Simple, but Not Easy - podcast cover

Simple, but Not Easy

Hello, and welcome to Simple, but Not Easy, where we turn complicated financial developments into actionable ideas. This is a podcast from Morningstar’s Wealth Group, where we equip financial advisors with our best ideas to remove friction and help clients achieve goals.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Theories, Crowds, Bubbles, & Bees: Daniel Needham on Contrarian Investing (Ep. 27 Rebroadcast)

Why might contrarian investing outperform, and how might an investor know when it's time to head in the opposite direction from the crowd? Daniel Needham, president and global chief investment officer at Morningstar Investment Management, explores why markets are frequently efficient and what makes them become inefficient; explains how contrarians can act like a thermostat for markets; and explains how bees can be better decision-makers than humans at times. He also shares a checklist his team u...

Jan 04, 202143 min

Thinking in Bets (and About Biases): A Deep Dive into Using Behavioral Science Techniques in Investing (Ep. 6 Rebroadcast)

Advisors and investors are hearing more and more about behavioral science and behavioral economics, essentially how our humanity gets in the way of rationality, and what we can do to improve our decision-making. But what about investment managers themselves? Are they naturally more rational? How can a portfolio manager avoid making behavioral errors? Dan Kemp, chief investment officer for EMEA at Morningstar Investment Management joins host Drew Carter to discuss who is susceptible to behavioral...

Dec 28, 202027 min

20 Years of 'Tipping': What Investors Can Learn From Gladwell's Classic Book (Ep. 34 Rebroadcast)

While we're off for the holidays, please enjoy this rerun of Episode 34. In "The Tipping Point," author Malcolm Gladwell looks at how ideas can spread like viruses. Citing psychological studies and using many examples, Gladwell shows how people, environments, and changes in an idea itself can lead to explosive growth in popularity. In this episode, Jarred Watts considers how the ideas in this book, which turned 20 years old in February, apply to investing. Watts is a client portfolio manager at ...

Dec 21, 202055 min

Opportunities in Equities

Slides for today's episode are found here or by emailing simple@morningstar.com .

Dec 14, 202035 minEp. 67

The Rise of Big Tech

To access the slides discussed in this episode, click here or email us at simple@morningstar.com .

Nov 30, 202043 minEp. 66

Value Investing: Intelligent Investing Aims to Get More Than You Pay For (Ep. 16 Rebroadcast)

From all of us at Simple but Not Easy and Morningstar Investment Management, Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re in a mood to give thanks—or just want to hear others do so—you might check out Episodes 23 and 24, in which a passel of our guests share what they were thankful for this time last year, or something they’d be thankful to see in the future. Or, here we rebroadcast Episode 16, a conversation with Daniel Needham about value investing and why we take a valuation-driven investing approach. We we...

Nov 23, 202040 min

What Does Good Forecasting Look Like? (And Why Are Weather Forecasters So Good at It?)

Good decisions are often built on good forecasts. But forecasting is hard, in part because it requires us to be aware of both what we know and what we don’t—or even can’t—know. Dan Kemp and Ryan Murphy discuss what good forecasting looks like. Dan is CIO for EMEA at Morningstar Investment Management Europe Ltd., an FCA-regulated firm. Ryan is head of decision sciences at Morningstar Investment Management LLC.

Nov 16, 202026 minEp. 65

Advisor Profile: For Ephie Coumanakos, Good Advice Is Personal Advice

Before her Ivy League education and starting her financial advice practice, Ephie Coumanakos grew up in Athens, Greece. Rooted in business and hard work, she connects with her engineering and other analytical clients in Wilmington, DE, with clear communication. Financial advice from books or the media is too generic to be worth much, she says; people who want added financial value should seek an advisor who delivers personalized advice.

Sep 14, 202029 minEp. 57

Investing in a Global Recession: Is This Time Different?

Global stock markets this year have gone through a dramatic sell-off and recovery in record time. Perhaps more importantly, we’ve seen a significant decline in economic activity since February, likely marking the onset of a recession. In this episode, Daniel Needham and Philip Straehl look at past recessions and compare them with the current environment. We consider what past market recoveries have looked like and discuss how our investment team is considering these lessons from the past to unco...

Aug 10, 202038 minEp. 54

Ask the PM: Finding ‘Robust, Reliable, and Growing’ Dividends in Today’s Markets

George Metrou, portfolio manager for the Dividend Select Equity Portfolios, talks about the poor performance of dividend-paying stocks so far in 2020, despite their reputation for being defensive. He also discusses why he holds cash, his thoughts on companies cutting dividends, and his outlook for income going forward.

Aug 03, 202028 minEp. 53

Advisor Profile: From Yale to His Advice Practice, it’s All Hometown to John Caserta

John Caserta grew up in North Haven, Conn., where he’s now a Chartered Financial Consultant and managing director at Caserta & de Jongh LLC. His second office is in New Haven, home to his alma mater, Yale, where he studied Italian and played trumpet in concert and jazz bands. His frequent media appearances and alumni connections are helping him grow his practice. Listen to hear Caserta share the most underrated piece of financial advice.

Jul 27, 202026 minEp. 52

Advisor Profile: Kevin Schaefer Coaches Clients to Have a 'Simple Smile'

Kevin Schaefer coaches clients to plan for the worst, and to be content. An obsession with money distorts smiley faces into ones with dollar-sign eyes and a squiggly mouth because it often leads to aggressive investing that's like being on a roller coaster. A smoother ride, he says, keeps "a simple smile on your face." Schaefer, a CFP and founder at Spirit West Certified Planning, LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona, says, "There aren't enough contrarians" paying attention to risks embedded in passive in...

Jun 29, 202039 minEp. 49

Is This Rebound for Real? And Is Now a Good Time to Double-Check Risk Tolerance?

In this episode, we take a closer look at the recent US stock market rally from its March low, and address some questions frequently asked by advisors around assessing risk and behavioral coaching in these unusual times. Guests, via a previously recorded webcast, are Daniel Needham, president and global CIO, and Ryan Murphy, head of decision sciences, at Morningstar Investment Management.

Jun 01, 202024 minEp. 45

Advisor Profile: Erik Bowman Moved Quickly to Adapt His Practice to COVID-19

Growing a financial planning practice can be challenging at the best of times. But what if you had to replace your in-person presentations and meet-and-greets with online events and marketing tools? In this episode, Erik Bowman talks about how he’s looking to attract new clients in a shelter-in-place COVID-19 world.

May 18, 202027 minEp. 44

Markets in Crisis: What Are Potential Implications for Inflation?

Inflation has been tame for some time. But where will inflation go from here? Will the massive COVID-19-related stimulus by the Fed and the Treasury lead to higher inflation? Or will rocketing unemployment weaken inflation—in fact, is deflation a greater concern in the near term?

May 11, 202023 minEp. 43

Markets in Crisis: Finding Income in Today's Markets

Income investors might despair in today's COVID-19-ravaged environment—the Federal Reserve has lowered cash rates to near zero, shuttered businesses can’t pay stock dividends, and defaults are expected to rise. Yet, our income-focused portfolio managers say their prospects for income have improved greatly since February. Marta Norton, head of outcome-based strategies, and Hong Cheng, associate portfolio manager, share where they see income opportunities in today's markets.

Apr 27, 202035 minEp. 41

Markets in Crisis: What’s Important to Remember During Trying Times?

We continue our series of episodes based on webcasts, with this week looking at what messages advisors might share with clients to help them understand how today's market environment may affect their long-term financial goals. Guests are Morningstar Investment Management president and CIO Daniel Needham and head of decision sciences Ryan Murphy.

Apr 20, 202029 minEp. 40
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android