Investing Insights

Active management can still win in the bond market. Opportunities abound for active managers to best their passive peers and benchmarks. And here’s why: they have access to tools, asset classes, and flexibility that their competition does not. Right now, the bond market is ripe for them to succeed. A deep dive in Morningstar Magazine’s first quarter 2026 issue makes the case why everyday investors should consider adding active bond funds to their portfolio. Eric Jacobson, senior principal of fixed-income strategies for Morningstar, and Maciej Kowara, principal of fixed income strategies for Morningstar, co-authored the article.

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On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:33 Why Active Management Still Works in Bonds

00:02:25 Who Trades in the Bond Market

00:03:18 Finding Inefficiencies in Fixed Income

00:04:26 When Passive Bond Funds Can Hurt Investors

00:06:01 How to Spot a Good Active Bond Fund

00:08:10 What Gives Active Managers an Edge

 

Watch more from Morningstar:

These Top Tech Stocks Can Stand Up to AI Risks

2 Cautionary Tales from Private Equity and Private Credit Markets

Are You Ready for Tax Day? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You File

 

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The stock market has cooled on stocks caught up in the whirlwind of artificial intelligence. Fears over whether AI will disrupt a variety of sectors have triggered big sell-offs. Morningstar equity analysts have investigated 132 companies to determine whether that’s the case. They have concluded that AI is not a universal destroyer. The team thinks investors should sort through the wreckage and find newly cheap companies with enduring competitive advantages. Eric Compton, director of equity research for the technology sector at Morningstar, tells you where to look.

Moat Ratings Guidebook Amid AI Disruption 

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:28 What are Moats, and How Does Morningstar Use Them?

00:04:11 In-Depth Analyst Review of 132 Companies

00:06:27 Why Cybersecurity Holds Up

00:10:02 Why Design Software Looks Resilient

00:13:10 How Financial Data Benefits From AI

00:15:32 Finding Opportunity After AI Selloffs

 

 

Watch more from Morningstar:

2 Cautionary Tales from Private Equity and Private Credit Markets

Are You Ready for Tax Day? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You File

Avoid This IRA Distribution Error to Protect Your Retirement Cash

 

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Two high-profile cases in the public-private markets are testing boundaries and investors. ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF’s stake in illiquid holdings, including SpaceX, has apparently run afoul SEC rules. Meanwhile, a high-flying alternative assets manager has changed the rules for returning investors’ cash from one of its funds. And Blue Owl Capital is now facing backlash.

Lessons From a Private Markets Bust: Why This ETF’s Investors Missed Out on SpaceX Gains 

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On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:24 How XOVR ETF Differs From Typical ETFs

00:02:11 XOVR ETF Performance Versus Broader Stock Market

00:02:48 Why XOVR’s SpaceX Stake Swung Sharply

00:09:56 Blue Owl Capital’s Origins and Current Problems

00:13:25 Who Invests in Blue Owl’s Direct Lending Funds

00:18:09 Investor Lessons From Blue Owl’s Redemption Halt

Watch more from Morningstar:

Are You Ready for Tax Day? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You File

Avoid This IRA Distribution Error to Protect Your Retirement Cash

Elevate Your 60/40 Portfolio With These Simple Tweaks

 

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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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