the Donoghue Forlines Momentum fund has investors paying too much for a portfolio that tilts towards unattractive and dangerous stocks. In the Market Call, Kathy Boyle of Chapin Hill Advisors discusses a core-and-satellite investment strategy built around the use of exchange-traded funds.

David Whiston from Morningstar previews General Motors (GM) earnings and discusses the auto industry overall. He thinks GM is good at managing its production levels and compares it to Stellantis' (STLA) disappointing guidance announcement. Morningstar has a 4-star rating and $75 fair estimate value for GM. Overall, his forecast after last quarter is on the lower end of analysts.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – / schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – / schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-network About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Revelation Date: September 22 – 23, 1832 Revelation Place: Kirtland, Ohio Section 84 - Historical Background: In the summer months of 1832, Joseph and Sidney moved their residence to Kirtland, Ohio. They resumed revising the Bible and getting the first edition of the Evening and Morning Star published. By Fall, the missionaries sent to the Eastern states began returning from their missions and reported on their successes. It was while they were rejoicing together that Joseph received this revelation on the Priesthood.   Recap: The heart of the city of the New Jerusalem will be the temple. The genealogy of the Priesthood is given from Adam to Moses. The lesser priesthood, as given to Aaron, administers in the temporal ordinances. The higher priesthood sets forth the mysteries of the gospel and the keys to a spiritual knowledge of the nature and power of God. When the Israelites failed in their faithfulness, the higher priesthood was taken from them and only the lesser priesthood remained. The bishop, holding the higher priesthood, presides over the lesser priesthood. Those who obtain both priesthoods and magnify their calling are sanctified by the Spirit. Every person born on the earth has the Spirit of light and truth. Those who hearken to the Spirit will be redeemed but those who reject the Spirit will be under the bondage of sin and will not be aquainted with Christ. Because of the saints' unbelief and treating lightly the Book of Mormon and the commandments, the whole church is under condemnation and will remain so until they repent. The signs that follow those who receive the Holy Ghost are given. The Elders are to proclaim the gospel, warning and teaching the people. They are to trust in God and go without purse or script. The Lord goes before their face. Those who receive them receive the Lord and will be blessed. The Lord describes the righteousness of those during the millennium. Therefore, strengthen one another, take care of the poor, offer up excesses to the Bishops for the building up of Zion.

Today on the podcast, we have Mark LaMonica, CFA, a Director at Morningstar and co-host of the Investing Compass podcast.Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having spent time in both the US and Australia, which gives him a unique perspective on their financial systems and retirement landscapes.In today's episode, we dive into:The current state of financial planning in Australia (00:09:18)Mark's thoughts on his recent article, "Are We Being Ripped Off by Super?" (00:16:04)How the US and Australian retirement systems stack up against each other (00:20:58)Why he's against super funds charging for certain financial advice costs (00:30:57)His controversial take on the 4% rule and the FIRE movement (00:47:13)LinksPodcast - Investing CompassWebsite - Morningstarwww.aussiefirebug.com/podcast

Coming Soon..... God's Freedom Part VII - Freedom from the Spirit of CainFile Size: 102635 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]

