Brian Moriarty and Jack Shannon: Putting Private Markets Funds Through Their Paces
Morningstar’s Manager Research team is scrutinizing newer semiliquid private‑market funds to broaden investor access. Brian Moriarty and Jack Shannon explain their due‑diligence methodology, covering liquidity management, valuation transparency, and fee structures. They describe how Morningstar’s Medalist ratings evaluate these funds and the signals they provide to advisors. The episode highlights both the potential rewards and the inherent risks of private‑market exposure for investors.
The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You.
The Morningstar 2026 Diversification Landscape Report, discussed on Invest Insights, shows a broadened portfolio beating the traditional 60/40 mix. By adding small‑cap, international equities, high‑yield bonds, gold and commodities, the test portfolio returned roughly 18.5% in 2025, outpacing the vanilla...
Will Vacation Inflation Affect Your Summer Travel? Here’s What to Know
The episode examines how soaring fuel prices and the recent shutdown of Spirit Airlines are reshaping the U.S. summer travel landscape. A fresh CPI report shows fares rose roughly 3% in April, while airlines grapple with higher jet‑fuel costs stemming...
The Long View: Bill Bengen - ‘Inflation Is the Greatest Enemy of Retirees’
Veteran researcher William Bengen discusses A Richer Retirement, his new book that updates and expands his landmark work on safe withdrawal rates. Using expanded historical asset classes — including microcaps, midcaps, international stocks and T-bills — Bengen’s back-tested “safe max”...
3 Great International Dividend ETFs
The video spotlights three international dividend‑focused exchange‑traded funds that have gained traction as U.S. investors chase higher returns abroad. Schwab’s SCHY delivers a 3.1% 12‑month yield with an ultra‑low 0.08% expense ratio, targeting 100 high‑yield, low‑volatility stocks while capping emerging‑market exposure...
It’s Time to Take Profits in These Very Overvalued Stocks
Morningstar’s chief U.S. market strategist, Dave Sekera, flagged three additional stocks—Keysight Technologies, EXFO and WESCO International—as significantly overvalued, urging investors to consider taking profits. Keysight, rated with a wide economic moat for its communications‑testing suite, trades well above Morningstar’s $220 fair‑value...
How Big Tech's Bond Spree and Rising US Debt Are Creating Risks and Opportunities
The episode examines the surge in corporate bond issuance by major technology firms to finance massive AI projects, alongside a soaring U.S. federal deficit that now tops $39 trillion. Companies such as Oracle and Alphabet have broken historical norms—Oracle’s deal...
The Long View: Claudia Sahm - Thinking Through Scenarios in a Whiplash Economy
The Long View podcast features Claudia Sahm, chief economist at New Century Advisers, discussing today’s “whiplash economy.” She outlines how a succession of supply‑side disruptions—from pandemic‑induced labor shortages and global tariffs to the Ukraine war, Middle‑East tensions, and a looming...
Why Has the Stock Market Been Able to Move Higher Despite the Oil Shock From the War?
Investors are puzzled as the S&P 500 reached a fresh record despite the oil shock triggered by the Middle East conflict. The video explains that the United States' greater energy independence shields its economy from the worst of the supply crunch,...
The Long View: Michael Gates - Why More Advisors Are Migrating to Model Portfolios
In this Longview interview, Michael Gates, BlackRock’s head of model portfolio solutions for the Americas, explains why an increasing number of U.S. financial advisors are moving from bespoke security selection to BlackRock’s target‑allocation model portfolios. The conversation highlights that...
Funds That Protect Against Inflation
Oil price volatility is reigniting inflation concerns, threatening portfolios weighted toward traditional bonds. The video highlights three primary defenses against a potential inflation spike. Short‑term Treasury Inflation‑Protected Securities (TIPS) funds, such as Vanguard’s Short‑Term Inflation‑Protected Securities Fund, preserve purchasing power and...
Dave's Thoughts on The Pivot to AI #morningstar #allbirds #ai
Dave opens the segment by flagging a wave of AI‑centric pivots that echo the 1990s tech bubble. He cites Allbirds, a former shoe maker, which sold its footwear business and announced plans to spend the proceeds on AI GPUs, effectively...
How to Handle Market Volatility at Every Life Stage
Morningstar’s video outlines a life‑stage framework for navigating market volatility, emphasizing that investors should resist knee‑jerk reactions and instead tailor portfolio construction to their age and time horizon. Young investors are urged to stay fully invested and use market dips...
The Long View: Harry Margolis - How to Confront Aging Challenges Head-On
The Long View podcast featured Harry Margolis, a veteran elder‑law attorney, who outlined how aging baby boomers must confront a looming care crisis. He traced his own path from a pro‑bono stint at Greater Boston Elderly Legal Services to founding...
Vanguard Is Entering a New Era. Can It Keep Winning for Another 50 Years?
Investing Insights examines Vanguard’s strategic shift as CEO Salem Ramji marks his second year at the helm. The firm announced a structural split into Vanguard Capital Management and Vanguard Portfolio Management, each led by dual CIOs, while continuing its low‑cost,...