Simple, but Not Easy

Rule #1: Be Someone Clients Want to Take a Phone Call From – With Creative Planning’s Jeff Stolper 26.05.2026 36mnt

Creative Planning has been trusted with more than $700 billion in client assets under management and advisement. A simple truth? That doesn’t happen by accident. Jeff Stolper – the firm’s Director of Financial Planning – joined us to discuss how Creative Planning’s client-centric philosophy has helped the firm reach that scale. One key takeaway: wealth management is a people and relationships business. Before emotional intelligence, investment knowledge, or communication skills, the most important character trait may simply be being a positive, likable person. Be someone clients enjoy being around!

Solving Financial Advisors’ Organic Growth Problem with FINNY Founder Eden Ovadia 05.05.2026 26mnt

FINNY founder Eden Ovadia shares how the firm is tackling one of financial advice’s biggest challenges: organic growth. Advisors can spend up to 60 hours to win a single client – consuming their most valuable asset: time. And that doesn’t scale. FINNY’s approach – using AI to identify high-intent prospects and automate outreach – aims to change that. The goal? A more efficient growth engine, especially for advisors with clearly defined niches. In an increasingly competitive business, specialization and smart use of technology can compound over time – separating firms that grow from those that don’t. After all, if you’re not growing, you may be dying on the vine.

Impacting One Million Lives with Savant Wealth CEO Brent Brodeski 20.04.2026 1j 10mnt

Savant Wealth founder and CEO Brent Brodeski shares the firm’s journey to $50 billion in assets under management. In short, compounding isn’t just an investment concept – it applies to building a business as well. The early years now look invisible on a long-term AUM chart, but they were arguably the most formative – defined by trying new things, iterating the process, and refining what worked. That foundation compounded over time and has put the firm on a trajectory to impact one million lives.

Morningstar Wealth's 2026 Investment Outlook with Chief Investment Officer Philip Straehl 05.12.2025 55mnt

Morningstar’s 2026 Investment Outlook is live, offering clear context on the forces that will shape the year ahead and beyond. If there’s one takeaway for investors, it’s this: Preparation beats prediction. Markets will keep shifting—tariffs, the Fed, geopolitics, and the rapid buildout of AI infrastructure—and trying to forecast every twist isn’t a strategy. Building resilient portfolios is. That’s why our outlook avoids bold predictions and instead focuses on rational, evidence-based decision-making across the issues that matter most to advisors and their clients.

Where Did the Small Caps Go? 30.10.2025 31mnt

It used to be simple: small companies went public, grew, and investors participated along the way. Today, companies stay private longer, and private markets have claimed many opportunities that once lived in public stocks. Historically a source of some of the strongest market returns, small caps have shred that reputation. The question becomes: Where did the small caps go?

Advisor–Client Relationships Are Stronger When Goals Come First 11.09.2025 37mnt

In this episode of Simple But Not Easy, we’re joined by Ryan Murphy, Morningstar’s Global Head of Behavioral Insights, to explore how financial advisors can help clients set better goals, avoid costly mistakes, and build lasting trust. We discuss why goals—not asset allocation or stock selection—should be the true starting point of an investment journey, and how a simple multi-step framework can uncover what really motivates clients. Ryan also shares insights from Morningstar’s Mind the Gap study, which shows how investor behavior often drags down returns, and explains how advisors can reframe conversations from performance to progress. If you want to better understand what drives investor decisions and how advisors can make the biggest difference, this episode is for you.

Morningstar Wealth’s Midyear Outlook—Where Is Opportunity Knocking? 23.07.2025 54mnt

In our midyear outlook, we break down some of the biggest factors driving markets in 2025 — tariffs, AI, and the potential for rate cuts — and attempt to help investors sift through the short-term noise while keeping a long-term perspective.

International Stocks – A Portfolio’s Missing Piece? 18.06.2025 36mnt

As of late May, the US ranks 39th out of 44 global stock markets—firmly in the bottom 15%. Meanwhile, international markets are gaining momentum, with 7 of the top 10 performing countries located in Europe. This performance gap appears to be supported by improving fundamentals, favorable currency trends, and rising earnings expectations across the region. Can it continue? In this episode of Simple, But Not Easy, host Nick VanDerSchie is joined by Morningstar’s Paul Tait and international equity portfolio manager Nabil Salem to explore why now may be the right time to take a fresh look at international diversification.

Stay on Track Through Market Volatility—with Research, Not Reaction 20.05.2025 43mnt

When markets hit a rough patch—as they did in early April—investors often lose confidence. Emotions run high after paper losses, and that’s when many fall into the “ready, fire, aim” trap. Decisions become reactive, not disciplined. It’s common to see investors flee to cash or pivot to more conservative positions in an effort to feel safer. But more often than not, resisting that urge is the better path. In this episode of Simple, But Not Easy, we sit down with Morningstar’s Global Chief Research & Investment Officer, Dan Kemp, to explore how advisors can guide clients through uncertainty—not with bold predictions, but by remaining anchored to a clear investment philosophy.

The Public-Private Convergence: How Private Market Investing Is Becoming More Accessible 07.04.2025 29mnt

We explore the growing convergence between public and private markets and what it means for today’s investors. As private market strategies become more accessible, advisors and their clients are gaining new tools to diversify portfolios and pursue long-term growth. We break down what’s driving this shift, the opportunities and risks involved, and how financial professionals can help investors navigate this evolving landscape.