Christine Benz is the director of personal finance at Morningstar and the author of “How to Retire: 20 lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement.” In this rebroadcast of an interview recorded last November, Benz joined Motley Fool financial planning expert Robert Brokamp to discuss: - Updated research on safe withdrawal rates in retirement - When and how to de-risk your portfolio as retirement approaches - The right age to claim Social Security - Whether retirement is healthy for most people - Benz's advice to “find your micro-joys” and “don't be afraid to be a weirdo" Host: Robert Brokamp Guests: Christine Benz Engineers: Dan Boyd Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of Investing Compass reviews the Australian superannuation system. For each aspect of the retirement system, Mark gives it a grade, but also shares the average grade that Morningstar readers gave. This week in Mark's Unconventional Wisdom column, he speaks about how investors can navigate their investments and their portfolio in an age of economic disorder. In a world awash with debt, it's important for investors to understand the impacts on their portfolios and how they're able build resiliency into it. Mark presents three steps to achieve this. Financial advisers are investing in droves in Separately Managed Accounts, or SMAs. In Shani's Future Focus column, she looks at the benefits of this investment product, and why more and more advisers are joining its church. Are investors prone to making the same mistake as many golfers? In a special edition of Bookworm written from his hometown in Scotland, Joseph encourages investors to spend less time obsessing over the next stock idea and more time thinking about their big picture approach. Readers can also laugh at the dreadful score Joseph recorded on one of golf's most historically significant holes during his trip home. Most investors tend to critically analyse their portfolio retrospectively. The recent surge of gold and crypto has proliferated discussions over the optimal asset allocation for modern times. In this week's Young & Invested, Sim unpacks why the price of gold has exploded and whether the asset should hold a place in the portfolios of younger investors. To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why This Episode Is a Must-Watch Are you rethinking what retirement means? Forget the “end-of-the-road” narrative. Today's retirement is about launching a purposeful, fulfilling new chapter on your own terms. In this episode of Inspired Money, host Andy Wang brings together a expert panel of retirement planning, financial wellness, and lifestyle experts to share actionable strategies for creating a holistic, sustainable, and satisfying retirement. Whether you're decades away from hanging up your hat or already on your early-retirement path, this discussion will challenge how you think about mind, body, and money—and what it really takes to thrive in your next chapter.  Meet the Expert Panelists Christine Benz is Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar, where she has helped millions of investors make smarter decisions through her writing, speaking, and podcast, The Long View. She is the author of the forthcoming book How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement, and has been recognized by Barron's as one of the most influential women in finance.  https://www.morningstar.com   Pete Neuwirth, FSA, FCA, is a senior consulting actuary with over 35 years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies design and fund executive and retirement benefit programs. A thought leader in holistic financial wellness, he is the author of What's Your Future Worth? and Money Mountaineering, and continues to consult, write, and speak on retirement, longevity, and decision-making in a complex world.  https://neuwirthassociates.consulting  Jason Vitug is a bestselling author, wellness advisor, and storyteller who empowers people to live with purpose, financial confidence, and emotional well-being. As the author of You Only Live Once and Happy Money Happy Life, and founder of Phroogal and The Smile Lifestyle, he blends personal finance, travel, mindfulness, and self-development to inspire holistic living.  http://phroogal.com  Jordan Grumet, MD is a hospice physician, personal finance educator, and host of the acclaimed Earn & Invest podcast, where he explores the intersection of money, purpose, and meaning. He is the author of “Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life” and "The Purpose Code,” blending his unique medical and financial perspectives to inspire intentional living.  https://jordangrumet.com Key Highlights: Social Wellness: The Overlooked Retirement Strategy Christine Benz emphasizes that while most people obsess over the money piece, “relationships and social connections are a very underrated component of life satisfaction and happiness.” Long before you retire, invest as much in your social life and purpose as you do in your portfolio. The Holistic, Multi-Dimensional Approach Jason Vitug stresses the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, physical, and financial well-being: “If we let go of one area or focus too much on one dimension, that has a negative ripple effect on the others when we neglect them.” He urges proactive self-care for a genuinely fulfilling retirement, not just a financially secure one.  Planning for Risk and Flexibility Pete Neuwirth reveals that successful retirement involves more than numbers: “It's really all about managing the risks in the decumulation in the retirement phase, including sequence of returns, but also longevity, spike expense and other things like taxes.” He recommends home equity and part-time work as often-underused “buffer” assets.  Emotional Preparedness: Redefining Identity Post-Career Jordan Grumet and Christine highlight the emotional side: retirees often struggle with identity and purpose once their work routines and roles fall away. Jordan suggests revisiting childhood passions. Christine recommends testing meaningful activities in advance so retirement transitions are smoother and more joyful. Call-to-Action Here's your one thing you should do this week: Take 20 minutes to write down your vision for retirement... not just the numbers, but the life. What does a meaningful day look like? Who are you with? What are you doing? Then ask: What small step can I take now to start living that vision today? Then reverse engineer that back to your finances.  Find the Inspired Money channel on YouTube or listen to Inspired Money in your favorite podcast player. Andy Wang, Host/Producer of Inspired Money

