Investing Insights

High interest rates and expensive home prices are keeping some frustrated buyers on the sidelines. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage recently crossed the 7% line and remains there, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. And recently there’s an uptick in some buyers choosing adjustable-rate mortgages that come with a lower loan rate, but higher risk. Meanwhile, macroeconomic conditions are also squeezing homebuilders. So, when could affordability return to the housing market and where can investors find cheap stock opportunities? Suryansh Sharma is the director of equity research for Morningstar and covers the housing industry.  

Sign up for PitchBook or Morningstar Direct to read Suryansh Sharma’s full report, US Housing: 2026 Q2. 

On this episode: 
00:00:00 Welcome 
00:01:25 High Mortgage Rates and Prices Squeeze Buyers 
00:02:46 How Rate Hikes and Cheap Mortgages Affect Home Sales 
00:07:08 Rent vs. Buying: Comparing Monthly Housing Costs 
00:08:11 Housing Market Risks, Mortgage Rate Outlook, and One Undervalued Stock 
00:11:39 Ask the Economist: How Elections and the Economy Can Intersect 

Check out more from Morningstar: 
Are TIPS ETFs the Best Way to Fight Inflation? 
The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments 
14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark 

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This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income 

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Is persistent inflation making TIPS ETFs more attractive? Hundreds of millions of dollars flowed into this niche investment in September, according to Morningstar data. Yet, there’s a debate over whether they’re an ideal way to defend against higher costs. Joining me is Dan Sotiroff to discuss what investors should know, including the risk, tax treatment, and top-rated ETFs. He’s the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar. 

Ask the Analyst: TIPS ETFs Protect Against Inflation. So Why Did Mine Lose Money? 

On this episode: 
00:00:00 Welcome 
00:01:11 What TIPS ETFs Are and How They Work 
00:02:28 Can TIPS ETFs Help Against Elevated Inflation? 
00:04:39 Where Investor Money Is Going and How TIPS ETFs Performed 
00:07:07 How Interest Rates Affect TIPS ETFs, Plus Other Risks 
00:09:13 How TIPS ETFs Are Taxed 
00:10:57 Gold- and Silver-Rated TIPS ETFs and Key Takeaways 

Listen to more from Morningstar: 

The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments 

14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark 
Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year? 

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We have a special episode for you this week. The author behind the popular Ask the Analyst column on Morningstar.com is coming to the table. Morningstar portfolio strategist Amy Arnott is going into the mailbag to answer readers’ questions about bonds, including TIPS and other portfolio matters. 

Submit your question to the Ask the Analyst column created and written by Morningstar's Amy Arnott. 

On this episode: 
00:00:00 Welcome 

00:01:36 How Bond ETFs Work and Comparing TIPS, I Bonds, Treasuries 

[This video states that an investor can use $5,000 from a tax refund to purchase I bonds in excess of the $10,000 limit. The US Treasury discontinued this tax-refund option on Jan. 1, 2025. ].
00:05:06 Municipal Bond Fund Losses After a Fed Rate Hike 
00:06:58 Where to Hold Bonds: Roth vs. Traditional IRA, and TIPS Ladders  
00:09:15 Paying for Law School Tuition: Which Accounts Come Into Play 
00:10:30 Simplifying 231 Holdings and Limiting Capital Gains on Fund Swaps 
00:14:11 What to Know Before Submitting Your Ask the Analyst Question 

Watch More From Morningstar: 
14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark 
Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year? 
Don’t Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields 

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This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income 

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The menu of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds can appear to go on and on, and it’s probably hard not to feel overwhelmed when you’re researching what works for your portfolio. A popular annual feature in Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter narrows the choices from thousands to about a few dozen. Russ Kinnel has done the hard work for you and is here to share investment ideas from his Thrilling Funds list. He’s the newsletter editor and Morningstar’s senior principal of ratings. 

Sign up for Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter. 

On this episode: 

00:00:00 Welcome 

00:01:11 What's New in Morningstar's FundInvestor Newsletter 
00:01:55 How Funds Make the Thrilling Funds List 
00:03:43 Large-, Midsize, and Small-Company Funds From Fidelity, Vanguard and More   
00:06:22 Bond ETFs, Global Stock Funds, and Municipal Bond Funds That Stand Out 
00:08:50 Why Fidelity Contrafund and Other Popular Funds Just Missed the Cut 
00:10:02 How Investors Can Find Out How Their Funds Stack Up Against the Criteria 

Watch more from Morningstar: 

Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year?  
Don't Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields  
How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio  

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

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income 

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Are wide-moat stocks’ struggles a sign of their protection diminishing? That’s the big question from the Q3 issue of Morningstar magazine. Key market moments this year heavily weighed on some stocks with competitive advantages. Why did they stumble? Morningstar magazine Editor-in-Chief Jerry Kerns is returning to Investing Insights to discuss this issue’s cover story. 

Sign up for a free subscription to Morningstar magazine. 

