Morgan Stanley's Thought Leadership
Now that E*TRADE has joined forces with Morgan Stanley, get actionable insights from our combined companies—including investment research and market analysis from Morgan Stanley’s highly respected analysts, strategists, economists, and portfolio managers.
Explore ideas from Morgan Stanley
Get keen insights to help guide your investment decisions.
Update on the 2024 Elections
Read our latest article on what the elections may mean for investors.
Markets and research
Get timely perspectives on the markets and economy from Morgan Stanley’s deep and experienced bench of experts.
Investing essentials
Learn how to manage your finances and help meet your personal financial goals from thought leaders at Morgan Stanley.
Real People. Real Answers.
Follow this award-winning podcast where Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors help real people tackle their key questions about money.
Morgan Stanley’s popular Thoughts on the Market podcast delivers short, insightful takes on the forces shaping today’s markets from a variety of leaders within the firm.
Get up to $1,000 for a limited time1
Open and fund a new brokerage account with a qualifying deposit by January 31, 2025. Learn how
Terms apply. Use promo code: OFFER24
A 529 plan is a great way to invest for future education costs, but there are also other options to raise the funds you need.
High-yield savings accounts and a Certificate of Deposit account can both help you reach your savings goals. Here’s how to compare the two account types to find the right one for you.
Learn how to spot—and potentially avoid—common mistakes that some investors make in a market sell-off.
Thinking of taking the next step with someone special? Head off money headaches by talking about your finances first.
We all know we should have money set aside for emergencies. Here’s how to go about it.
Investors may turn to money market mutual funds to generate potential earnings on cash needed in a short time frame. Ultra-short bond funds are another investing vehicle that may offer modestly higher yields—but also higher risk. Learn the difference between the two products.
After a period of robust economic expansion, the U.S. is likely to see weaker growth in the months ahead. 1 Fortunately, there are steps you can take as uncertainty rises. Consider these five preemptive strategies that may help shore up your finances.
Learn how some debt, if managed wisely, can help you build wealth and be a valuable tool. Discover what you should consider when taking on debt.
When market volatility arises, checking in on your retirement plan may make more than just sense.
Don’t worry if your financial goals look out of reach based on what you’ve saved. There are ways to adjust course that are easier than you may think.
Learn about the differences between credit and debit cards, the various credit card types, and how to avoid debt that can end up being destructive.
Companies across industries have struggled in recent years with breakdowns in the global supply chain, leaving them vulnerable to lost opportunities. As a result, some US companies are considering whether to shift jobs, processes, and sourcing back home. Such “reshoring” efforts may require significant new capital investment and could lead to potential opportunities for investors over the next decade.
Learn the options for how to pay off debt you took on to pay for school.
Treasuries may be a low-risk way to diversify portfolios and can potentially provide stability in times of uncertainty. Learn about the different types, benefits, and risks.
Learn the six money moves you can make this fall to set yourself up for success in 2024 and beyond. Find tips on investing, taxes, charitable giving, and more.
As investors explore ways to enhance returns and manage risk, liquid alternative funds have emerged as a potential choice. Learn what they are and what to consider before investing.
Discover the different types of cash accounts and how they serve different purposes. Learn how to use them to help meet your financial goals.
Whether you’re applying for a mortgage, purchasing car insurance, or signing up with a new internet provider, you will inevitably be asked about your credit. Understanding and improving your credit score early on in life can help increase your financial freedom and purchasing power in the future.
They're tax friendly, flexible, and available to anyone. Yet, 529 education savings plans are still underused. Here are five things that parents, grandparents, and anyone hoping to get a leg up on college costs need to know.
CDs are an important part of many investors’ financial planning strategies. But not all CDs are the same. Here’s what you need to know.
Check out these five steps to help make smart spending and saving decisions.
These funds may provide a lower-risk, liquid vehicle for short-term investors.
Buying and selling a home at the same time can be a stressful balancing act and put a strain on your finances. Discover five ways to finance a down payment on a new home before selling your existing home.
Learn how to help protect you or your loved ones from common elder abuse scams.
Consider these tips when planning for foreign travel and perhaps save yourself time, money and headaches.
Investors seeking outperformance and targeted allocation can consider actively managed ETFs to help navigate market uncertainty in a tax-efficient manner.
Learn why rising interest rates and inflation present headwinds for bond investors, and how two potential investing strategies may be able to help you manage the risks.
Municipal bonds can provide investors with fixed income payments and capital preservation—but it’s their tax advantages that investors are often most curious about. Learn what to consider when investing in municipal bonds.
An Individual Retirement Account is a smart, easy way to boost your retirement savings. No matter your financial situation, E*TRADE has an IRA that can help you make progress toward your retirement goals.
A lot can pile up over a year, or just a season. Here are five tips to help you tidy up, declutter and organize your finances this spring.