Amy Arnott, portfolio strategist for Morningstar Inc., discusses how a popular dividend investing strategy works, and who would or wouldn't benefit from it. On this episode:Let's focus on when dividend reinvesting works as a strategy and when it does not. Who should consider reinvesting dividends?When shouldn't an investor reinvest their dividends?Are there any differences between reinvesting dividends in a taxable vs a tax-deferred account?What types of dividends are taxable and non-taxable?How long you've owned a dividend-paying stock matters when it comes to taxes. Can you explain the differences between qualified and non-qualified dividends?What kind of record-keeping does reinvesting dividends require, and how does reinvestment affect the cost-basis?How are considerations different for stock dividends vs fund dividends?What's the final takeaway for the audience about dividend reinvestment?  Read about topics from this episode. When to Reinvest Dividends (or Not)These 4 Dividend ETFs Strike the Right Balance for Income Investors10 Top Dividend Stocks for 202513 Elite Companies With Fast-Growing DividendsWhat Are Dividends?The 10 Best Dividend StocksThe Best Dividend FundsWhat Makes a Great Dividend Fund? What to watch from Morningstar. Market Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US?Digital Advice in 2025: What You Need to Know About Robo-Advisors Read what our team is writing:Amy C. ArnottIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

Tune in for another episode of Give The People What They Want! with Zoe Alexandra, Indian journalist Prasanth R, and Roger McKenzie, international editor of Morning Star, as they reflect on the prospects of peace in Sudan, attacks on press freedom in Pakistan, Brazil's response to US tariff hike threats, the achieveability of UN Sustainable Development Goals, The Hague Group's “Emergency Conference of States” in Colombia, as well as the Israeli attacks on Gaza and Syria.

FROM TODAY'S RECAP - Ezekiel 28:11-17 - Article: Aren't Jesus and Satan Both Referred to as "The Morning Star"? - Find out more about D-Group Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store - Credits PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.

Our guest this week is Brian Selmo. Brian is a portfolio manager and research director at First Pacific Advisors. Since 2013, he has comanaged the FPA Crescent Fund with Steve Romick and Mark Landecker, and in 2021, he became comanager of the FPA Global Equity ETF. Both strategies are highly regarded by Morningstar's Manager Research Team. Before joining FPA in 2008, Brian worked as an analyst at Third Avenue Management and at Rothschild, and was founder and portfolio manager of Eagle Lake Capital. Brian holds a degree from Johns Hopkins.Show NotesBackgroundBioLinkedInFPAFPA Crescent FundSteve Romick: ‘We Think Defensively', The Long View podcast, Aug. 25, 2020.Morningstar Awards for Investing ExcellenceReferencesIn an Uncertain World: Tough Choices From Wall Street to Washington, by Robert E. Rubin and Jacob Weisberg

There is a lot to cover in this episode, including new legislation that could impact your retirement. Plus, 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid, and a listener with substantial assets who wants to know how to pay for a new car. The OBBB The One Big Beautiful Bill became public law on July 4, 2025. Included are: Lower Tax Brackets Are Now Permanent 
Larger Standard Deduction New Senior Bonus Deduction (2025–2028)
 Above-the-Line Charitable Deduction (2026–2028)
 Expanded SALT Deduction
 ACA Subsidy Planning Alert
 New Car Deduction 
 If you're a client of ours - we'll go into these changes in detail during our year-end appointments. If you really like the numbers, we'll do a before & after to calculate your specific tax savings impacted by these changes.  Article: 6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid This article by Sheryl Rowling from Morningstar addresses these six myths: You Should Never Make a Big Splurge in Retirement 2. It's Best to Give to Charity After You Die  3. Spending Less Is Always Better 4. You Must Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retiring 5. Reverse Mortgages Are a Last Resort 6. Your Biggest Financial Risk Is a Market Crash Resource:6 More Retirement Financial Myths to Avoid by Sheryl Rowling   Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Work with Benjamin: https://retirementstartstoday.com/start   Follow Retirement Starts Today in:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, or iHeart  Get the book!Retirement Starts Today: Your Non-financial Guide to an Even Better Retirement  

