The Model Portfolio Landscape in 7 Charts
What's driving their rapid growth and how we're helping make sense of it.
Leo Acheson
Leo Acheson, CFA, is director, multi-asset ratings, global manager research for Morningstar Research Services LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc.
He oversees Morningstar’s multi-asset ratings as well as the firm’s multi-asset and alternatives manager research team. The group covers a range of investment vehicles, including allocation strategies, alternatives, target-date funds, 529 plans, HSAs, model portfolios, and Mexican pension funds.
Before joining Morningstar in 2013, Acheson spent four years working for a Chicago-based investment consultant, conducting mutual fund and asset-class research to help corporations manage their investment programs.
Acheson holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
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This Fund Manager Is Among the Greats
T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation's David Giroux has done a masterful job.
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Investing your HSA assets is really the way to maximize the tax benefits.
The Top HSA Providers of 2020
Fidelity continues to stand out as the best HSA for investing and for spending.
Seven Top-Rated Allocation Funds Worth a Look Amidst a Backdrop of Market Uncertainty
Diversification is the best defense against the unknown.
How Target-Date Funds Fared Amidst the Coronavirus Sell-Off
Results met expectations and improved since the last bear market, though outcomes diverged for near-retirees.
A Standout Choice for Hands-Off Investors
The Fidelity Freedom Funds feature a strong team, a thoughtful approach, and an attractive collection of underlying strategies.
5 Costs to Keep in Mind When Picking an HSA
Layers of explicit and implicit costs make HSA expenses tough to evaluate.
Why Fidelity Is Our Favorite HSA in 2 Charts
Whether you're spending or investing your HSA, Fidelity rises to the top.
The Best Health Savings Account
Fidelity's plan takes the top spot on our list, whether you're using it as a savings or an investing vehicle.
Our 2019 Rankings of 11 Top HSA Providers
Fidelity emerges as a clear winner in our checkup on health savings accounts.
Time to Revisit Your Home Country Bias
Foreign equities are currently trading near their largest discounts to U.S. stocks seen over the past 15 years.
A Set-It-and-Forget-It Target-Date Series From Vanguard
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Silver-rated T. Rowe Price Retirement Balanced benefits from multiple layers of proven managers and low fees.
The Best HSA Plans for Spending
Spending your HSA on current medical costs? Two plans stand out.
Key Takeaways From Our 2018 Checkup on HSA Plans
We assessed 10 of the largest HSA plans; a few are healthy, but most need attention.
Our Top HSA Pick: One Plan That Does It All
The HSA Authority works best for those who use the plans as spending and as savings vehicles.
Morningstar Names the Best 529 College Savings Plans for 2018
Two upgrades and nine downgrades highlight this year's ratings.
Lester: The 3 Biggest Risks Retirees Face
Anne Lester, manager of JPMorgan's SmartRetirement Target-Date series, discusses increased flows to passive strategies in the target-date space and the firm's research on decumulation strategies.
This Big Balanced Fund Is Getting Better
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The Allocation Fund Investors Wish They Owned
Morningstar's 2017 Allocation Fund Manager of the Year David Giroux has amassed a tremendous record at the closed, Gold-rated T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation.
Giroux: How I Outperformed in 2017
David Giroux credits good healthcare stock selection, an energy underweight, and a bet on tax reform for T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation's strong 2017.
Giroux Is Bullish on These 3 Stocks
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2 Strong Multi-Asset Income Funds
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With broad improvements across the 529 industry, plans that stand still fall behind.
Morningstar Names Best 529 College Savings Plans for 2017
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The Best HSAs for Investing
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4 HSAs With the Best Investment Menu Designs
Diversification with minimal overlap is the best recipe for HSA investment menus.
Room for Improvement in Growing HSA Plan Market
Our research on health savings account providers looked at 10 prominent plans as spending vehicles and as investment vehicles.
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Asset Growth for 529 Plans Means Improved Scale, Lower Fees
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What's New With 529 Plans
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Fund Companies Making Layoffs
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What Fund Manager Bonuses Tell Us
Most investment shops reward managers for short-term results, and few consider risk-adjusted returns.
6 529 Plans Suffer Downgrades in 2016
2 former Gold-rated plans slip, the list of Negative-rated plans grows.
Notable 529 Plan Upgrades and Downgrades
Morningstar's Leo Acheson discusses what's behind our decisions to boost some state plans and to lower our rating on others.
Morningstar Names Best 529 College-Savings Plans for 2016
Thirty-three plans are Morningstar Medalists, and three receive Negative ratings.
Why JPMorgan Global Allocation Is on Our Radar
Experienced management, deep resources, a robust asset-allocation process, and a good price make this fund worth a look for investors seeking a flexible strategy.
Departures at GMO Spur Fund Downgrade
A manager change and organizational stress at GMO have led us to downgrade GMO Benchmark-Free Allocation from Silver to Bronze.
Today's 529 Plan Landscape
Morningstar's Leo Acheson discusses how to evaluate 529 plans and identifies some industry best practices.
3 Excellent Growth Funds for the Risk Tolerant
Led by manager Dennis Lynch, Morgan Stanley's growth funds practice a successful yet volatile strategy, says Morningstar's Leo Acheson.
What Should Drive Your 529 Plan Decision
Morningstar’s annual college-savings plan study highlights some of the industry’s most-pressing matters and how investors can pick the right plan.
5 Funds Whose Trailing Returns Don't Tell the Whole Story
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Who Is Really in It for the Long Haul?
Most investment shops reward managers for short-term results, and few consider performance beyond five years.
Nominees for 2015 Allocation Fund Manager of the Year
Two candidates navigated last year's turbulent markets especially well.
Rising Concentration Points to New Risks
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