Weekly Wrap: Promising Stocks and Index Funds

We recap the week on Morningstar.com and note the most popular stocks, funds, and exchange-traded funds.

Editor's note: Read the latest on how the coronavirus is rattling the markets and what investors can do to navigate it.

Editor's Picks 4 Strong Funds Reopening for Business Russ Kinnel explores four highly rated funds that have reopened for investors. Indexing During the 2010s Index funds delivered as promised. The Pandemic's Impact on Social Security and Medicare Contributor Mark Miller examines the health of these critical programs in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. SEC's Plan to Loosen Crowdfunding Restrictions Is a Bad Idea Investors should beware of the risks. 10 Promising Stocks These names are among the cheapest in our coverage universe--and they're growing their competitive advantages. Key Questions About 529 Plans During the Pandemic Madeline Hume discusses how investors should react amid market volatility.

Portfolio Planning and Personal Finance With Christine Benz How Dividend-Paying Stocks Fit Into Retiree Portfolios Christine Benz suggests retirees should take a balanced approach to these strategies. Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds Core Bond Funds Leading the Way in 2020 While many fixed-income funds wobbled in this year's sell-off, these three Morningstar Medalists performed as expected. The Rise and Fall of Bank-Loan Funds A Morningstar Category grapples with its future. Why College Savers Should Stay the Course Through the Coronavirus An uncertain future should not deter college savers from capturing 529 tax benefits today. The Trouble With Indexing High-Yield Bonds Neutral-rated Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF illustrates the challenges of indexing the junk-bond market. Rating the Top 529 College Savings Plans These best-in-class plans offer a combination of attractive features. What 'Fallen Angels' Have to Offer When these bonds take a tumble from the ranks of investment grade credits, they present opportunities for investors.

Stocks Schwab-TD Ameritrade Merger Can Create Value in Face of Low Rates The combination will cement Schwab's position as one of the key players in the financial sector. Why Home Depot Should Be on Your Watchlist Its massive scale creates a low-cost advantage that is the basis of its wide moat. Are Value Stocks Due for a Comeback? Value investing has massively underperformed growth over the past decade. Christine Benz talks with Alex Bryan about the fundamental case for value. Are Independent Refiners Still Buys? Shares have rallied, but valuations are still compelling as the near term remains uncertain.

Rekenthaler Report Should You Let Your Stocks Ride? The pros and cons of rebalancing.

Advisor Insights How to Advise Neurotic Investors Contributor Michael Pompian offers ideas for working with this personality.

The Long View Charley Ellis: Why Active Investing Is Still a Loser's Game The prolific author and investment consultant weighs in whether indexing has gotten too large, Vanguard's foray into private equity, and the spots where active management might still work.

The Short Answer What to Do With Your 529 During a Volatile Market Self-directed investors should keep their risk tolerance in mind when choosing a 529 plan.

Commentary How to Handle Emotional Money Discussions Our team has created a digital tool that brings financial therapy to the general public. Where Risk Models Can Miss the Mark Standard risk assumptions don't fully account for the market's extreme events. Is the Market Overvalued Today? Our data suggests that valuations have tightened and that stocks are less attractive today than they were two months ago. Check Your Biases When Making Money Decisions Using tested techniques can help you skip the mental short cuts and remind yourself of what you're working toward during the coronavirus pandemic.

Most Requested ETF Quotes Invesco SPDR S&P 500 ETF Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF

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