Skip to Content

Insights for Investing Professionals

Stay up to date on topics that range from portfolio construction to sustainable investing. By accessing transparent insights and unique tools, break down today’s investor trends with practical ideas you can apply to your business.

Updated

The Latest

7 Items

2024 Economic Outlook: A Breakdown for Advisors

Morningstar researchers explore economic predictions, trends, and insights for Q2 2024.

Managing Expectations During Market Downturns

Learn why the next decade's market outlook could make advisor value more critical than ever.

How to Consider Careers in Stock Portfolios

By overlooking human capital, financial advisors might be ignoring an important source of risk at the total portfolio level.

2024 Conferences for Financial Advisors and Wealth Managers

A short list of North American conferences for financial advisors, wealth managers, and home-office professionals.

Bridging Public and Private Market Data

The shift to private equity is creating a need for better data.

Why We ❤️ Strategy Data

Discover how strategy data connects similar investments and aids asset managers.

Active Versus Passive Funds by Investment Category

What are the odds of succeeding with active funds vs. passive funds?

Funds

6 Items

How Do Interval Funds Work?

Morningstar researchers break down the structure of interval funds in theory and in practice.

Interval Funds: Benefits, Risks, How They Work

When are interval funds right for a client?

What Financial Advisors Don't Know About Bitcoin ETFs

Has cryptocurrency finally hit the mainstream? How should financial advisors think about its fundamentals?

Are Active ETFs a Lifeline for Active Managers?

What successful actively managed ETFs have in common.

Active Vs. Passive Funds by Investment Category

What are the odds of succeeding with active funds vs. passive funds?

All Funds Blog Posts

Portfolio Construction

7 Items

Investment Style Analysis: Python Snippets for Evaluating Style Drift

Copy and paste these code snippets to evaluate investments for style drift.

Scenario Analysis: Python Code Snippets for Forecasting Investment Performance

Copy and paste these code snippets to forecast investment performance in any market conditions.

Closet Indexing Analysis: Python Snippets for Assessing Active Managers

Use these code snippets to investigate active management skill.

How to Consider Careers in Stock Portfolios

By overlooking human capital, financial advisors might be ignoring an important source of risk at the total portfolio level.

How to Uncover Security Exposure Faster

Quickly peel apart the holdings in managed investments, models, ETFs, custom benchmarks, and client portfolios to see what’s below the surface.

Stress-Test Portfolios Under Realistic Market Scenarios

Stress-testing your portfolios can prepare you for unforeseen circumstances and put your clients at ease. Here’s how to analyze and build resilient portfolios with Morningstar Direct Lens.

All Portfolio Construction Posts

ESG

6 Items

ESMA Rules for ESG Fund Names: Scope, Timeline, Exclusions

The European Securities and Markets Authority set new standards for naming funds with ESG or sustainable terms. Here’s how it affects the EU market.

What You Need to Know About SFDR Article 8 Funds

Look under the hood of quarterly fund flows, assets under management, and regulatory changes.

How Investors Can Limit Climate and ESG Risk

ESG risks are often less tangible and less immediately visible than traditional financial risks and can be harder to assess. Accurate and reliable data is key to analyzing ESG risk.

How to Build ESG Into the Advisor Workflow

Sustainable investing isn’t all or nothing. Explore how advisors can make ESG factors part of their routine.

Investment Reporting: A Comprehensive Walkthrough

As regulations and market conditions change, producing thorough, precise, and timely investment reports becomes increasingly important.

All ESG Posts

Client Engagement

6 Items

Investment Reporting: A Comprehensive Walkthrough

As regulations and market conditions change, producing thorough, precise, and timely investment reports becomes increasingly important.

Understanding What Investors Value in Advisors

As the industry evolves, so do the expectations of investors. It’s crucial to understand what clients want from their financial advisors—and demonstrate how you can offer that value.

What the Rise of Generative AI for Networking Means for Advisors

Morningstar researchers forecast strong growth for generative AI networking equipment spending through 2028.

Managing Expectations During Market Downturns

Learn why the next decade's market outlook could make advisor value more critical than ever.

Is a Financial Advisor’s Role All About Financial Well-Being Now?

The value investors place on financial advisors is evolving. Now more than ever, clients expect comprehensive advice that improves their financial well-being—which, by itself, is a complex, multifaceted concept.

All Client Engagement Posts

Corporate Sustainability

10 Items

Get Ready for Sustainability Reporting Requirements

What corporations need to know about mandatory disclosure regulations.

Net-Zero Data Public Utility Platform Makes Climate Data Accessible

With its debut at COP28, the NZDPU improves access to credible data to speed climate action.

