Weekly Wrap: Open Enrollment, Top Bond Funds, and Financial Independence

Editor's Picks A Checklist for Open Enrollment Season If you're signing up for employer-provided benefits, don't just re-up for last year's choices; read this first. The Best Bond Funds Here are our highest-rated mutual funds and ETFs across a series of Morningstar's fixed-income categories. A Simple Plan for Financial Independence Examining personal finance through the lens of economics yields a nifty road map for accumulating wealth. How Do You Value Amazon Heading Into 2020? Amid calls for tech breakups, should investors adopt alternative approaches to valuation? Buckets: Not Just for Retirees Accumulators with short- and intermediate-term financial goals can employ the concept, too. Earnings Updates Strong Quarter, Cautious 2020 Outlook for UnitedHealth UnitedHealth shows momentum, but we do not expect to change our fair value estimate for the wide-moat firm. IBM Looks Toward Cloud Solutions for Growth We view shares as slightly undervalued but would wait for a better risk for reward entry point.

Raising Our Fair Value Estimate for JPMorgan The wide-moat firm had a solid third quarter, and we are increasing our fair value estimate to $114.

Improved Profitability at Citigroup We do not plan to make material changes to our fair value estimate for the narrow-moat financial-services firm.

Netflix Reports Mixed Subscriber Growth We are retaining our narrow moat rating and fair value estimate. Wells Fargo Takes $1.6 Billion Legal Charge in Quarter We are lowering our fair value estimate for the wide-moat firm.

Portfolio Planning and Personal Finance With Christine Benz What Type of Bond Funds Do You Need? Christine Benz discusses which types of bond funds make sense for most investors.

Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds 4 Upgrades, 3 Downgrades in September Overall, 120 strategies were rated, four of which were new to coverage. A Checklist for Taxable-Bond-Fund Investors Five considerations for those investing in fixed-income funds. 22 Downgrades for 2019 Kicking funds when they are down. What to Watch for With Capital Gains Distributions Russ Kinnel discusses some factors that can influence big payouts. 2 Winning Approaches During Volatile Times These low-volatility funds practice very different strategies yet hold up well during market downturns. This Fund Is Better Than It Looks Bronze-rated Artisan Value practices a valuation-sensitive, consistent approach that stands out from the pack. Investing Close to Home Is Overrated Foreign stocks have an important role to play.

Stocks BlackRock's Solid Growth Continues Positive flows and market gains lift assets under management to a new record.

3 Tech Stocks for Dividend-Seekers Brian Colello shares what makes these stocks stand out. How Investors Can Play in the Video Game Space We detail three areas of interest for investors. A Closer Look at 3M It may not be a pound-the-table bargain, but we like it as a defensive stock.

Rekenthaler Report The Best Predictor of Stock-Fund Performance It appears to be as powerful as it is unknown.

Predicting Mutual Fund Returns With the Ownership Lens A measure invented in 2005 gets retested--and passes with flying colors.

Commentary How and Why to Invest in Bonds: A Morningstar View This series of articles will tackle the basics of bond investing.

These U.S. Sectors Are More Global Than You Think Which areas of the market may be more vulnerable to ongoing trade tensions?

The Short Answer How Do Interest Rates Affect Your Bonds? Understanding duration can help you determine your bonds' interest-rate sensitivity.

What Are Municipal Bonds? These five questions can help you figure out whether to invest in municipal bonds (and the best way to do it).

Advisor Insights What Investor Biases Are Extraverts Most Prone To? Contributor Michael Pompian shares the results of his new study of personality traits and investment biases.

The Long View Ben Johnson: Index Funds Are Not 'Zombie Investors' Morningstar's director of global ETF research on fee wars, performance-chasing investors, and whether passive funds are doing their fair share for corporate governance.

Sustainability Matters with Jon Hale Cannabis Faces Significant ESG Risks Industry would be wise to adopt sustainable practices from the beginning.

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