Tax day is quickly approaching, and it’s time to get organized. New tax rules might make it worth your while to itemize rather than take the standard deduction this year. And don’t just file away your 1099 forms—they can offer valuable insight into your portfolio’s tax efficiency. Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, discusses what you need to consider before, and after, you file.

Morningstar’s Tax-Planning and IRA Resources for 2026

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:15 The "Procrastination Penalty" of Last-Minute IRA and HSA Contributions

00:02:35 How to Decide Whether to Itemize or Claim the Standard Deduction

00:04:18 Tips for Itemizing

00:05:37 Other Deductions You May Qualify For

00:07:45 Insights from Your 1099 Forms: Dividends 

00:10:40 Insights from Your 1099 Forms: Capital Gains

00:09:39 Insights from Your 1099 Forms: Tax-Exempt Interest

00:12:35 How to Avoid Overpaying Your Taxes

Watch more from Morningstar:

Avoid This IRA Distribution Error to Protect Your Retirement Cash 

Elevate Your 60/40 Portfolio With These Simple Tweaks

Why REIT ETFs Still Work as Real Estate Slumps

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A distribution from your traditional IRA could cost you if you’re not aware of your responsibilities. Many investors are saving up for their retirement in workplace accounts like 401(k)s. Those administrators handle tasks that IRA custodians don’t. And it’s up to you to take charge and keep track of your hard-earned money, so you’re not taxed twice. Denise Appleby is known as “The IRA Whisperer.” The Morningstar contributor has written about how to protect your IRA from costly mistakes.

Don’t Pay Taxes Twice: Here’s How to Save Thousands on IRA Distributions https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/dont-pay-taxes-twice-heres-how-save-thousands-ira-distributions

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:28 What is a Traditional IRA and How It’s Funded

00:02:29 How IRA Withdrawals Are Taxed When Accounts Hold Taxable and Tax-Free Dollars

00:05:36 What IRA Custodians Don’t Track and Why Investors Should 

00:09:05 What to Check on Form 1099‑R and Why Form 8606 Matters

00:12:02 How to Fix IRA Mistakes

00:13:44 What Records to Keep Track of to Avoid Double Taxation

Watch more from Morningstar:

Elevate Your 60/40 Portfolio With These Simple Tweaks

Why REIT ETFs Still Work as Real Estate Slumps

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

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The 60/40 portfolio has proven it’s here to stay, but it can benefit from a refresh like other classics. The total portfolio approach refines the 60/40. It takes a closer look at the components of the plain-vanilla portfolio and considers how risky they are. The goal is to help investors stay disciplined as market conditions change for the better or worse. Jason Kephart has written about the total portfolio approach. He’s a senior principal of multi-asset  manager research for Morningstar.

How a Total Portfolio Approach Can Improve the 60/40 Portfolio 

Morningstar’s Tax-Planning and IRA Resources for 2026

On this episode:

 00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:20 Total Portfolio Approach vs 60/40 Portfolio

00:01:52 How Growth and Stability Work

00:03:30 Why High-Yield Bonds Wouldn’t Go into Stability

00:04:30 Stocks That Might Be Better Suited for Stability than Growth

00:06:52 Challenges of the Total Portfolio Approach

00:08:49 How Investors Can Use This Strategy

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why REIT ETFs Still Work as Real Estate Slumps

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

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The struggle of brick-and-mortar real estate has extended into investment portfolios. Elevated inflation and high interest rates have weighed on the real estate sector over the past few years. Real estate investment trusts or REIT ETFs have not been spared. Yet these exchange-traded funds are popular among income investors. They generate cash and can help diversify a portfolio. So, where do they fit in yours? And which REIT ETFs do Morningstar analysts consider top picks? Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US Passive Strategies for Morningstar. Dan is also the editor of Morningstar’s ETFInvestor newsletter.