Some investors focus on what the markets are doing each day to understand how their portfolio is going to perform. In this episode, we run through the common behavioural mistakes that will likely have an outsized impact on your portfolio, and how investors can prevent making these mistakes.To submit any questions or feedback, please email mark.lamonica1@morningstar.com or leave us a voicemail to feature on the podcast here.Additional resources from our episodes are available via our website.Audio Producer and mixer: William Ton.In this week's edition of Unconventional Wisdom, Mark goes through the process of playing devil's advocate for his ETF choice for Australian equity exposure. An important exercise for all investors, as it ensures that there are no biases at play and helps you make a strong decision about securities that you choose to include or exclude in your portfolio. He runs through detailed analysis for why it should be included in his portfolio. This week in Future Focus, Shani explores trusts. In a meeting with a tax specialist, she was pointed towards them as a way to minimise tax, especially for those individuals on higher tax brackets. She looks at who these vehicles suit and when they might be too much effort with not enough reward. Joseph tapped the insights of Morningstar's energy analyst to compare integrated fuel and gas station company Ampol with its industry peer Viva Energy (the owner of Reddy Express). How might Australia's biggest gas station firms fare in a world with more EVs? Are they likely to keep their Australian oil refineries open amid tough competition? And do the shares offer enough value and yield for income investors to look past these question marks? Find out in Joseph's latest Stock Showdown! Humans have a natural inclination to assume that expensive equals better. But is that the case with investing? Not really. Paying more often means getting less in return. Investors have largely taken this message onboard and clearly favour low-cost funds while rejecting more costly options. But are we missing out on better products by doing so? In this week's Young & Invested, Sim explores if investors are too obsessed with fees and when paying extra may be worth it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Field, European Market Strategist at Morningstar Holland, talks about tariff risks for key sectors and European stock performance as market volatility persists. On this episode:President Trump pushed his tariff deadline from July to August. How are global markets reacting to the uncertainty during this tariff watch?The EU is one of America's largest trading partners. How important is it for these two sides to strike a deal? And what's at stake if they don't before the deadline?More than two dozen countries make up the EU. The bloc is seeking lower tariffs for a variety of sectors like aircraft, car parts, and spirits. Talk about that. So, what sectors do you think could be hit the hardest, and which ones could be spared?The EU has presented a united front. However, some countries want a trade deal sooner than later. Can you talk about the debate you're witnessing in Europe? Trade deals typically take years to be implemented, so any announcement would be a preliminary agreement. If a US investor has European companies in their portfolio, what would this framework mean for them in the long-term? Let's shift to this year's market performance of European stocks. What's been winning? Which European stocks do Morningstar analysts consider undervalued, and why? Read about topics from this episode.  What's Morningstar's Outlook for Europe in 2025?Why It's Not Too Late to Add International ExposureWhat Investors Need to Know About TariffsHere Are the Sectors and Industries That Are Vulnerable if Reciprocal Tariffs Come BackWhere Next for European and UK Stock Markets in 2025?Best International Companies to Own: 2025 EditionFind Morningstar's complete collection of tariff-related articles and analysis here. What to watch from Morningstar. Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US?Digital Advice in 2025: What You Need to Know About Robo-AdvisorsDemystifying Private Equity and Private Credit ETFs: What Every Investor Should Know Read what our team is writing:Michael FieldIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/ 

Tune in for another episode of Give The People What They Want! with Indian journalist Prasanth R and Roger McKenzie, international editor of Morning Star, as they reflect on the recently concluded BRICS summit in Brazil, the resumption of attacks by Ansar Allah on Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea, possibilities of a peace deal in Palestine, crackdown on pro-Palestine activists in the UK, and the national strike in India in defense of workers' rights.

