Smart Investor: Are You Financially Literate?

There is no one best time to take the required minimum distribution. [Morningstar](?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_smartinvestor&utm_content=28826&elqTrackId=e591d30c3b424c3584c30aa9f146e1f8&elq=1cc6f29e6ac24dafb210b8dfee0d55b3&elqaid=28826&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=13213) [Smart Investor] Smart Investor April 16, 2021 My three juniors in high school (yes, you read that right – there are three of them) didn’t spend last summer doing any of the things they expected to do. Like hanging out with friends at Six Flags. Visiting colleges they might want to attend. Going to band camp. Getting their first jobs. No, the Dziubinski triplets spent the pandemic summer of 2020 hunkered down at home. They decided to use some of their spare time to get a jump on the next school year by taking their required Consumer Education class online. In just a few short weeks, my kids got a crash course about the economy, taxes, banking, [budgeting]( [credit]( [retirement accounts]( and many other money matters. They were lucky – not because they had to spend the summer cooped up with their parents, but because they were introduced to important money matters in high school. According to a recent study, only 21 states require high school students to take a course integrating personal finance content. Financial education is an important part of what we do at Morningstar – and April is [Financial Literacy Month](. We’re therefore publishing a lot of educational content this month spanning a variety of money matters. We talk about [how to get started investing]( and the difference between [mutual funds]( and [ETFs](. We explain how various retirement vehicles, like [401(k)s]( and [IRAs]( work. We walk through how to [set goals]( and build an [emergency fund](. We map out strategies for [saving for college]( covering [health care costs]( and [planning for retirement](. Check out our [Financial Literacy Guide]( – you may find a topic that you’re not as in-the-know about as you could be. And consider passing a link to the guide along to anyone you know who might benefit from its contents: friends, kids, colleagues – even your favorite high school students. -Susan Dziubinski, director of content ADVERTISEMENT [media]( [media] Morningstar Specialists [10 Solid Dividend-Paying Stocks on Sale]( [10 Solid Dividend-Paying Stocks on Sale]( Susan Dziubinski We think the payouts on these names are sustainable. [The Best Inflation-Fighting Investments for Retirees]( [The Best Inflation-Fighting Investments for Retirees]( Christine Benz In-retirement portfolios should include a blend of inflation hedges and inflation beaters. [The Misplaced Attack on Index Funds]( [The Misplaced Attack on Index Funds]( John Rekenthaler Sheep, sloths, and gorillas. [Which Bonds Provide the Biggest Diversification Benefits?]( [Which Bonds Provide the Biggest Diversification Benefits?]( Christine Benz Investors rely on bonds as ballast for their stock allocations, but their levels of effectiveness can vary greatly. [11 Undervalued Climate-Friendly Stocks]( [11 Undervalued Climate-Friendly Stocks]( Susan Dziubinski These companies are well-positioned for a world less dependent on fossil fuels. [Three Takeaways From the Archegos Disaster]( [Three Takeaways From the Archegos Disaster]( John Rekenthaler Drawing public lessons from a private fund's problems. [A Retirement Readiness Checklist]( [A Retirement Readiness Checklist]( Christine Benz Determining if you're on track to retire can be more manageable if you break it into smaller steps. Popular This Week [How and When to Take Your RMD]( Natalie Choate There is no one best time to take the required minimum distribution. [2 Wide-Moat Stocks to Buy on a Dip]( Morningstar Amazon.com and ServiceNow are looking increasingly attractive. [Manager Question of the Month: How Active Fund Managers Cope With Index Concentration]( Linda Abu Mushrefova, CFA Managers from T. Rowe Price, Wellington, American Century, and others discuss the trade-offs. [Is Emerging-Markets Investing Worth the Risk?]( Daniel Sotiroff With hazards that are bigger and more numerous, these markets highlight the importance of diversification. [The Dark Side of Thematic Funds]( Amy C. Arnott, CFA Funds with compelling stories don't always make sound investments. [A Tax-Preparation Checklist for the Self-Employed]( Carter Cofield, CPA Here are seven boxes to check. Listen Now Get the latest investing insights and market updates with [Morningstar’s podcasts]( available on your iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, or smart speaker. Stay connected: [twitter]( [facebook]( [linkedin]( [instagram]( [YouTube]( [Apple News]( [View online]( | [See all newsletters]( | [Share your feedback]( [Unsubscribe]( from this newsletter. Or update your [email preferences](. © 2021 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602