Stocks to Consider, 529s to Avoid, and Portfolio Makeovers

More on why investing is personal and no two investors are alike. [Morningstar](?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_smartinvestor&utm_content=32843&elqTrackId=64ecbbbf1bc94f098618384aca2bab78&elq=e1981865588a40e09378a8bb853cda05&elqaid=32843&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=15196) [Smart Investor] Smart Investor with [Susan Dziubinski, Director of Content]( [Susan Dziubinski] A couple of weeks ago in Smart Investor, I wrote about investing being personal--it’s about having the money you need to live the life you want. This week, my colleague [Christine Benz]( proved just how personal investing can be as she embarked on a series of [Portfolio Makeovers]( with real investors. Christine introduced Kate and Mark, [first-time parents later in life](about%3Ablank?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_smartinvestor&utm_content=32843) who are juggling saving for college and retirement with saving for a home and some near-term travel. Then there’s Conrad and David, partners who’ve enjoyed their successful careers but who are looking to [streamline before retirement](. Jim and Ellen are [retirees with a windfall]( to invest in a lofty market, while Lily’s a [20-something investor]( with competing investment goals. And then there’s Lauren and Matt, retirees who want to get their [mishmash portfolio under control](. As these makeovers illustrate, no two investors are alike. That’s why we tackle money and investing from different angles on Morningstar.com--and some of those angles will be more useful than others to you, depending on your life stage, goals, and investing temperament. For instance this week, we provided stock-pickers with [new moaty ideas]( and [undervalued stocks that crushed earnings](. We shared [asset-allocation tips when you have enough]( and [strategies for taking required minimum distributions](. We discussed [529 plans to avoid]( and [the best and worst S&P 500 funds](. And for those with a nose for financial news, we provided Morningstar’s take on [GE’s breakup]( [the latest inflation report]( and [Rivian’s IPO](. I doubt that anyone reading this newsletter today consumed all of this content--and if you did, bless you! But more than likely, you cherry-picked among the topics and columnists that were of most interest to you as an investor. And if we’ve done our job, your cherry-picking yielded some new perspective and insights. Speaking of columnists of interest, I’d like to raise a glass to my longtime colleague [Karen Wallace]( who’s leaving Morningstar to embark on her next chapter in life. Passionate about financial education and with a knack for effectively unpacking complex ideas, Karen built a prolific and wide-ranging catalog of work that covers everything from [529 education plans]( to [ESG investing]( from [how to improve your credit score]( to [how to invest like Warren Buffett]( from what [superdollars]( are to [how to have a $1 million 401(k)](. Thanks, Karen, for helping so many become smart investors. ADVERTISEMENT [media]( [media] Morningstar Specialists [5 Lessons From Portfolio Makeover Week]( [5 Lessons From Portfolio Makeover Week]( Here are some key takeaways from this year's series of portfolio checkups. Christine Benz, Susan Dziubinski [What to Know About Capital Gains Distributions]( [What to Know About Capital Gains Distributions]( Why they matter for taxable accounts. John Rekenthaler [What's a Safe Retirement Spending Rate for the Decades Ahead?]( [What's a Safe Retirement Spending Rate for the Decades Ahead?]( Simple tweaks can have an appreciable impact on your withdrawal rate. Christine Benz, John Rekenthaler [What Banks' Climate Pledges Mean for Energy and Utility Stocks]( [What Banks' Climate Pledges Mean for Energy and Utility Stocks]( Capital controlled by net-zero supporters now matches what’s needed to transform global economy, group says. Leslie Norton [6 Competitive Stocks to Consider]( [6 Competitive Stocks to Consider]( These newly rated stocks all earn Morningstar economic moat ratings of narrow. Susan Dziubinski [Tips for RMD Season]( [Tips for RMD Season]( Required minimum distributions from tax-deferred accounts are back on for 2021. Christine Benz, Susan Dziubinski [Asset Allocation When You Have Enough]( [Asset Allocation When You Have Enough]( What you'd like to achieve with any "extra" assets can help you calibrate your portfolio's equity exposure. Amy C. Arnott, CFA [The Best and Worst S&P 500 Funds]( [The Best and Worst S&P 500 Funds]( How much do they differ? John Rekenthaler [Seven 529 Plans to Avoid ]( [Seven 529 Plans to Avoid]( These plans receive our lowest ratings. Adam Millson, Susan Dziubinski Popular This Week [7 Undervalued Stocks That Crushed Earnings]( These stocks crushed third-quarter expectations and remain undervalued. Jakir Hossain [Big Biopharma Capital Allocation Supports Undervalued Stocks and Dividend Growth]( Our top two picks in this wide-moat industry are poised to benefit. Damien Conover, CFA, Karen Andersen, CFA [5 Charts on General Electric's Fall From Grace]( Companies at the top don't stay that way forever. Jakir Hossain [Short-Term Bond Fund Investors Get Active]( The trend to passive funds may be reversing here. Benjamin Slupecki [ARK Innovation Has Likely Been a Disappointment for Most Investors]( Following a frenzy of inflows, investors are fleeing for the exits amid the fund's underperformance this year. Katherine Lynch 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