Investing Specialists

The prolific author and investment consultant weighs in on whether indexing has gotten too large, Vanguard's foray into private equity, and the spots where active management might still work.

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

If the past few months have given you more time for introspection, use it to improve your financial plan in a big-picture way.

The prominent manager of BlackRock Global Allocation Fund addresses the COVID-19 pandemic's macroeconomic impacts and their implications for asset allocation and investing.

It hasn’t been much of an issue lately, but it’s still a long-term threat.

Several funds see value in industrials and financial services; Berkshire Hathaway sells airlines stock.

How you can help your loved ones get on the right track financially, even in a pandemic.

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

Waiting often makes sense, but your actual mileage may vary.

Want to get smarter about investing? Check out some of these books.

'The Sketch Guy' discusses the value of asking the right questions, how placing small bets is less daunting than setting goals, and finding 'enough.'

This year's turbulent fixed-income market sheds some light on the limitations of intermediate core-plus bond funds.

The retirement savings plan for government workers is superb, but some of the coming changes are overdue.

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

Morningstar director of personal finance Christine Benz addresses money concerns that are top-of-mind for investors of all life stages.

A pioneering researcher on the role of human capital in financial planning, the importance of biological age to retirement planning, the role of annuities and tontines in hedging longevity risk, and more.

With cash and bond yields so low, the "safe" return of other nonportfolio assets is even more attractive.

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

How volatile markets and concerns over the program's finances should affect claiming decisions for pre-retirees and early retirees.

The noted retirement researcher discusses how pre-retirees and retirees can adjust their plans in times of market stress.

Most of the surprising developments relate to the safe parts of the portfolios--Bucket 1 and Bucket 2.

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

Despite fears over a deep recession, lower equity valuations signal higher future stock-market returns, according to our roundup of forecasts from major investment firms.

Details on workarounds for early RMD-takers, QCDs, and why some taxpayers may want to take a distribution anyway.

A leading behavioral researcher discusses the importance of setting the right retirement-plan defaults and how the current crisis puts urgency around "rainy day accounts."

As the need for charitable gifts grows, the CARES Act ushers in changes affecting retirees, non-itemizers, and heavy givers.

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

The manager of the Davis NY Venture fund offers his thoughts on how best to sift for bargains post-sell-off, his team’s fondness for financial stocks, and why Berkshire hasn’t made any acquisitions yet.

Investors can take smaller steps to reduce a portfolio’s risk profile without making a sweeping overhaul.

Volatility is usually more distressing for retirees than it is for people who are earning a paycheck. Here's how to find peace of mind.

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

As the bill is negotiated, expect some volatility among municipal bonds.

Running through our six-step checklist can provide peace of mind with your portfolio and plan if volatility persists.

A veteran bond manager compares the current economic and market crisis to previous ones and reflects on the attractiveness of various asset classes at this juncture.

Take these steps to ensure that spending doesn't interfere with your ability to save no matter your life stage.

Why low-volatility funds have had mixed results during the pandemic-driven downturn.

There's no telling if stocks have bottomed, but selling losing positions can help you find a silver lining in a down market.

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

The recent tumult illustrates the importance of using your time horizon to guide what kinds of bond funds to hold--or whether to hold them at all.

The leader of Vanguard's initiative to offer private equity investing discusses his views on private equity's role in a portfolio, how Vanguard will structure its offering, and why the firm is bringing it out now.

The CARES Act makes it easier to gain access to retirement accounts in a pinch, but they're not likely to be your best source of emergency cash.

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

Five questions to ask to determine whether to reduce your exposure to stocks after a bear market is under way.

Two members of the Sequoia Fund’s investment committee open up about the firm’s culture, why the portfolio is more fully invested than before, Berkshire, and more

Key steps to take back control if your retirement portfolio has taken a tumble.

Yes, really. A fiscal stimulus could significantly help Americans manage the current economic crisis.

Allianz’s chief economic advisor on how to address economic 'sudden stops,' the correct fiscal and monetary policy response to the coronavirus, and the outlook ahead.

The right amount of risk to take in your portfolio depends on two key variables: your risk capacity as well as your risk tolerance.

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

The noted Diamond Hill manager discusses the shorter durations of competitive advantages, how low inflation has curbed firms' pricing power, and what he considers to be the market's 'sweet spot.'