We're taping this podcast at the Morningstar Investment Conference, where we're delighted to be joined by Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji, who joined Vanguard just about a year ago. Prior to joining Vanguard, Salim was a senior leader at BlackRock, where his most recent position was as global head of iShares and index investing. Before that, he was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company. Salim started his career as a lawyer at Clifford Chance in London and Hong Kong.BackgroundBioVanguard Announces Appointment of Salim Ramji as New CEOA message From Salim RamjiTopicsVanguard Chooses an Outsider as Its New CEO, by Daniel Sotiroff, Morningstar.com, May 14, 2024.Vanguard's New CEO: The Story Everyone Is Missing, by Susan Dziubinski and Daniel Sotiroff, Morningstar.com, April 22, 2025.Ramji Discusses Vanguard at 50 With Wall Street Week, May 22, 2025.2025 Morningstar Investment Conference: How to Invest Today, Laura Lallos, Morningstar.com, June 27, 2025.Vanguard CEO on Outages, Expansion Plans and Culture, Bloomberg, Aug. 5, 2024.2025 MIC: Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji on AI, Fees, and the Future of the Firm, Hedge Fund Alpha, June 27, 2025.Vanguard Unveils Generative AI Client Summaries for Financial Advisors, Vanguard, May 5, 2025.Automated Investing With Digital AdvisorThe Best Robo-Advisors of 2025, Dan Culloton, Morningstar.com, May 2, 2025.How Vanguard plans to play disruptor again, by Brooke Masters, Financial Times, Feb. 11, 2025.Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji cools the jets on private assets, by Tania Mitra, Citywire, June 26, 2025.Vanguard CEO says its public-private efforts rooted in partnerships, not acquisitions, by Rob Kozlowski, Pensions & Investments, June 26, 2025.Vanguard sets sights on private markets (at the right price), by Lachlan Maddock, Investment Magazine, March 5, 2025.