On this episode: 

00:00:00 Welcome 
00:01:06 What Is a Moat and Its Five Sources 
00:03:24 Why Examine Wide-Moat Stocks' Performance Now 
00:04:12 What's Behind the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index's Rough Stretch? 
00:06:59 Are Moats Really a Sign of Quality? 
00:07:38 Key Takeaway on Wide-Moat Stocks 
00:08:12 Other Highlights from This Quarter's Morningstar Magazine 

Watch more from Morningstar: 

Don't Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields 
How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio 
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement 

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https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/ 
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https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/ 

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income 

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Higher bond yields are attracting more attention and more money. US bond ETFs pulled in almost $54 billion in August. Core and core-plus bond ETFs make up about $8.5 billion of that. These funds tend to provide shelter during market storms to ease a portfolio’s rocky moments. They also provide steady and predictable income. As bond rates sit higher than they have in the past, how can you benefit while also taking a conservative approach? Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar. 

Why Higher Bond Yields Can Be 'a Great Thing' 

On this episode: 

00:00:00 Welcome 
00:00:50 How core and core-plus bond ETFs work 
00:04:22 Billions flowing into core and core-plus bond ETFs this year 

00:05:55 How active fund managers capitalize on higher bond rates 
00:08:36 What higher bond yields mean for income investors 
00:09:51 Core bond ETFs earning Gold and Silver ratings 
00:11:17 Core-plus bond ETFs Morningstar analysts like 

Watch more from Morningstar: 

How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio 
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement 
New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution 

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/ 

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income 

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he dominance of artificial intelligence is swelling globally. Its massive growth is weighing heavily on stock markets, pressuring bond markets, and even growing to outsized proportions in emerging markets. These developments are increasing concentration risks in everyday investors' portfolios. What should you look for, and how do you guard against the AI surge? Tom Lauricella is Morningstar's chief global markets editor and the editor of the Smart Investor newsletter. 

Sign up for the Smart Investor newsletter from Morningstar. 

Markets Brief: Your Portfolio Is More Concentrated Than You Think 

On this episode: 
00:00:00 Welcome 
00:01:18 Any signs of the AI stock rally slowing down? 
00:02:01 Semiconductor stocks vs. other industries 
00:03:11 Concentration risk in emerging-market funds 
00:06:33 How AI is blurring lines between growth and value 
00:10:34 Big Tech's AI debt binge and the outlook for bond yields 
00:14:23 What to know about the Anthropic and OpenAI IPOs 

Watch more from Morningstar: 
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement 

New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution 
Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire 

Follow Morningstar on social: 
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Becoming a 401(k) millionaire can require decades of hard work and sacrifice. Previously, a seven-figure nest egg shined as the gold standard among retirement planners. But the shine has dulled as a portfolio of that size no longer guarantees the same security. What steps should you take to protect your savings and avoid going broke in retirement? Sheryl Rowling has a list of tips. The certified public accountant is the editorial director of financial advice for Morningstar.

Your 7-Figure Retirement Fund Might Not Stretch As Far As You Think. Here’s How to Change That

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

Watch more from Morningstar:

New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution

Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire
Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

Follow Morningstar on social:

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

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New exchange-traded funds are sprouting up quickly. In 2025, more than 1,000 ETFs launched. The crop included promising funds as well as those taking on unnecessary risks. The field could expand soon to include hundreds of riskier ETFs. As investment choices evolve, how can everyday investors spot what’s a good fit for their portfolio?  Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar. 

New ETFs with Sensible Investment Approaches Are Becoming Harder to Find

On this episode: 

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:11 How ETFs have evolved since the 1990s

00:02:38 New ETF trends and how providers compete

00:07:34 Risks and costs behind leveraged and inverse ETFs

00:11:04 Promising new ETFs worth a look

00:12:21 What to watch out for 

00:13:13 Key takeaways for evaluating new ETFs

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire

Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

Target-Date Funds With Annuities Are Gaining Ground. Is That Good for Your Retirement Plan?

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

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

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Will you give yourself permission to fully enjoy your nest egg? Many retirees spent years saving to enjoy this chapter of their lives, but when they finally get there, a lot of them hold back. Of course, lavish spending can be a problem in retirees' golden years. But so can not spending enough! New Morningstar research has found retirees often withdraw their money very conservatively, even when they're not especially afraid of running out of money. As a result, they might deny themselves a dream vacation or trying new hobbies. So, what's behind it, and how can you learn to spend more in retirement and still live within your means? One of the researchers is Dr. Danielle Labotka, who's a behavioral scientist for Morningstar.

Is Your Cautious Retirement Spending Doing More Harm Than Good?

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:02 Why Morningstar researchers studied retirement underspending

00:02:28 How retirees decide how much to spend

00:03:23 Why simple withdrawal strategies generally lead to underspending

00:04:42 What typically happens to retirees' wealth over time

00:05:27 Why cautious spending persists even when retirees can afford more

00:07:37 Three ways to tell if you're underspending in retirement

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

Target-Date Funds With Annuities Are Gaining Ground. Is That Good for Your Retirement Plan?

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

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/

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