OK, People: It's Time to Think Big
If the past few months have given you more time for introspection, use it to improve your financial plan in a big-picture way.
Christine Benz
Christine Benz is Morningstar's director of personal finance and author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances and the Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: 5-Star Strategies for Success. Follow Christine on Twitter: @christine_benz.
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Rick Rieder: Nobody Has Ever Seen Anything Like This
The prominent manager of BlackRock Global Allocation Fund addresses the COVID-19 pandemic's macroeconomic impacts and their implications for asset allocation and investing.
5 Investing Mistakes to Avoid
Christine Benz discusses pitfalls investors encounter as they navigate volatility and recovery.
Rethinking Retirement Income
We examine the implications of this market for retirees.
7 Pieces of Financial Advice for New Graduates
How you can help your loved ones get on the right track financially, even in a pandemic.
Does Delaying Social Security Deliver an 8% Return?
Waiting often makes sense, but your actual mileage may vary.
RMDs Aren't Required for 2020. What Should You Do?
Tim Steffen talks about about how retired investors can handle RMDs this year.
Carl Richards: 'Let's Focus on Being a Little Less Wrong Tomorrow'
'The Sketch Guy' discusses the value of asking the right questions, how placing small bets is less daunting than setting goals, and finding 'enough.'
Are IRA Conversions a Good Idea During Volatility?
Pimco's Tim Steffen discusses some considerations to bear in mind before converting.
A Thrift Savings Plan Update
The retirement savings plan for government workers is superb, but some of the coming changes are overdue.
4 Common Money Questions, Answered
Morningstar director of personal finance Christine Benz addresses money concerns that are top-of-mind for investors of all life stages.
Where Can I Find Extra Cash?
Christine Benz discusses the best and worst places to look for needed funds.
How Can Younger Investors Take Advantage of Volatility?
Christine Benz offers tips and warnings for those with more investing runway.
With Yields Low, How Can I Create a Livable Income Stream?
Christine Benz offers some advice for retirees.
Is My Retirement at Risk?
Christine Benz points out two areas to evaluate.
Moshe Milevsky: How to Lower Retirement Risk at a Turbulent Time
A pioneering researcher on the role of human capital in financial planning, the importance of biological age to retirement planning, the role of annuities and tontines in hedging longevity risk, and more.
What Ultralow Yields Mean for Your Financial and Retirement Plan
With cash and bond yields so low, the "safe" return of other nonportfolio assets is even more attractive.
Why We Rechecked Return Forecasts (And What We Learned)
Christine Benz takes a second look at experts' expectations for the long-term returns of stocks and bonds.
Is Delaying Social Security Still Smart?
How volatile markets and concerns over the program's finances should affect claiming decisions for pre-retirees and early retirees.
Should You Buy During a Downturn?
Christine Benz discusses how two types of investors can approach this period.
Wade Pfau: The 4% Rule Is No Longer Safe
The noted retirement researcher discusses how pre-retirees and retirees can adjust their plans in times of market stress.
5 Bucket Portfolio Surprises in the Market Sell-Off
Most of the surprising developments relate to the safe parts of the portfolios--Bucket 1 and Bucket 2.
Experts Forecast Stock and Bond Returns: Crisis Edition
Despite fears over a deep recession, lower equity valuations signal higher future stock-market returns, according to our roundup of forecasts from major investment firms.
The 411 on RMDs for 2020
Details on workarounds for early RMD-takers, QCDs, and why some taxpayers may want to take a distribution anyway.
Brigitte Madrian: 'Inertia Can Actually Be a Helpful Thing'
A leading behavioral researcher discusses the importance of setting the right retirement-plan defaults and how the current crisis puts urgency around "rainy day accounts."
How Charitable Giving Is Changing in 2020
As the need for charitable gifts grows, the CARES Act ushers in changes affecting retirees, non-itemizers, and heavy givers.
Stuck at Home? It's Time to Take a Look at Your Finances
Morningstar's Christine Benz suggests some personal finance tasks you can do while the world is on pause.
Chris Davis: Banking on Boring, Reliable Franchises
The manager of the Davis NY Venture fund offers his thoughts on how best to sift for bargains post-sell-off, his team’s fondness for financial stocks, and why Berkshire hasn’t made any acquisitions yet.
What Role Do Bonds Play in an Era of Ultralow Yields?
Investors are right to be questioning bonds' role in their portfolios, but they still serve a useful purpose for many.
In a Lower Tax Bracket? Check These Areas
Jeff Levine shares some ways to think about improving your tax position.
A Checklist for Volatile Markets: Retiree Edition
Volatility is usually more distressing for retirees than it is for people who are earning a paycheck. Here's how to find peace of mind.
A Checklist for Volatile Markets: Retirement Saver Edition
Running through our six-step checklist can provide peace of mind with your portfolio and plan if volatility persists.
How to Assess Your Cash Flows and Create a Budget
Take these steps to ensure that spending doesn't interfere with your ability to save no matter your life stage.
What to Expect as the Virus Continues
We discuss our latest views on stopping the spread of the virus as well as the economic implications.
Dan Fuss: It's Too Early to Relax
A veteran bond manager compares the current economic and market crisis to previous ones and reflects on the attractiveness of various asset classes at this juncture.
New Tax Filing Deadline Affects More Than Just Taxes
Tax and retirement planning expert Ed Slott looks at financial aspects to consider now that the tax filing date is later.
It's Time to Look at Tax-Loss Selling
There's no telling if stocks have bottomed, but selling losing positions can help you find a silver lining in a down market.
What Does the CARES Act Mean for Retirement Accounts?
Jeff Levine discusses what's changing and the pros and cons of 401(k) loans versus hardship withdrawals.
Are Bond Funds 'Broken' as Diversifiers?
The recent tumult illustrates the importance of using your time horizon to guide what kinds of bond funds to hold--or whether to hold them at all.
Fran Kinniry: Applying the Vanguard Approach to Private Equity
The leader of Vanguard's initiative to offer private equity investing discusses his views on private equity's role in a portfolio, how Vanguard will structure its offering, and why the firm is bringing it out now.
Seize the Opportunity to Convert to Roths
Tax and retirement planning expert Ed Slott says converting traditional IRA balances to Roth may cost you less in taxes now.
Healthy Financial Habits to Cultivate Now
Christine Benz offers ideas for some investing habits we can put into place while cooped up at home that can pay dividends down the road.
Take Care When Approaching Beaten-Down Parts of the Market
Alex Bryan discusses areas that have performed worse than others during the recent market downturn.
10 Sources of Emergency Cash, Ranked from Best to Worst
The CARES Act makes it easier to gain access to retirement accounts in a pinch, but they're not likely to be your best source of emergency cash.
In Volatile Markets, It's OK to Chicken Out
Christine Benz explains why now isn't the time for grand gestures with your investments; instead, take a light touch to them.
The Stimulus Plan and Its Effect on Retirees
Tax and retirement planning expert Ed Slott says investors should tread carefully among the potential provisions, from RMDs to hardship withdrawals and loans.
Is It Too Late to Derisk?
Five questions to ask to determine whether to reduce your exposure to stocks after a bear market is under way.
A Conversation With the Sequoia Fund's Managers
Two members of the Sequoia Fund’s investment committee open up about the firm’s culture, why the portfolio is more fully invested than before, Berkshire, and more
Retirees and Pre-Retirees: You've Got This
Key steps to take back control if your retirement portfolio has taken a tumble.
A 7-Point Risk Drill for Your Portfolio
The right amount of risk to take in your portfolio depends on two key variables: your risk capacity as well as your risk tolerance.