The Morning Star Shines - Maddie Cox, Stephen Gooch and Eric Snyder

Show Notes: Brian Stollery talks about AlphaSense, an information provider that independent consultants and boutique firms are using to gain an edge over those who rely on chat GPT or consumer LLM tools. AlphaSense is built for this kind of work, pulling in verified content such as industry reports, broker research filings, earnings calls, expert calls, news, and internal research and internal content. It layers this with market-leading AI functionality that can read and synthesize all of it to deliver consulting-grade insights at scale. AlphaSense Explained Brian clarifies that AlphaSense is not primarily an expert network like AlphaSights, but rather a market company and enterprise intelligence search engine for the AI generation. It offers the depth and breadth of authoritative data that would be obtained from a legacy research platform with the intuitive user experience of modern AI tools. The value of AlphaSense lies in the deep, authoritative content set that is the foundation of AlphaSense, along with the speed and accuracy of the AI that allows users to quickly surface relevant insights. Brian also talks about the major categories of sources of proprietary information that feed into AlphaSense. The AlphaSense Platform The AlphaSense platform features an index where users can go to different things, such as portfolio monitors, research topics, expert insights, news, risk signals on consumer tech growth investment strategy, events, company documents, and talent job executive movements. The dashboard includes eight or nine widgets that provide a list of seven or eight articles on various topics. These articles are sourced from various sources, such as news articles or interviews with experts. The platform also has over 200,000 free recorded, transcribed expert calls, which are added to the library for analysis by the AI. How AlphaSense Gathers Information The interviewers are usually conducted by-side analysts, corporate users, and experts in respective fields. They work with corporate development teams and head of corporate strategy to conduct these interviews. The platform believes that a rising tide lifts all boats, and every expert call that happens throughout the AlphaSense is published back in the platform to further enhance and grow its library of expert calls from subject matter experts who are currently active in their industry.   AlphaSense Use Cases In management consulting, AlphaSense may not be suitable for calls that would be better suited to AlphaSights where the information is sensitive or should have restricted access.  However, the use case for AlphaSense is for commercial due diligence for private equity, where it allows users to get up to speed for engagement and quickly search across benchmark expert perspectives. This allows them to bolster their expertise within the management consulting space. AlphaSense is an institutional grade content engine that consolidates information from various sources, including expert calls, news, research reports, broker research, and more. It offers over 6000 vetted business and market news sources and trade journals, most of which require paywalls. AlphaSense allows users to bypass these paywalls and provides real-time insights from over 700 partners.   The AlphaSense Dashboard The dashboard includes relevant documents related to executive movements, risk signals, growth, and investment strategies. Users can explore the dashboard by searching for trigger words related to their watchlist of consumer tech companies. The AI can then pull relevant documents, such as expert insights, event transcripts, press releases, and news, to provide valuable insights for business development or due diligence. The Executive Search Function The document search module within AlphaSense allows users to get forensic insights from relevant documents, such as executive search, talent, and hiring practices. The AI can also generate summary responses, which are useful for top-tier consulting use cases. However, the AI may sometimes make a guess or hallucination if an answer is not available. This is why the Big Three and Big Four rely on AlphaSense for their consulting use cases. The AlphaSense Research Tool The AlphaSense generative search tool is a research analyst team in a box. The tool is designed to answer macro business questions, such as market size or pricing trends. Brian checks McKinsey, Bain and BCG's performance in 2025, including their revenue, talent, hiring, and growth areas. The AI agent breaks down these questions into subquestions and finds 3000 documents across the content library. It then extracts documents from expert calls, press releases, investor relations presentations, research reports, and sustainability reports. The AI outputs a summary of the documents. The tool is particularly useful for understanding the performance of consulting firms like McKinsey Bain and BCG. Quality Sources and Quantitative Data AlphaSense provides bullet points on McKinsey, revenue, growth, talent, and hiring, with links to expert calls and other sources of data. The AI outputs are deep linked and cited to the source, ensuring accuracy. For instance, McKinsey Sciences for Growth, a 2025 focus, integrates tech-enabled capabilities and AI. BCG reported $13.5 billion in 2024 revenue, achieving 10% global growth and expanding its workforce to 33,000 employees. AlphaSense also has sentence-level citations, ensuring every sentence is deep linked and cited to its source. AlphaSense uses various models from partners like open AI, sonnet four, and Gemini 2.5, all grounded in high-quality, relevant documents. The tool's intelligence selects the best model based on the use case, whether it's reasoning-based or quantitative or qualitative. The AI is a comprehensive market-leading library of authoritative content that consultants care about. Modes of Research and Meeting Prep for Management Consultants Brian shares the typical use cases for management consultants using generative search platforms. He highlights two modes: think longer and deep research. Brian used generative search to prepare for a meeting with a client at a mid-sized consulting firm, focusing on digital strategy. The AI summarized transcripts, expert calls, earnings calls, and press releases from iHeart, highlighting the company's focus on technology, digitization, and AI-enabled automation as the key to cost savings and digital revenue acceleration. The platform also offers an iPhone app for on-the-go access to insights. The AI analyzed bullet points and planned insights on every section, creating a comprehensive competitive intelligence report. The report includes chatter on core service offerings, engagement models, pricing structures, sector specialization, news partnerships, partnerships, and tech bets.    AlphaSense's Generative Grid Brian talks about using AlphaSense's generative grid, which is a generative AI-powered spreadsheet to aggregate documents and interrogate them. This is useful for tracking executive compensation and performance components for target accounts. The grid allows consulting users to analyze past performance and understand the current climate. Another use case is connecting consulting, transformation, and strategic advisory services to key performance indicators, such as free cash flow, human capital, strategic objectives, or EBITDA. By attaching value drivers directly to performance components, consultants can focus on adjusted EBITDA growth, cost optimization, Target, discover integration execution drive, adjusted ROTC, and revenue growth tied to executive compensation. AlphaSense for Understanding Business Development Brian explains that the use cases and projects of consultants using AlphaSense  vary, but one major use case is business development understanding. It helps in identifying companies' propensity for M&A or divestitures, such as changes in management or new strategic initiatives. AlphaSense also offers a deal scanner for M&A consultants looking at acquisitions or private equity deals across a portfolio of companies or industries. It also provides due diligence services, such as meeting prep, company research, trend analysis, market assessment, client benchmarking, and sentiment analysis. Alpha Sense's Access to Information Providers AlphaSense has access to SEC filings, newspapers, trade journals, investment bank coverage, and reports. AlphaSense also has access to other information providers like CrunchBase, capital, IQ, and Pitch Book. The Venn diagram highlights the overlap of information between AlphaSense and other information providers, such as CrunchBase, Morningstar, and CrunchBase. If a company's revenue or employee count is in CrunchBase, it can be accessed via AlphaSense. Alpha Sense vs. Capital IQ The conversation turns to the differences between AlphaSense and Capital IQ, a financial reporting platform. AlphaSense is an end-to-end intelligence engine that provides access to investment banking reports, but it requires downloading them one by one. It is not possible to search across all content sets at once. Capital IQ, on the other hand, offers valuable structured data, is great for downloading Industry Reports, and is a strategic database of financials and filings. It is also useful for importing statistical or financial models into Excel. AlphaSense, on the other hand, is an end-to-end intelligence engine that provides decision-ready insights across billions of data points. Timestamps: 03:23: Overview of AlphaSense's Content and AI Capabilities  07:27: Detailed Walkthrough of AlphaSense Dashboard 12:38: Exploring Different Categories of Information Sources  16:36: Generative Search and Deep Research Capabilities  26:05: Use Cases for Management Consultants  42:50: Comparison with Other Information Providers  49:22: Pricing and Accessibility Links: Website: https://www.alpha-sense.com/ Recently feature on AlphaSense on CNBC with more insight on our Deep Research differentiation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HJ8Egisg-w If folks want to reach out directly for their own personalized demo: Email: bstollery@alpha-sense.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancity/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc's senior markets reporter, discusses the uncertain outlook for the third quarter and how investors should prepare for market volatility.What Was Surprising From Q2 Market VolatilityMixed Expectations as Trump's Tariff Deadline ApproachesHow Should Investors Prepare Themselves for Market Volatility?How Tariff Uncertainty Could Affect Company EarningsHow Trump's Tax and Spending Bill Raises Concerns About Federal DeficitHow the Fed's Decision on Interest Rates Could Affect the Yield CurveShould Investors Brace for More Market Volatility? Read about topics from this episode.  13 Charts on Q2's Major Market Rebound Market Volatility: What to Watch in Q2 After Big Swings in Q1 Has the Stock Market Reached Peak Optimism on Tariffs? What Investors Need to Know About Tariffs Tariffs Would Likely Hit These US Stock Sectors the Hardest What Investors Need to Know About the Budget Reconciliation Bill The Deficit is the Biggest Risk for the Bond Market, Says Matt Eagan of Loomis Sayles How Much Will the Fed Cut Interest Rates? How Healthy Is the US Economy? Here's What the Top Economic Indicators Say  What to watch from Morningstar. Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US?Digital Advice in 2025: What You Need to Know About Robo-AdvisorsDemystifying Private Equity and Private Credit ETFs: What Every Investor Should KnowMarket Volatility: Portfolio Diversification Is Winning in 2025 Read what our team is writing:Sarah HansenIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/