Morningstar’s Sustainable Investing Summit: Three Corporate Sustainability Trends

Over 300 industry leaders participated in discussions about climate transition, net-zero goals, and driving impact in sustainable finance.

ESG Strategy: A Guide for Corporate Sustainability

Deepen your understanding of corporate sustainability with this guide from Morningstar. For general readers and financial advisors alike. Download now!

Morningstar’s Latest Corporate Sustainability Report is Here

This year, our Corporate Sustainability Report examines how Morningstar is grappling with some of the biggest challenges facing industry leaders.

Delivering Climate Data Resources

A trusted, central source of verifiable data to track and understand carbon emissions.

The Future of Corporate Sustainability

A focus on the future at Morningstar's first public corporate sustainability discussion.

UN Global Compact: Q&A With Kunal Kapoor

Morningstar signed the U.N. Global Compact in 2021, committing the firm to align our business strategy and operations with the U.N.’s 10 universal principles.

Morningstar’s 2021 Corporate Sustainability Report: Increasing Transparency

The report examines the firm’s commitment to building ESG data, research, and tools for all investors and prioritizing principles of sustainability in our workplace and the communities in which we operate.

Our Decarbonization Strategy and Net Zero Transition Plan

Morningstar’s Climate Transition Plan summarizes our initial approach to executing our organization’s net-zero commitment.

Sustainable Investing

6 Items

What Are Sustainable Funds and How Have They Performed?

Advisors who present clients with how they can include sustainable funds in a portfolio and explain exactly what they are can earn clients' trust.

It’s Time to Have the Talk ... About Sustainability

What drives sustainability and how to make sense of ESG data.

Help Your Clients Tackle Food Insecurity With Personalized Portfolios

Here’s how to guide client sustainability conversations on community issues and use that insight in personalized portfolios.

Which Sustainable Funds Are Fossil-Fuel-Free?

Despite the overall growth of sustainable funds, avoiding fossil-free funds requires a closer look. Learn more in this post by Morningstar researcher Jon Hale.

Sustainable Investing in Government Bonds

ESG Bond Indexes Reveal How Country Risk Changed in 2020

All Sustainable Investing Posts

Retirement

7 Items

Debunking Five Myths About Managed Accounts

Managed accounts are growing in popularity. Morningstar analysts separate fact from fiction on this commonly misunderstood service.

A Breakdown of Target-Date Mutual Funds in 2024

Investors continue to invest their retirement savings in target-date strategies. Morningstar researchers analyze the landscape and how asset managers are evolving their offerings.

2024 Trends in Retirement Savings and Spending With BlackRock

Dissect emerging trends in retirement income.

How Can Advisors Deliver Better Retirement Advice?

In a changing retirement landscape, advisors must deliver better advice. Our Morningstar professionals share takeaways from the NAPA 401(k) Summit 2024.

Financial Planning Advice Isn’t Just a Math Equation

Now more than ever, investment expertise and core menu design are table stakes for a retirement plan advisor. And helping the participant tactically with their financial life is at the center of the ask from plan sponsors to their plan advisor.

How to Invest for Retirement: Income Strategies

Retirement income strategies can help clients reach their goals. Morningstar researchers analyze and compare common approaches.

All Retirement Posts

Markets

16 Items

Obesity Drug Industry: The Next Wave of GLP-1 Competition

New drugs from public and private companies are emerging to saturate the market.

2024 Asset Management Industry Trends to Know

Morningstar researchers analyze the latest Q3 2024 asset managers industry insights.

How Can Advisors Help Close the Investor Return Gap?

The persistent 1.1% return gap stems from mistimed purchases and sales.

2024 US Gaming Industry Trends

Even with persistent inflation, demand for gaming remains undeterred.

2024 Economic Outlook: A Breakdown for Advisors

Morningstar researchers explore economic predictions, trends, and insights for Q2 2024.

Investing in Emerging Markets: A Guide for Advisors

Despite negative sentiment, emerging markets reveal attractive investment opportunities.

Asset Management Trends: 7 Key Ways the Industry is Evolving in 2024

The asset management industry is undergoing significant changes. Discover key trends—and how asset managers can take action.

2024 Apparel Industry Pulse Study: What Advisors Need to Know

The apparel industry has struggled to find consistency, but there are attractive long-term opportunities.

Mining Industry 2024: Key Insights for Financial Advisors

Morningstar explores the global landscape on mined commodities.

ESG Voting Policies 2024: What Asset Managers Need to Know

A closer look at the recent ESG voting policies of 10 of the largest US asset managers.

