High interest rates and expensive home prices are keeping some frustrated buyers on the sidelines. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage recently crossed the 7% line and remains there, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. And recently there’s an uptick in some buyers choosing adjustable-rate mortgages that come with a lower loan rate, but higher risk. Meanwhile, macroeconomic conditions are also squeezing homebuilders. So, when could affordability return to the housing market and where can investors find cheap stock opportunities? Suryansh Sharma is the director of equity research for Morningstar and covers the housing industry.

Sign up for PitchBook or Morningstar Direct to read Suryansh Sharma’s full report, US Housing: 2026 Q2.

On this episode:
00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:25 High Mortgage Rates and Prices Squeeze Buyers
00:02:46 How Rate Hikes and Cheap Mortgages Affect Home Sales
00:07:08 Rent vs. Buying: Comparing Monthly Housing Costs
00:08:11 Housing Market Risks, Mortgage Rate Outlook, and One Undervalued Stock
00:11:39 Ask the Economist: How Elections and the Economy Can Intersect

Check out more from Morningstar:
Are TIPS ETFs the Best Way to Fight Inflation?
The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments
14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark

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This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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Is persistent inflation making TIPS ETFs more attractive? Hundreds of millions of dollars flowed into this niche investment in September, according to Morningstar data. Yet, there’s a debate over whether they’re an ideal way to defend against higher costs. Joining me is Dan Sotiroff to discuss what investors should know, including the risk, tax treatment, and top-rated ETFs. He’s the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar.

Ask the Analyst: TIPS ETFs Protect Against Inflation. So Why Did Mine Lose Money?

On this episode:
00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:11 What TIPS ETFs Are and How They Work
00:02:28 Can TIPS ETFs Help Against Elevated Inflation?
00:04:39 Where Investor Money Is Going and How TIPS ETFs Performed
00:07:07 How Interest Rates Affect TIPS ETFs, Plus Other Risks
00:09:13 How TIPS ETFs Are Taxed
00:10:57 Gold- and Silver-Rated TIPS ETFs and Key Takeaways

Listen to more from Morningstar:

The Smartest Moves for Bond Investors Today, and What to Do When You Have Too Many Investments

14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark
Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year?

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We have a special episode for you this week. The author behind the popular Ask the Analyst column on Morningstar.com is coming to the table. Morningstar portfolio strategist Amy Arnott is going into the mailbag to answer readers’ questions about bonds, including TIPS and other portfolio matters.

Submit your question to the Ask the Analyst column created and written by Morningstar's Amy Arnott.

On this episode:
00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:36 How Bond ETFs Work and Comparing TIPS, I Bonds, Treasuries

[This video states that an investor can use $5,000 from a tax refund to purchase I bonds in excess of the $10,000 limit. The US Treasury discontinued this tax-refund option on Jan. 1, 2025. ].
00:05:06 Municipal Bond Fund Losses After a Fed Rate Hike
00:06:58 Where to Hold Bonds: Roth vs. Traditional IRA, and TIPS Ladders
00:09:15 Paying for Law School Tuition: Which Accounts Come Into Play
00:10:30 Simplifying 231 Holdings and Limiting Capital Gains on Fund Swaps
00:14:11 What to Know Before Submitting Your Ask the Analyst Question

Watch More From Morningstar:
14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark
Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year?
Don’t Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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The menu of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds can appear to go on and on, and it’s probably hard not to feel overwhelmed when you’re researching what works for your portfolio. A popular annual feature in Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter narrows the choices from thousands to about a few dozen. Russ Kinnel has done the hard work for you and is here to share investment ideas from his Thrilling Funds list. He’s the newsletter editor and Morningstar’s senior principal of ratings.

Sign up for Morningstar’s FundInvestor newsletter.

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:11 What's New in Morningstar's FundInvestor Newsletter
00:01:55 How Funds Make the Thrilling Funds List
00:03:43 Large-, Midsize, and Small-Company Funds From Fidelity, Vanguard and More
00:06:22 Bond ETFs, Global Stock Funds, and Municipal Bond Funds That Stand Out
00:08:50 Why Fidelity Contrafund and Other Popular Funds Just Missed the Cut
00:10:02 How Investors Can Find Out How Their Funds Stack Up Against the Criteria

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why Are Some of the Strongest Stocks Struggling This Year?
Don't Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields
How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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Are wide-moat stocks’ struggles a sign of their protection diminishing? That’s the big question from the Q3 issue of Morningstar magazine. Key market moments this year heavily weighed on some stocks with competitive advantages. Why did they stumble? Morningstar magazine Editor-in-Chief Jerry Kerns is returning to Investing Insights to discuss this issue’s cover story.