Subscribe to Morningstar’s ETFInvestor newsletter. https://newsletters.morningstar.com/

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:26 Basics of REIT ETFs 

00:04:34 Active vs. Passive REIT ETFs

00:06:03 REIT ETFs’ Performance vs US Stock Market

00:09:20 Cutting the Tax Bill on REIT ETF income  

00:10:06 Top REIT ETFs From Vanguard & Schwab

00:13:48 Key Takeaways for Income Investors

Watch more from Morningstar:

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings

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Thanks to its tax benefits, your IRA can be a powerful tool to optimize your portfolio. Investment firms often see a big influx of new contributions into individual retirement accounts in the early part of each year as investors rush to meet the April 15 deadline. If you’re one of the many investors adding new funds to your IRA, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning Christine Benz has some ideas on how to make the most of those contributions and improve your portfolio in the process.

How to Get the Most Out of Your IRA Contributions

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:16 2026 IRA Contribution Limits

00:01:45 How to Decide Between a Traditional and Roth IRA

00:03:52 Stock Investing Mistakes to Avoid With Your IRA

00:05:20 How to Invest Your IRA When You're Early in Your Career

00:08:13 How to Assess Your IRA in the Middle of Your Earning Years

00:10:23 The Advantages of Non-US Stocks and How to Diversify Your IRA

00:14:30 How to Derisk Your Portfolio as You Approach Retirement

00:16:47 Rebalancing Your IRA Without Tax Consequences

00:17:48 Is it ever too late to Contribute to Your IRA?

Watch more from Morningstar:

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings

Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing?

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Editor's note: An earlier version of this episode published with the wrong episode name and description. Both have been updated.

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merging-market funds will have a tough act to follow in 2026. The category racked up big gains last year following small returns for years. And a mix of factors like trade tensions prompted many investors to shift their dollars outside the US. Should you add emerging-market funds to your portfolio? And which ones were winners or losers? Morningstar’s senior principal of ratings Russ Kinnel dug into the data. The editor of the FundInvestor newsletter is here to tell you want he found.

Subscribe to Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter.

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:20 Why Emerging‑Market Funds Surged After Years of Sluggish Returns

00:02:29 Market Shifts of Leadership in Asia

00:03:36 2025’s Winning Emerging-Market Funds

00:05:08 2025’s Losing Emerging-Market Funds

00:09:34 What’s Next for Emerging‑Market Funds in 2026?

00:10:21 How Fidelity Contrafund’s Will Danoff Built a Successful Stock-Picking Record

00:13:38 What Everyday Investors Can Learn from Danoff

Watch more from Morningstar:

How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings

Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing?

How to Generate Steady Income in 2026

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If you’re newly retired or will join the ranks soon, it’s time to think about how you plan to spend your nest egg. Morningstar researchers are helping new retirees figure out where to begin. The recently published State of Retirement Income report concluded that the starting safe withdrawal rate for people beginning their retirement in 2026 is 3.9%. That number might appear low. However, the team has analyzed several strategies to lift it to almost 6%. Morningstar portfolio strategist Amy Arnott has investigated the data and joined the podcast to explain flexible withdrawal strategies.

How Much Can You Spend in Retirement? Here’s Your Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate for 2026  https://apple.news/ALEEtAf1FTAm7WUFGvYvXVQ

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:26 Understanding the 3.9% Safe Withdrawal Rate

00:02:33 How Flexible Strategies Lift Withdrawal Rates Up to 5.7%

00:03:48 Flexible Approaches for Retirees Seeking Predictable Paycheck-like Income

00:05:40 Inside the Vanguard Dynamic Spending Method

00:07:15 Highest Lifetime Spending & Highest Starting Safe Withdrawal Rate

00:09:20 Leaving a Legacy and Strengthening Your Portfolio

00:14:30 4 Financial To-Dos to Kick Off the New Year

Watch more from Morningstar:

Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing?