All July long, we're featuring a special replay series of standout episodes—and this week is no exception.Join us for a special episode as we welcome Christine Benz to discuss her book, "How to Retire." In a captivating conversation in the Rock Retirement Club, we dive into topics like long-term care, the 4% rule, investing strategies, and simplification. Featuring insights from Fritz Gilbert, a member of the club and contributor to Christine's book, this episode offers a holistic view of retirement planning. Discover how to balance financial and non-financial aspects for a fulfilling retirement journey.*Episode Originally Aired December 4, 2024*OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN(00:55) We are going to play some past impactful episodes for the whole month of July INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE BENZ(01:28) Today we start off the month with a replay of our interview with Christine Benz.(03:17) Roger asks about the goal for the readers of this book.(04:48) Christine: The goal was to cover retirement in a really holistic way and include as much non-financial as financial information on retirement planning.(06:10) Roger thinks the interview style of the book helped make it more approachable.(08:13) Roger asks Christine about any big, unexpected insights that came up when she was writing her book.(11:12) Fritz Gilbert says I give Christine serious kudos for the approach she took and the amount of homework she did.(12:35) Christine tells Fritz that she loves his methodical approach to dealing with the years leading up to retirement.(14:16) Marla asks Christine if she would change anything if she was writing this book today to accommodate the 2024 election results and also asks about managing portfolios on Morningstar.(18:15) Roger says when it comes to portfolio construction, it's easy to overcomplicate things(21:14) Larry asks Christine what challenges her or confounds her most about her own retirement planning.(23:35) Larry asks “Are you concerned that we may not find people to provide long term care?”(31:08) Kevin Lyles asks Christine about asset allocation in retirement.(37:55) Laura asks: When talking about high quality bond portfolios, do bond funds work?(42:00) Roger asks about indexes and broad diversification. (44:37) Roger says someone had a comment related to some of the research on small cap value and asks Christine her view on having a more diversified small cap value tilt?(48:19) Eric asks “what is the argument for using TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities)  for retirees?” (51:28) Roger asks Fritz if he has been simplifying his portfolio or working more on optimization since retiring in 2018.(53:52) Roger says the optimization part of retirement sometimes dominates the conversation.(54:44) Roger asks Christine: Have you found in your own life a balance between making sure you don't get too complicated in investments?(57:55) Brianna asks Christine what question she has been reflecting on after the 20 interviews?(58:45) Christine she's been thinking more about whether the concept of retirement is flawed.BONUS(01:01:26) Roger reads an excerpt from his grandfather's WWII journalResources Mentioned In This EpisodeWade PfauMorningstar The Retirement Manifest- Fritz GilbertDaughterhood.orgChristine BenzSix Shot SaturdayBOOKSHow to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement - Christine BenzBeing Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End - Atul GawandeKeys to a Successful Retirement: Staying Happy, Active, and Productive in Your Retired Years - Fritz GilbertRock Retirement: A Simple Guide to Help You Take Control and Be More Optimistic About the Future - Roger Whitney

