Aron Szapiro

We believe without this action, the rule could have reduced the availability of investments using ESG considerations.

These tools hold enormous promise, but there are some implementation challenges.

All the votes need to be counted, and it’s not unusual for different batches of ballots to suggest very different potential outcomes that can influence short-term sentiment.

Policies for financial advice, 401(k)s, and more can take a turn depending on results.

Legislation before Congress could map out a path to greater racial wealth equity.

Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report shared her insights at our Morningstar Investment Conference.

Policymakers can take steps to help boost consumer confidence in these products.

Improvements to ESG metrics and disclosures matter for all investors.

We look at the fiscal and monetary policies recently deployed amid the coronavirus pandemic to see what's working and what else needs to be done.

As the bill is negotiated, expect some volatility among municipal bonds.

Stimulus bill includes provision that suspends required minimum distributions for retirement accounts.

Yes, really. A fiscal stimulus could significantly help Americans manage the current economic crisis.

Morningstar's director of policy research offers some reflections on the state of affairs.

The good, bad, and confusing policy changes and what they mean for you.

Regulation will shape who profits from cannabis.

But these changes will only help so much.

Congress looks for further ways to turn our retirement system to a general savings system.

It's not as crazy as it sounds, but the answer won't make you happy.

Congress’ next “pay-for” is not as significant as it seems at first glance.

Congress really needs to do away with an arcane tripwire that might one day blow up the economy.

An accident of history leads to opportunities and challenges for parents saving for college.

The SEC has not gone as far as many would like, but it’s taken some important steps.

Watch Morningstar policy research expert Aron Szapiro weigh in on the SEC's adoption of the regulation and what it means for investors.

As this debt increases, research shows that less is saved for the long term. But employers, and lawmakers, are acting to help.

Expanded or open MEPs address some problems, but more action is needed.

Some funds in the retirement plan for federal employees are shifting from a conservative glide path to a more typical one.

Morningstar director of policy research Aron Szapiro digs into the numbers.

New regulations in the European Union present an opportunity for the SEC to revisit and clarify soft-dollar regulations in the U.S.

Aron Szapiro discusses the Secure Act and its potential to plug some of the holes in U.S. retirement planning.

The data do not support a causal story.

New Morningstar research examines the impact of high-rebate arrangements on investor returns and the positive impact the proposed fiduciary rule has had.

ETFs are privileged by happy accident, and it's poor public policy to favor them over mutual funds.

Maybe, but "tax-deferred account" starts with "tax" for a reason.  

The partial government shutdowns could affect investors soon, because if the debt limit isn't raised we could see an increase in rates and a decline in liquidity.

The proposal leaves several questions unanswered.

Not much on its own, but it's a canary in the coal mine.

Aron Szapiro says we may see bipartisan legislation around the retirement system, but investors shouldn't overreact to House investigations of the president.

We take a look at the implications of a new Congress and how either political party's agenda could affect investors.

New rules package aims to raise standards.

With the DOL's fiduciary rule dead, we're calling for more clarity on the best interest proposal.

The proposed Regulation Best Interest rule could prove to be quite strong and maintain momentum toward best interest advice, but there are some areas that still need work.

As new share classes evolve, we untangle their meaning.

Watch Morningstar director of policy research Aron Szapiro discuss how effective the government's tools are.

The SEC's proposal will accelerate the trend of advisors moving from a sales to a relationship model.

We take a closer look at the tools the government deploys and how they’ve worked.

Making it easier for unrelated businesses to band together in multiple employer plans could help create higher quality options for investors.

An appellate court's ruling to strike down the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule doesn't change our view that in the long-run advisors are moving to a fiduciary standard of care.

The new tax law adjusts how provisions are, or aren't, indexed--meaning higher real rates are ahead.

Giving advisors reliable data-aggregation capabilities is a start.

Harder to access deductions, changes to inflation adjustments, and challenges to small retirement plans are on Morningstar Director of Policy Research Aron Szapiro's radar.