How to Generate Steady Income in 2026

All in on Magnificent 7? Where You Should Invest Next

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Quantum computing stocks have surged in popularity over the past year, capturing investors’ enthusiasm on the coattails of the artificial intelligence boom. These buzzy names took off last summer after a slew of announcements and research breakthroughs from the biggest players in the tech industry like Alphabet GOOGL/GOOG, Amazon AMZN and Microsoft MSFT. Quantum computing promises to be one of the most transformative technological developments of the next few decades, but Morningstar’s analysts caution that mainstream market adoption could be a long away. Dan Romanoff, a senior equity research analyst on the technology team at Morningstar, discusses new developments in the quantum computing landscape and the best way for investors to get exposure in their portfolios now.

Quantum Computing Market Insights

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:28 What Is Quantum Computing?

00:04:37 Why Are Computing Stocks Attracting Investors?

00:12:45 Quantum Technology Isn’t Yet Ready for the Mainstream

00:18:19Quantum Could Represent a $200 Billion Market

00:22:48Winners and Losers in Quantum Computing Stocks

00:25:28How To Invest in Quantum Computing Now

Watch more from Morningstar:

How to Generate Steady Income in 2026

All in on Magnificent 7? Where You Should Invest Next

9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025

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Higher interest rates have ushered in an era where income opportunities abound. That’s following years of parched cash flow streams and low rates, especially in fixed income. However, risks like stubborn inflation and elevated stock valuations exist. Morningstar researchers believe it’s important to identify income opportunities that could be resilient in today’s market. Dominic Pappalardo, chief multi-asset strategist for Morningstar Wealth, joined Investing Insights to discuss where to look.

Editor's note: The host misspoke when referring to Morningstar Holland’s chief European market strategist. His name is Michael Field.

Income Investing Strategies for 2026: Maximizing Yield in an Uncertain Market

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:33 Income investing in 2026

00:04:02 Bond market breakdown: short, intermediate, or long term?

00:07:39 Global bonds and hedging strategies

00:13:27 Equity Opportunities Beyond the US

00:15:31 REITs vs Utilities

00:17:14 Building Resilient Income Streams

Watch more from Morningstar:

All in on Magnificent 7? Where You Should Invest Next

9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025

Where to Invest in 2026 After This Year’s Market Volatility

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Is your portfolio making a big bet on the Magnificent Seven? Mega-cap names like Nvidia, Alphabet, and Apple belong to the exclusive club that has largely driven US returns higher in recent years. Their success has led to market concentration. Portfolios tracking broad benchmarks have seen their diversification decrease and risk increase. How can you prepare your portfolio to absorb potential shocks? And where are the opportunities beyond the Mag Seven? Morningstar Holland’s Chief European Market Strategist Michael Field is one of the researchers who investigated this.

Beyond the Magnificent Seven: Unlocking Value in a Concentrated Stock Market

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:49 The Magnificent Seven’s strong returns have benefited many investors. Why is their dominance a risk?

00:02:07 Your team highlighted a noteworthy stat in the report. The top 10 US stocks make up about 35% of the overall market. That’s almost double from a decade ago. What does that signal to you?

00:02:39 Can you explain what the hidden cost of market concentration is?

00:03:07 If the top stocks hold so much of the gains, where does that leave the rest of the market?

00:03:41 Let’s focus on key periods of market concentration. How does the current environment compare to the dot-com bubble?

00:04:11 And what about now versus the global financial crisis?

00:04:40 What if investors pulled back due to market concentration concerns in the last decade? Why would that have backfired?

00:05:51 How can investors manage the risk of market concentration in their portfolios?

00:05:50 Morningstar has identified investment opportunities for 2026. Why does the team favor US small caps over US large caps?

00:06:59 Another opportunity is the healthcare sector. What companies do Morningstar analysts think could fend off the competition for 10 years or more?

00:07:35 Morningstar encourages international diversification. Can you talk about the regions outside the US that look attractive for stock investors?

00:08:03 What’s the takeaway for diversifying beyond the Magnificent Seven in 2026?

Watch more from Morningstar:
9 Top ETFs for Income Investors That Stood Out in 2025

Where to Invest in 2026 After This Year’s Market Volatility

Why Betting Against Nvidia in the AI Arms Race Could Be a Mistake

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