Today on The Long View, we’re featuring an episode from another Morningstar podcast, The Morning Filter, which you can subscribe to on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Usually, Susan Dziubinski sits down every Monday morning with Morningstar’s chief U.S. market strategist Dave Sekera to talk about the week ahead.

But we’ve got something a bit different for you on the podcast this week. Instead of our usual deep dive into the market and stocks, we’re taking a step back to look at the big picture of investing: things like how to build a smart portfolio, avoid common investment mistakes, and time-tested principles to invest by.

Our special guest is Christine Benz. Christine is Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning. She’s also the host of The Long View podcast and author of the book How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful and Wealthy Retirement.

Episode highlights:

• What you need to know from stocks to bonds, and core investments to dividend payers
• Things you shouldn’t overlook in retirement and tips for setting yourself up for success
• Is “set it and forget it” a good way to invest in today’s market?

Read about topics from this episode.

Tune in to The Long View podcast.

Access Christine Benz’s article and video archive on Morningstar.com.

Order a copy of Christine’s book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful and Wealthy Retirement.

Register for the 2025 Bogleheads Conference.

Watch the How to Retire podcast, a companion podcast to the How to Retire book.

Follow Dave on social media.

Dave Sekera on X: @MstarMarkets

Dave Sekera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesekera

Our guest on the podcast today is Nick Murray. Nick has written several influential books about investing and financial advice, including The Game of Numbers, Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth, and his latest, This Time Isn’t Different. His newsletter for financial advisors is called “Nick Murray Interactive,” and he also frequently leads seminars for financial advice professionals. Nick started out at EF Hutton, then moved on to Shearson and eventually to Bear Stearns. Since then, he has built his career around advising financial advisors.

About Nick Murray

Nick Murray Interactive newsletters

This Time Isn’t Different: Shockproofing Our Clients

The Game of Numbers: Client Acquisition for Financial Advisors 2010

Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth

Nick Murray’s Scripts: What to Say and How to Say It

Behavioral Investment Counseling

Talking It Over, Just The Two Of Us: A Guide for the Financial Advisor’s Life Partner with Joan Murray

Around the Year with Nick Murray: Daily Readings for Financial Advisors

“Financial Advisor Nick Murray,” Bloomberg Masters in Business podcast by Barry Ritholtz, Aug. 7, 2015

“The Man Who Saved My Career: How Nick Murray came along and showed me my true purpose in this business,” by Josh Brown, downtownjoshbrown.com, May 21, 2024

“The Value Proposition of a Financial Advisor With Nick Murray,” The Unlock podcast, May 21, 2024

“The Golden Door For Financial Advice With Nick Murray,” The Unlock podcast, May 31, 2024

“My Financial Planning Heroes: Nick Murray,” by Juniper team, juniperwealth.co.uk/blog, Jan. 1, 2025

“Nick Murray’s Hard Truths for Advisors” by Jane Wollman Rusoff, thinkadvisor.com, March 5, 2015

“Lessons Learned From the Legendary Financial Advisor Nick Murray,” Think Smart With TMFG podcast, Oct. 14, 2022

“Murray: Financial Healing,” Consuelo Mack Wealthtrack, May 6, 2016

Bio

“Charley Ellis: Why Active Investing Is Still a Loser’s Game,” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, May 27, 2020.

Rethinking Investing: A Very Short Guide to Very Long-Term Investing

Winning the Loser’s Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing

“Stock Pickers Are on a Record Run With Investors. Don’t Be Fooled, Says Index Fund Guru,” by Jason Gewirtz, cnbc.com, Feb. 14, 2025.

“Investment Costs Make a Huge Difference,” by Robin Powell, ifa.com, Feb. 17, 2025.

ETF Edge interview with Charley Ellis, cnbctv, Feb. 10, 2025.

Regulation Fair Disclosure

Alfred Marshall

Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman