Why Bonds Belong in Your Diversified Portfolio (Even Now)
Fixed-income investors, bonds are rising to the occasion and looking attractive again. Their yields are higher, and they have delivered as diversifiers against stock sell-offs this year. Yet, uncertainty has muddled the outlook as the bond market seeks clarity about tariffs, inflation, and interest rates.Paul Olmsted covers US fixed-income strategies for Morningstar Research Services. The senior manager research analyst explains why you need bonds for a balanced portfolio.Let’s start with how you’re thinking about the bond market in 2025. Can you talk about what you have considered key moments this year? As a follow-up, what is at the core of the bond market’s concerns?We’re recording this episode on July 30th around 10:30am. The Fed is expected to announce their interest-rate decision this afternoon. Market watchers are predicting the Fed will hold rates steady. High interest rates pose a risk to bonds. What other risks should investors watch out for now? Some bond investors are seeking a “Powell hedge” due to expectations that Trump could oust the Fed Chair. What are they hedging against, and is this something everyday investors need to think about? What’s the probability of Trump firing Powell before the Fed Chair’s term ends in May 2026, and who would be the ideal candidate? We have talked about how the memory of the worst bond market ever in 2022 is still lingering. However, bonds served as diversifiers during stock sell-offs earlier this year. Why do you think bonds can’t shake the bad rap?What’s the optimal bond allocation in a diversified portfolio during a high-rate environment? Should investors focus more on whether their holdings are short- or long-term, or is credit quality a bigger issue?What are the best bonds for portfolio diversification?What’s the takeaway for fixed-income investors for the rest of 2025? Read about topics from this episode. Investors Should Embrace Elevated Bond Yields3 Principles to Invest By, Whatever Comes NextWhy the Fed’s Independence Matters to Markets, the Economy, and Your Wallet4 Top-Performing High-Yield Bond FundsTariffs and Dollar Weakness Tested US ResilienceIncome Opportunities Remain at the Front End of the Yield Curve What to watch from Morningstar. Covered-Call ETFs Are Booming. But Not All Yield Is GoodThis Dividend Investing Strategy Deserves a Second LookMarket Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025 Read what our team is writing.Paul OlmstedIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/
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Covered-Call ETFs Are Booming. But Not All Yield Is Good
Daniel Sotiroff, senior manager research analyst for Morningstar Research Services, explains how covered-call ETFs work along with the popular investment’s risks and rewards. On this episode:What are covered-call ETFs, and how do they work?Why are retirees and other income investors drawn to these ETFs? What’s making them so popular this year?Their yields look very high. What is driving them?What types of trade-offs are investors making?ETFs are known to be tax-efficient investments. What are the tax considerations for covered-call ETFs?Should you hold covered-call ETFs in a taxable or tax-deferred account?What’s the optimal retirement account to hold covered-call ETFs?Let’s talk about covered-call ETF performance in 2025. What have you’ve seen?Which covered-call ETFs do Morningstar analysts consider a solid choice for investors, and why? Read about topics from this episode. Should You Own a Covered-Call ETF Like JEPI? Is It Time to Reconsider Dividend Funds? 3 Great ETFs for Jittery Markets Covered-Call and Buffer ETFs: Stock Investing With Less Gain but Less PainCovered-Call and Buffer ETFs: Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?100% Downside Protection ETFs: What’s the Catch?Our 2025 ETF Predictions: A Midyear ReviewCovered-Call Stock Funds Like JEPI Are Popular. Should They Be?The Active ETFs That Led Inflows During 2025’s First Half5 Charts on How Tariff Trouble Rocked US Fund FlowsInvestors, Be Careful When Buying New ETFsTax-Efficient Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors25 Top Picks for Tax-Efficient ETFs and Mutual FundsHow to Maximize the Tax Efficiency of an ETF Portfolio3 Great ETFs for an IRA in 2025The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio What to watch from Morningstar. This Dividend Investing Strategy Deserves a Second LookMarket Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US? Read what our team is writing.Daniel SotiroffIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/
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This Dividend Investing Strategy Deserves a Second Look
Amy Arnott, portfolio strategist for Morningstar Inc., discusses how a popular dividend investing strategy works, and who would or wouldn’t benefit from it. On this episode:Let’s focus on when dividend reinvesting works as a strategy and when it does not. Who should consider reinvesting dividends?When shouldn’t an investor reinvest their dividends?Are there any differences between reinvesting dividends in a taxable vs a tax-deferred account?What types of dividends are taxable and non-taxable?This part of the episode includes a correction: A response about which dividends are taxable versus nontaxable should have said, “If you're in a bond fund, most dividends would be taxable unless you’re investing in Treasury bonds, which would normally be exempt from state and local taxes.” We incorrectly said federal taxes.How long you’ve owned a dividend-paying stock matters when it comes to taxes. Can you explain the differences between qualified and non-qualified dividends?What kind of record-keeping does reinvesting dividends require, and how does reinvestment affect the cost-basis?How are considerations different for stock dividends vs fund dividends?What’s the final takeaway for the audience about dividend reinvestment? Read about topics from this episode. When to Reinvest Dividends (or Not)These 4 Dividend ETFs Strike the Right Balance for Income Investors10 Top Dividend Stocks for 202513 Elite Companies With Fast-Growing DividendsWhat Are Dividends?The 10 Best Dividend StocksThe Best Dividend FundsWhat Makes a Great Dividend Fund? What to watch from Morningstar. Market Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US?Digital Advice in 2025: What You Need to Know About Robo-Advisors Read what our team is writing:Amy C. ArnottIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/
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Market Volatility: Is Your Investment Portfolio Ready for a US-EU Trade Deal?
Michael Field, European Market Strategist at Morningstar Holland, talks about tariff risks for key sectors and European stock performance as market volatility persists. On this episode:President Trump pushed his tariff deadline from July to August. How are global markets reacting to the uncertainty during this tariff watch?The EU is one of America’s largest trading partners. How important is it for these two sides to strike a deal? And what’s at stake if they don’t before the deadline?More than two dozen countries make up the EU. The bloc is seeking lower tariffs for a variety of sectors like aircraft, car parts, and spirits. Talk about that. So, what sectors do you think could be hit the hardest, and which ones could be spared?The EU has presented a united front. However, some countries want a trade deal sooner than later. Can you talk about the debate you’re witnessing in Europe? Trade deals typically take years to be implemented, so any announcement would be a preliminary agreement. If a US investor has European companies in their portfolio, what would this framework mean for them in the long-term? Let’s shift to this year’s market performance of European stocks. What’s been winning? Which European stocks do Morningstar analysts consider undervalued, and why? Read about topics from this episode. What’s Morningstar’s Outlook for Europe in 2025?Why It’s Not Too Late to Add International ExposureWhat Investors Need to Know About TariffsHere Are the Sectors and Industries That Are Vulnerable if Reciprocal Tariffs Come BackWhere Next for European and UK Stock Markets in 2025?Best International Companies to Own: 2025 EditionFind Morningstar's complete collection of tariff-related articles and analysis here. What to watch from Morningstar. Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US?Digital Advice in 2025: What You Need to Know About Robo-AdvisorsDemystifying Private Equity and Private Credit ETFs: What Every Investor Should Know Read what our team is writing:Michael FieldIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/
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Market Volatility: 4 Key Factors to Track in Q3 2025
Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc’s senior markets reporter, discusses the uncertain outlook for the third quarter and how investors should prepare for market volatility.What Was Surprising From Q2 Market VolatilityMixed Expectations as Trump’s Tariff Deadline ApproachesHow Should Investors Prepare Themselves for Market Volatility?How Tariff Uncertainty Could Affect Company EarningsHow Trump’s Tax and Spending Bill Raises Concerns About Federal DeficitHow the Fed’s Decision on Interest Rates Could Affect the Yield CurveShould Investors Brace for More Market Volatility? Read about topics from this episode. 13 Charts on Q2’s Major Market Rebound Market Volatility: What to Watch in Q2 After Big Swings in Q1 Has the Stock Market Reached Peak Optimism on Tariffs? What Investors Need to Know About Tariffs Tariffs Would Likely Hit These US Stock Sectors the Hardest What Investors Need to Know About the Budget Reconciliation Bill The Deficit is the Biggest Risk for the Bond Market, Says Matt Eagan of Loomis Sayles How Much Will the Fed Cut Interest Rates? How Healthy Is the US Economy? Here’s What the Top Economic Indicators Say What to watch from Morningstar. Is the International Outlook Brighter Than the US?Digital Advice in 2025: What You Need to Know About Robo-AdvisorsDemystifying Private Equity and Private Credit ETFs: What Every Investor Should KnowMarket Volatility: Portfolio Diversification Is Winning in 2025 Read what our team is writing:Sarah HansenIvanna Hampton Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/X: https://x.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/
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