A distribution from your traditional IRA could cost you if you’re not aware of your responsibilities. Many investors are saving up for their retirement in workplace accounts like 401(k)s. Those administrators handle tasks that IRA custodians don’t. And it’s up to you to take charge and keep track of your hard-earned money, so you’re not taxed twice. Denise Appleby is known as “The IRA Whisperer.” The Morningstar contributor has written about how to protect your IRA from costly mistakes.

Don’t Pay Taxes Twice: Here’s How to Save Thousands on IRA Distributions https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/dont-pay-taxes-twice-heres-how-save-thousands-ira-distributions

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:28 What is a Traditional IRA and How It’s Funded

00:02:29 How IRA Withdrawals Are Taxed When Accounts Hold Taxable and Tax-Free Dollars

00:05:36 What IRA Custodians Don’t Track and Why Investors Should

00:09:05 What to Check on Form 1099‑R and Why Form 8606 Matters

00:12:02 How to Fix IRA Mistakes

00:13:44 What Records to Keep Track of to Avoid Double Taxation

Watch more from Morningstar:

Elevate Your 60/40 Portfolio With These Simple Tweaks

Why REIT ETFs Still Work as Real Estate Slumps

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

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The 60/40 portfolio has proven it’s here to stay, but it can benefit from a refresh like other classics. The total portfolio approach refines the 60/40. It takes a closer look at the components of the plain-vanilla portfolio and considers how risky they are. The goal is to help investors stay disciplined as market conditions change for the better or worse. Jason Kephart has written about the total portfolio approach. He’s a senior principal of multi-asset manager research for Morningstar.

How a Total Portfolio Approach Can Improve the 60/40 Portfolio

Morningstar’s Tax-Planning and IRA Resources for 2026

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:20 Total Portfolio Approach vs 60/40 Portfolio

00:01:52 How Growth and Stability Work

00:03:30 Why High-Yield Bonds Wouldn’t Go into Stability

00:04:30 Stocks That Might Be Better Suited for Stability than Growth

00:06:52 Challenges of the Total Portfolio Approach

00:08:49 How Investors Can Use This Strategy

Watch more from Morningstar:

Why REIT ETFs Still Work as Real Estate Slumps

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

Follow Morningstar on social:

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The struggle of brick-and-mortar real estate has extended into investment portfolios. Elevated inflation and high interest rates have weighed on the real estate sector over the past few years. Real estate investment trusts or REIT ETFs have not been spared. Yet these exchange-traded funds are popular among income investors. They generate cash and can help diversify a portfolio. So, where do they fit in yours? And which REIT ETFs do Morningstar analysts consider top picks? Dan Sotiroff is the associate director of US Passive Strategies for Morningstar. Dan is also the editor of Morningstar’s ETFInvestor newsletter.

Subscribe to Morningstar’s ETFInvestor newsletter. https://newsletters.morningstar.com/

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:26 Basics of REIT ETFs

00:04:34 Active vs. Passive REIT ETFs

00:06:03 REIT ETFs’ Performance vs US Stock Market

00:09:20 Cutting the Tax Bill on REIT ETF income

00:10:06 Top REIT ETFs From Vanguard & Schwab

00:13:48 Key Takeaways for Income Investors

Watch more from Morningstar:

How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings

Follow Morningstar on social:

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X https://x.com/MorningstarInc

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