5 Ways to Manage Your Money Better

Why learning is lifelong--especially when it comes to money. [Morningstar](?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_smartinvestor&utm_content=35400&elqTrackId=6c3d0311a23b42a59e03aecac7488f88&elq=b18af0a0d4f74274b5ee3280acc31d9f&elqaid=35400&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=16492) [Smart Investor] Smart Investor with [Susan Dziubinski, Director of Content]( [Susan Dziubinski] Our three kids are seniors in high school. In addition to choosing where they’ll spend the next four years of their lives and enjoying the various “lasts” that come with senior year, they’re also getting a crash course from life (and occasionally, from their parents) about money matters. About what things--like gas, prom, and yes, college--really cost. About how to decide between cash or credit--or neither. And about how to save more than you spend. Of course, financial learning never stops. They’ll eventually need to figure out [how 401(k)s work]( and maybe a [health savings account]( too. They’ll need to build [emergency funds](. They might decide to buy homes and need to determine [how much home they can afford](. They may start families and wonder how they will [pay for college](. Financial education is an important part of what we do at Morningstar--and April is Financial Literacy Month. Here are five of my favorite areas of Morningstar.com where readers of all [life stages]( can get their money questions answered and continue their financial learning. --[Our Special Reports archive](. Here you’ll find curated packages of content about high-interest areas, ranging from topics such as [IRA strategies]( to [setting a portfolio withdrawal rate]( to [cryptocurrency]( as well as primers on investing in [stocks]( [funds]( and [exchange-traded funds](. --[Our Investing Classroom](. The classroom is a more structured way for newer investors to learn about stocks, funds, ETFs, bonds, and portfolios. Each class includes a quiz at the end to test your knowledge. --Our [videos]( and [podcasts](. Those who would rather learn by listening (or watching) can find plenty here, from thoughtful deep-dive podcasts about sophisticated money matters in our weekly [The Long View]( podcast to shorter, easy-to-consume videos about topics like [how to earn more on your safe money]( and [whether your asset mix is appropriate](. --[The Short Answer collection](. Here you’ll find answers to dozens of money questions, from specifics like [what is inflation]( to [how stock splits]( work to broader topics, such as [how to stick with a budget]( and [how to size up a job’s benefits](. -- [Christine Benz’s work](. Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning has covered just about every retirement topic during her remarkable career in a thoughtful, thorough, yet reader-friendly way. I suggest that anyone who wants to retire today, tomorrow, or someday--and those who already have--take a stroll around her archive. And while looking around, consider sharing this content with anyone who might be able to learn a thing or two from it: friends, kids, parents, colleagues--even your favorite high school seniors. ADVERTISEMENT [media]( [media] Morningstar Specialists [Speculation Won't Doom Younger Investors]( [Speculation Won't Doom Younger Investors]( Why the kids will be all right. John Rekenthaler [4 Dangerous Assumptions That Could Hurt Your Retirement Plan]( [4 Dangerous Assumptions That Could Hurt Your Retirement Plan]( By the time retirement savers realize the error of their ways, it may be too late. Christine Benz [10 Undervalued Wide-Moat Stocks]( [10 Undervalued Wide-Moat Stocks]( The cheapest names in the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index--plus stocks the index has recently added and dropped. Susan Dziubinski [The SEC's Proposed Climate-Risk Rule Helps All Investors]( [The SEC's Proposed Climate-Risk Rule Helps All Investors]( It will also help public companies come to terms with their climate-related risks. Jon Hale, Ph.D., CFA [What Rising Interest Rates Mean for a Retirement Portfolio]( [What Rising Interest Rates Mean for a Retirement Portfolio]( Here’s how to decide if any repositioning is required. Christine Benz, Susan Dziubinski [Is International Diversification Necessary?]( [Is International Diversification Necessary?]( The diversification benefits haven’t been obvious in recent years, but there’s still a case to be made. Amy C. Arnott, CFA [The Best S&P 500 Funds]( [The Best S&P 500 Funds]( The tip of the indexing pyramid. John Rekenthaler [What's Your Real Inflation Rate?]( [What's Your Real Inflation Rate?]( Calculating a personalized inflation rate is a start. Christine Benz [3 Bond Funds for a Rising Interest-Rate Environment]( [3 Bond Funds for a Rising Interest-Rate Environment]( These bank-loan and inflation-protected funds should be able to stand up against rising rates. Russel Kinnel, Susan Dziubinski [Should You Be Using a Robo-Advisor?]( [Should You Be Using a Robo-Advisor?]( These seven questions can help you decide if robo-advice is right for you. Amy C. Arnott, CFA Popular This Week [Why Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Is One of the Best]( Broad market exposure and low costs. What's not to like? Lan Anh Tran [Bond Investors Facing Worst Losses in Years]( With inflation still running hot, bond prices are sliding as the market looks for faster Fed rate hikes. Sandy Ward [6 Housing Stocks Undervalued Right Now]( Rising mortgage rates have sent housing-related stocks tumbling. Jakir Hossain [Inflation-Protected Bond Funds’ Wild Ride Continues]( In a volatile market, TIPS funds are down but still performing better than most bond funds. Katherine Lynch [A New Day Is Dawning at Dodge & Cox]( The historic fund company tries to keep up with the times--on its own terms. Tony Thomas, Ph.D. 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](. © 2022 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602