Investing Insights

Guaranteed income in retirement sounds pretty nice, but what are the trade-offs to make it happen? Several big asset managers offer target-date funds with built-in annuities. However, it's difficult to compare one against another because their strategies tend to differ. And retail annuities' dubious reputation has set up a hurdle for mass adoption. But recent important developments could clear the path for these funds to appear in 401(k)s and other retirement plans. New Morningstar research explores why target-date funds with annuities are gaining ground in the US. Jason Kephart has dug into the data. Morningstar's senior principal of multi-asset manager research is here to explain what he found.

As Fidelity Adds Target-Date Fund With Guaranteed Income, Here’s What You Should Watch For

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:00:59 What annuities are and why they got a bad rap

00:02:05 How in-plan annuities differ from retail versions

00:02:26 Why a proposed Department of Labor rule matters for 401(k) plans

00:03:08 Is momentum building for guaranteed income in 401(k)s?

00:04:18 Income annuities vs. guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefits

00:07:09 What retirement savers should know now

 

Watch more from Morningstar:

AI ETFs Are on the Rise. Are They Worth the Risk?

Don’t Leave Tax Savings on the Table: How to Conduct a Midyear IRA Checkup

What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026

 

Follow Morningstar on social: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's hard to escape the artificial intelligence hype. It's everywhere. Companies are adopting AI into their processes. Many people are talking to chatbots. And investors are making bets on which firms or themes will win. But do you need to own an AI ETF to benefit from the boom? Or do you already have enough exposure? Morningstar's associate director of US passive strategies research Dan Sotiroff has investigated whether the additional volatility of an ETF focused on AI is worth the risk.

For the Best Long-Term Bet in the AI Economy, Look to the Past

On this episode:

 

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:16 How AI shapes broad market ETFs

00:03:53 Are there still opportunities for smaller companies as large tech firms dominate?

00:05:12 What to know about thematic AI ETFs

00:08:59 Are ETFs the ideal way to invest in AI?

00:10:33 ETF picks for getting AI exposure

00:13:38 What to keep in mind about the AI tech trend

Watch more from Morningstar:

Don’t Leave Tax Savings on the Table: How to Conduct a Midyear IRA Checkup

What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026

Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth

 

Follow Morningstar on social: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Consider getting your IRA in shape this summer instead of waiting for the calendar to flip to next year. A midyear checkup could help you optimize your retirement account to benefit from its tax advantages sooner than later. Morningstar's FundInvestor newsletter has highlighted investment ideas for folks who want to keep it simple, maximize tax advantages, or strive for capital appreciation. Morningstar's senior principal of ratings Russ Kinnel shares his favorite fund ideas for an IRA.

IRA Favorites for Your Retirement Saving Plan

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:16 IRA basics and how Russ Kinnel invests in his IR

00:01:58 One-stop fund favorites for keeping it simple

00:03:45 Funds for maximizing tax advantages

 

00:06:38 Ideas to take the most advantage of tax-free compounding by focusing on capital appreciation 

 

00:08:44 Could the funds also work in a Roth IRA?

 

Watch more from Morningstar:

What Investors Should Watch for in the Second Half of 2026

Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth

Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete?

 

Follow Morningstar on social: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Market volatility tends to challenge investors' willpower to stick to their plan. That's understandable because it tends to be easier to say you will focus on the long-term until uncertainty emerges. Geopolitics and artificial intelligence stirred up their share of highs and lows in 2026. What lessons can you learn from past market-moving events to stay invested? And where are the opportunities in the second half of the year?

Dominic Pappalardo is the chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Wealth. It's part of registered investment advisor, Morningstar Investment Management.

What’s Ahead in 2027 and Beyond for Inflation, Fed Rate Cuts, and More

On this episode:

00:00:31 Welcome

00:01:18 Stock market's first six months of 2026

00:01:41 Events driving this year's market highs and lows

00:06:02 Staying invested during drawdowns and volatility

00:10:04 Morningstar's mid-year market outlook

00:12:19 Fixed-income and equity sector opportunities

00:14:55 Investor takeaways for the second half of 2026

 

Watch more from Morningstar:

Dividend Investing: How to Find the Right Balance Between Income and Growth

https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/dividend-investing-how-find-right-balance-between-income-growth-2

Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete?

https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/are-mutual-funds-becoming-obsolete-2

Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs

https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/brace-your-portfolio-mega-ipos-2

 

Follow Morningstar on social: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's just something about dividends. The popular investing strategy attracts retirees and other investors who need regular cash payouts, as well as those who like the tangible return dividends represent, even if they are reinvesting those distributions back into their portfolio. But what are the tradeoffs, and are they worth it? It depends on who you ask.

From the pages of the Q2 2026 issue of Morningstar Magazine, several specialists argue against chasing higher yield. Instead, they encourage investors to balance dividends and total return. Jerry Kerns, who's the editor in chief, joins Investing Insights to discuss the magazine’s spotlight. 

Featured Article: Subscribe to Morningstar Magazine

On this episode: 

00:00:00 Welcome 

00:01:35 What dividend investing is and its appeal 

00:03:55 Yield chasing trade-offs and dividend cut signals 

00:07:47 Why consider buyback yield alongside dividend yield 

00:09:44 Dividend stocks Morningstar analysts find attractive 

00:10:45 Gold-rated funds and insights into the strategies 

00:12:00 How income investors can strike the right balance

 

Watch more from Morningstar: 

Are Mutual Funds Becoming Obsolete? 

https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/are-mutual-funds-becoming-obsolete-2

 

Brace Your Portfolio for Mega-IPOs

https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/brace-your-portfolio-mega-ipos-2

 

The Portfolio That Has Been Beating the Classic 60/40, and Why It Matters for You https://www.morningstar.com/podcasts/investing-insights/portfolio-that-has-been-beating-classic-6040-why-it-matters-you-2

 

Follow Morningstar on social: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 

X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.