On this week's podcast, we dive into my fascinating six-month journey with AI, exploring how tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing access to information and informed guidance. Drawing inspiration from Seth Godin's insightful piece, "Education is Free, Learning is Expensive," we'll discuss why true learning demands commitment and effort, especially in today's information-rich world.I've discovered AI's power extends far beyond simple fact-checking. It's a game-changer for understanding diverse perspectives, even helping me tailor advice to different generations. My goal is to help you leverage this incredible tool to build a better financial future.We'll also gain some valuable perspective on investment returns, especially after the unique first half of the year. While six months isn't a long-term indicator, it's certainly given us plenty to discuss! Many are wondering if now's the time to jump into international equities, especially as they've shown unexpected strength.Understanding Diversification and Long-Term InvestingI'll share my philosophy on successful long-term investing as a buy-and-holder: identifying equity asset classes that offer a premium for risk and grow faster than inflation. We'll examine the "ultimate buy and hold portfolio," which strategically blends U.S. and international equities, and analyze its performance over the past six months, comparing it to other popular strategies from Vanguard and DFA.You'll be surprised to see how closely Avantis and DFA ETFs performed, despite some significant individual fund differences. We'll also delve into the fascinating relationship between the U.S. dollar's value and international equity performance. For a deeper dive, I highly recommend checking out this illuminating table from Brandes Investment Partners: https://www.brandes.com/insights/chart-of-the-week/us-dollar-and-international-equities-03312023. It clearly illustrates how the dollar's strength and weakness correlate with international returns, offering historical examples of how these trends ebb and flow. Chasing returns isn't the answer, but a diversified, buy-and-hold approach can significantly reduce volatility and smooth out your equity returns—a major advantage, especially for retirees.The Allure and Nuance of Long-Term ReturnsWe'll then shift our focus to long-term performance data, specifically looking at the last 15 years through June 2025. You might be surprised to learn how the S&P 500, growth stocks, and even Berkshire Hathaway have compounded over this period, and how these returns compare to historical averages and expectations. While U.S. growth has been a clear winner recently, we'll discuss why historical norms suggest a different long-term outcome for value and small-cap stocks.I'll also address the popular Total Market Index and offer a candid take on whether it truly outperforms the S&P 500 for those not seeking broader diversification. We'll explore why, in some cases, a simpler approach might be just as effective, or even more so.The Power of Information and Future ToolsFinally, I'll emphasize how today's access to free information from sources like Morningstar empowers you to conduct research that was unimaginable just decades ago. Plus, I'll give you a sneak peek at a new, exciting, and largely free tool coming soon from AtlasETF.com, which will allow you to easily test different portfolio strategies.Join me as we explore these crucial topics and continue to empower you on your journey to becoming a more successful long-term investor.What are your thoughts on using AI for financial planning? We'd love to hear from you!