Sign up for a free subscription to Morningstar magazine.

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:06 What Is a Moat and Its Five Sources
00:03:24 Why Examine Wide-Moat Stocks' Performance Now
00:04:12 What's Behind the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index's Rough Stretch?
00:06:59 Are Moats Really a Sign of Quality?
00:07:38 Key Takeaway on Wide-Moat Stocks
00:08:12 Other Highlights from This Quarter's Morningstar Magazine

Watch more from Morningstar:

Don't Make This Mistake When Chasing Higher Bond Yields
How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement

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https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/
https://x.com/MorningstarInc
https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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Higher bond yields are attracting more attention and more money. US bond ETFs pulled in almost $54 billion in August. Core and core-plus bond ETFs make up about $8.5 billion of that. These funds tend to provide shelter during market storms to ease a portfolio’s rocky moments. They also provide steady and predictable income. As bond rates sit higher than they have in the past, how can you benefit while also taking a conservative approach? Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US passive strategies research for Morningstar.

Why Higher Bond Yields Can Be 'a Great Thing'

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:00:50 How core and core-plus bond ETFs work
00:04:22 Billions flowing into core and core-plus bond ETFs this year

00:05:55 How active fund managers capitalize on higher bond rates
00:08:36 What higher bond yields mean for income investors
00:09:51 Core bond ETFs earning Gold and Silver ratings
00:11:17 Core-plus bond ETFs Morningstar analysts like

Watch more from Morningstar:

How AI Is Taking Over Your Portfolio
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement
New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/
X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

This episode is sponsored by Vanguard: https://advisors.vanguard.com/engagement/fixed-income

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he dominance of artificial intelligence is swelling globally. Its massive growth is weighing heavily on stock markets, pressuring bond markets, and even growing to outsized proportions in emerging markets. These developments are increasing concentration risks in everyday investors' portfolios. What should you look for, and how do you guard against the AI surge? Tom Lauricella is Morningstar's chief global markets editor and the editor of the Smart Investor newsletter.

Sign up for the Smart Investor newsletter from Morningstar.

Markets Brief: Your Portfolio Is More Concentrated Than You Think

On this episode:
00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:18 Any signs of the AI stock rally slowing down?
00:02:01 Semiconductor stocks vs. other industries
00:03:11 Concentration risk in emerging-market funds
00:06:33 How AI is blurring lines between growth and value
00:10:34 Big Tech's AI debt binge and the outlook for bond yields
00:14:23 What to know about the Anthropic and OpenAI IPOs

Watch more from Morningstar:
401(k) Millionaires: Here's How to Avoid Going Broke in Retirement

New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution
Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire

Follow Morningstar on social:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/
X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstarinc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

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Becoming a 401(k) millionaire can require decades of hard work and sacrifice. Previously, a seven-figure nest egg shined as the gold standard among retirement planners. But the shine has dulled as a portfolio of that size no longer guarantees the same security. What steps should you take to protect your savings and avoid going broke in retirement? Sheryl Rowling has a list of tips. The certified public accountant is the editorial director of financial advice for Morningstar.

Your 7-Figure Retirement Fund Might Not Stretch As Far As You Think. Here’s How to Change That

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome
00:01:20 Why seven-figure retirement portfolios need extra planning finesse
00:01:58 Why the retirement-to-RMD window matters
00:03:40 How taxpayers can approach the new SALT deduction
00:04:50 Building a cash bucket for market downturns
00:06:15 Retirement money missteps worth avoiding
00:09:41 Shifting asset allocation and key takeaways

Watch more from Morningstar:

New ETFs Are Launching Fast. Proceed With Caution

Why Playing It Safe in Retirement Can Backfire
Why Do Active Funds Lag Even With Winning Picks?

Follow Morningstar on social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/
X: https://x.com/MorningstarInc
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morningstar/

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