Are bonds boring? That’s their reputation—and it’s a big part of why investors embrace them.

But Steve Laippley, global co-head of iShares fixed-income ETFs at BlackRock, thinks there’s also a lot more excitement to bonds than we give them credit for.

In this episode, Steve talks with Ben and Julie about:

• ETFs’ role in transforming investor access to bonds
• The value of bond ETFs in providing liquidity, transparency, and price discovery
• How fixed-income ETFs fared during the covid-19 market turmoil
• Recent innovations in the fixed-income space

Catch up on previous episodes: https://www.morningstar.com/views/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice

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Schwab’s Rob Williams and Inga Rachwald join Ben and Julie to unpack why retirement income is first and foremost a planning challenge—one that demands balancing emotional biases, clear goals, and smart investment choices. Together, they explore how advisors can reframe conversations around income, broaden clients’ understanding of risk, and apply practical strategies that connect portfolios to real-life outcomes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Morgan Stanley CIO Jim Caron explains how Trump’s tariff-funded fiscal policy could impact market volatility, sector trends, and investor portfolios. 

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Explore with BNY Wealth’s Sinead Colton Grant how private markets, risk tolerance, and asset allocation shape wealth strategies in today’s volatile market.

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Grayscale’s Dave LaValle and John Hoffman share how advisors can navigate crypto’s rapid evolution, from understanding the technology and ETF parallels to preparing for regulatory shifts and AI-driven innovation as digital asset adoption accelerates.

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Additional resources:

Read a summary of this episode: https://www.morningstar.com/business/insights/blog/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice/evidence-driven-financial-advisor-value

Catch up on previous episodes: https://www.morningstar.com/views/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice

 

Questions or ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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Additional resources:

Read a summary of this episode: https://www.morningstar.com/business/insights/blog/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice/advisor-engagement-strategies

Catch up on previous episodes: https://www.morningstar.com/views/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.morningstar.com/business/insights/research/big-picture-in-practice-newsletter

 

Questions or ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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In this episode

• The red flags to watch for when evaluating model portfolios.
• How private markets could strengthen model portfolios—and the risks involved.
• Why technology will drive personalization, but human connection with remain key.

Additional resources:

Catch up on previous episodes: https://www.morningstar.com/views/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.morningstar.com/business/insights/research/big-picture-in-practice-newsletter

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In this episode:

• The tax advantages of ETFs and how they compare to other investment vehicles.
• How Section 351 conversions enable tax-efficient transitions from SMAs to ETFs.
• Potential regulatory risks and what they mean for the future of ETF tax benefits.

Additional resources:

Read a summary of this episode: https://www.morningstar.com/business/insights/blog/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice/351-conversion-sma-to-etf-white-label-etf

Catch up on previous episodes: https://www.morningstar.com/views/podcasts/big-picture-in-practice

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.morningstar.com/business/insights/research/big-picture-in-practice-newsletter

 

Questions or ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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