Financial Advisors Take Back Time with AssetMark 12.02.2025 43mnt

Time is a financial advisor’s most valuable asset. As industry tailwinds push the profession toward greater client-centricity—and as clients demand more from their advisors—many are recognizing the benefits of outsourcing investment management. By doing so, they can focus on what truly drives their business: being in front of clients and strengthening relationships.

2025 Outlook: Rotating Between Defense and Offense 23.12.2024 38mnt

Morningstar Wealth's Chief Investment Officer, Philip Straehl, and Head of Investments, Ricky Williamson share insights on the key themes shaping the investment landscape for 2025 and beyond.

Post-Election Recap: Diversification, Fundamental Analysis, and Valuations Will Likely Drive Future Success 06.12.2024 25mnt

While presidential elections often create tension and leave many feeling on edge, the stock market didn’t share this level of apprehension. Remarkably, October was one of the least volatile months in history leading up to a presidential election. Although this might seem surprising, it’s not entirely unusual. Markets frequently display greater resilience than we might expect. However, it’s important to remember that volatility isn’t always synonymous with selloffs or down days. As Morningstar Wealth Chief Multi-Asset Strategist Dom Pappalardo recently explained during his podcast appearance on Simple, but Not Easy, market activity post-election highlights the varied forms volatility can take. In his role, Pappalardo focuses on helping clients understand how Morningstar's research efforts translate into actionable portfolio management decisions.

Strange Times in the US Housing Market – Breaking it All Down 29.10.2024 33mnt

Some have called this the weirdest housing market in recent history due to the unusual mix of high interest rates and declining affordability. And yet, we still have record high home prices across the 20 largest housing markets in the country. This month, we're diving into the U.S. housing market, a topic very relevant to many investors given a house is often the largest single asset one owns. In this episode, we're excited to shed light on the US housing market, what makes it challenging, what makes it unusual, and what needs to change for it to improve. We're joined by Preston Caldwell, Morningstar's Chief US Economist and Brian Bernard, Director of Equity Research specializing in the industrial sector, which includes homebuilders.

Principles-Based Investing, Industry Trends, and Getting to Know Morningstar Wealth CIO, Philip Straehl 30.09.2024 31mnt

Welcome back to Simple But Not Easy. We hope you had an enjoyable summer and are ready to finish the year on a high note. In today's episode, we're excited to dive deep into the world of investing, market strategies, and the future of wealth management. We'll start by getting to know Philip Straehl, Morningstar's new Chief Investment Officer of the Americas, as he shares insights from his career journey and a wealth of knowledge on the evolving market landscape. From there, we'll explore Morningstar's mission and investment philosophy, and importantly, what sets it apart in an ever-evolving financial world. Wealth management industry trends are also on the agenda, and we'll close with some investing themes that everyone should be thinking about.

Opportunity Awaits: A Midyear Outlook 16.07.2024 33mnt

A special live episode from the Morningstar Investment Conference. Two of Morningstar Wealth’s investment leaders—Matt Wacher and Ricky Williamson—joined the show to help us dig into what’s already happened this year and where we may be headed. The topics covered included: • The Fed and where rates may be headed • Further discussion on fixed-income • US stocks are off to another hot start this year. Can outperformance continue? • Every business is thinking about AI. How is it impacting markets? • And how should investors be preparing for a presidential election? And as always, we address the implications on client portfolios and help consider action items.

Lifetime Financial Advice: Enhanced Personalization by Considering Human Capital 07.05.2024 31mnt

The evolution of financial advice in a few decades time has been nothing short of revolutionary. The industry's transformation has been driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes and evolving investor preferences. Traditional methods of in-person advice have been expanded to include digital platforms, providing investors with greater accessibility and customization. And we've all observed an evolution in financial planning journeys and an increase in the number of advisors making financial planning core to their value proposition. But we still have to ask, is there room for improvement?

Baby Boomers to Millennials: Working Across Generations to Help Them Achieve Financial Goals 14.03.2024 41mnt

Much of the discussion around financial advice tends to be around asset allocation, product selection, and fund structures. These are all worthy conversations and topics we’ve enjoyed discussing previously on this show. But one topic that feels underexplored: how do advisors deliver financial advice to clients across generations? A retired client in their 70s needs a much different advice offering than a 40-year-old client in their prime work years. In this episode, we are diving into the fascinating intergenerational dynamics of financial advice.

U.S. Stocks: Beyond the Magnificent Seven 06.02.2024 28mnt

The Magnificent Seven continue to capture the attention of advisors and investors, dominating U.S. equity performance over the last year. Will this trend continue throughout 2024? Will growth stocks continue to beat value? What about large versus small? And what is 2023's signal about where markets are headed this year? We're delighted to be joined by John Owens, Senior Portfolio Manager for Morningstar's Select Equity Strategies, and Paul Tait, Portfolio Specialist at Morningstar Wealth. Together, they help unpack the landscape for U.S. stocks in a digestible manner.

2024 Outlook: Economy, Inflation, Best Ideas, and AI 08.12.2023 48mnt

The topics we're discussing today align with the recent release of Morningstar Wealth's 2024 Market Outlook. A recession seemed to be the consensus view entering the year, but markets love to fool the masses, and a stock market rally followed. However, the rally was not evenly distributed. Bonds, for example, remain in a multi-year drawdown, and many investors are questioning their role in a portfolio. With this as the backdrop, what actions make sense to support clients? In today's episode, we're delighted to have Morningstar Wealth's CIO of the Americas, Marta Norton, and Chief U.S. Economist, Preston Caldwell with us to dig into the outlook, share their perspectives, and, as always, be sure to address the implications on client portfolios and any suggested actions to take