Morningstar’s 2024 Software Industry Outlook

Our analysts see total software revenue growing more than 10% annually through 2027.

Four Trends Will Power the Utilities Sector in 2024

Our analysts have an optimistic outlook—here's why.

39 Charts That Track Market Data for Financial Advisors

Keep up with constantly changing markets with the latest from Morningstar analysts and researchers. These charts reveal the financial market shifts that advisors need to monitor in early 2024.

What Advisors Need to Know About Inflation, Recession, and the 2024 Economic Forecast

Forecasting economic conditions in the United States.

2024 Fixed-Income Outlook

Over the last two years, the bond market hasn’t provided the defensive features that investors love. New, higher interest rates present an investing opportunity.

2024 Financial Advisor Trends

What the economy, inflation, and AI mean for investors.

Practice Management

4 Items

How to Grow a Family Office Without Losing the Personal Touch

Rockefeller Global Family Office is good at being small.

How Have Broker-Dealer Practices Evolved, and What’s Coming Next?

How badly does the market need to re-think its traditional notions of broker-dealers and advisors?

Decode AI Uses in Wealth Management With Fidelity’s Head of Data Strategy

Here's what AI means for wealth management professionals and investors.

How to Grow a Family Office Without Losing the Personal Touch

Unpack strategic growth, consistent culture, and differentiation in a crowded marketplace.

Risk

6 Items

Scenario Analysis: Python Code Snippets for Forecasting Investment Performance

Copy and paste these code snippets to forecast investment performance in any market conditions.

How to Measure and Manage Investment Risk

Risk assessments only work if they help advisors understand their clients’ true appetite for risk and then match them to appropriate investments.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Calculate Risk Tolerance in an Economic Downturn

Don’t let your clients’ emotions interfere with their investing success.

Do Investment Risk Profiles Work? How to Calculate Profiles for Top-Notch Financial Plans

The science behind investment risk profiles can feel fuzzy. No wonder why many financial advisors see risk profiles as another compliance requirement to cross off.

Financial Scenario Analysis With Examples

How scenario analysis tools can help investors manage financial risk and evaluate returns.

All Risk Posts

Fund Managers

3 Items

Why Are Fund Lineups So Top-Heavy?

Women in Asset Management Are Confronting the Gender Gap

While the asset management industry has made strides toward inclusion, women remain underrepresented.

Female Fund Manager Performance: What Does Gender Have to Do With It?

We looked at if gender affects investment performance. Here's what we found.

Investment Data

3 Items

From Noise to Signal: Using a Closed-Loop Data Model

See what data and models are needed to drive portfolio optimization.

Why We ❤️ Strategy Data

The shift to private equity is creating a need for better data.

Bridging Public and Private Market Data

A roadmap for broader coverage and deeper integration.

Indexes

5 Items

Don't Neglect Investments Outside the US

The strategic case for global diversification is less about noncorrelated assets and more about broadening the investment opportunity set to the fullest.

The Future of Indexing; Who Will Survive? Who Will Thrive?

In recent industry discussions, I've been asked who will win in this industry going forward. The choice appears to be between the small upstarts or the established players. My answer? Neither.

How Did Meta Become a Value Stock and Why Isn't It Considered "Sustainable"?

For long-term shareholders, Meta Platforms, previously Facebook, has been a stomach-churning investment.

Gain Diversified Exposure to Transformational Technologies with the Morningstar Exponential Technologies Index

Companies with significant exposure to innovational technologies can disrupt industries, create new markets, and enjoy strong growth, which can make them attractive investments.

All Indexes Posts

Regulations

5 Items

The SEC’s 2024 Rulemaking Agenda: What’s Ahead for Climate and AI Proposals

Here's what investors need to keep an eye on in 2024.

ESG Regulation: Coming Up or Catching Up?

The impact of new ESG regulation on financial advisory practices.

Not Your Grandfather's Advertising Rule

The nuts and bolts of the SEC marketing rule. Here's how it affects advisors.

Burden Vs. Competitive Advantage: Why You Should Embrace Today's Regulatory Environment

Addressing the SEC Marketing Rule and the demand for greater transparency.

All Regulations Posts

Personal Investor

5 Items

Introducing Morningstar Investor

The successor to Morningstar Premium helps investors like you navigate the noise.

Why You Should Be a Risk-Taker

Risk-taking investors know they can take control and make smart risks to reach their goals.

What to Know About the Trend Toward Institutional Investing

Understand the impact and implications of an investing world gone institutional

Top 10 HSA Providers: Our 2018 Assessment

A few are healthy, but most need attention

All Personal Investor Posts