The new year can be a good time to set yourself up for financial success. These six steps can help get you started.
Help your financial wellness with tips regarding retirement savings through different life stages.
It’s important to start saving as early as possible. Learn why—plus get tips on how to become a savvy saver.
This year’s election outcome could have a big impact on taxes, Social Security and health-care policy. How can investors like you prepare?
The countdown to Tax Day has begun. Here are some strategies to consider as the deadline approaches.
There are several benefits of diversifying your portfolio with Medium Term Notes or MTNs. Learn more about whether this fixed-income security could make sense for you.
US state and local governments are increasingly using bonds to raise capital for infrastructure and housing projects that mitigate and protect against extreme weather events. Here’s what it could mean for your portfolio.
Factor-based investing strategies, also known as “smart beta,” track popular stock indices, but offer greater exposure to index constituents with attractive characteristics, or “factors.” Here’s what investors should know.
Discover how gender lens investing can help enhance your portfolio’s bottom line while also promoting greater workplace diversity and equity.
As the world increasingly transitions to a low-carbon economy, explore how you can pursue your climate action goals alongside your financial objectives.
Everyone has a different idea of their dream retirement. To help you plan for your goals, Morgan Stanley strategists have identified common retirement spending patterns, lifestyles, and potential strategies that may help your nest egg last.
The unpredictability of financial markets can disrupt even the best-laid retirement plans. These five strategies may help investors stay on track.
Learn what drives inflation, how it’s measured, and ways to diversify portfolios to help hedge the risk it presents for investments.
Discover the differences between gold and silver, how to invest in each, and considerations for adding precious metals to portfolios.
Your ability to earn an income may be one of your most valuable assets, but an accident or unforeseen illness can put that asset at risk. Here’s how to help protect it.
Learn about common social engineering scams you may encounter and ways to help prevent them.
Climate change presents risks, but there are ways for investors to take part in positive change.
Money is one of the trickiest topics to discuss—but avoiding the conversation can be even more problematic. These tips can help start the dialogue with your family.
After two years of near-zero interest rates, the Federal Reserve’s aggressive policy pivot has changed the market outlook. We break down the effects on bonds, stocks, and portfolios.
Structured investments can enhance a traditional stock and bond portfolio to address specific investment objectives within an overall investment plan—but they come with unique features and risks.
Structured investment products can be divided into four basic categories, each offering features designed for specific objectives.
For LGBT+ couples who decide to tie the knot, it’s important to review financial plans and understand the financial impacts of marriage. These tips can help.
Learn what closed-end funds are, how they compare to open-end funds, and considerations when investing in them.
The stock market is the cornerstone of investing. Before getting started, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the basics, including market indexes, the different types of stocks, and the factors that can affect a stock’s market value.
For investors, international equities can enhance diversification and offer growth potential. In fact, long-term demographic trends may even favor some non-US markets. Explore the different types of international markets and ways to invest.
A company’s market capitalization, or its market value, can help investors decide if the stock is a good fit for their portfolio. Learn how to calculate a market cap and the features of different market caps.
The consumer staples sector consists of goods that are constantly in demand, offering an option for investors seeking to incorporate a defensive strategy into their portfolios.
The utilities sector represents resources that are always in demand (think: water, gas), and it’s typically used as a defensive play in a portfolio. We break down characteristics of the utilities sector and key investing considerations.
Green bonds give fixed income investors a way to incorporate environmental and social causes into their portfolio strategies. We dig into what green bonds are, how they’ve started to gain traction, and what to consider before investing.
Discover how tax cuts, tariffs and deregulation could shape markets and impact your investments over President Trump’s second term.
Certain economic indicators and stock market trends have historically forecasted which U.S. presidential candidate is likely to prevail. Here’s what investors should know.
As several new bitcoin exchange-traded funds become available, how should investors expect bitcoin to perform in the coming decade? Here’s a framework to consider.
Aging populations and lower technology costs are propelling companies to invest more in productivity-boosting automation. What could this mean for investors?
Advances in technology and innovation have led to new breakthroughs in health care. Here’s a look at three areas of opportunity for long-term investors.
The classic portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds may no longer provide the same level of returns it has delivered previously, but it may still be appropriate for some investors. Here’s why.
Discover everything you need to know about Bitcoin ETFs at E*TRADE. Learn the basics of bitcoin ETFs, how to invest, and the benefits and risks.
We explore the barriers and opportunities facing Hispanic-Latino investors when it comes to building wealth to provide insight for investors of all backgrounds.
As the 2024 U.S. election nears, potential tax-policy changes could affect your portfolio and finances. Here are key questions answered.
Despite a recent shakeup in the U.S. presidential election, change at the top of the Democratic ticket may have little impact for investors.
As the “Magnificent 7” stocks’ momentum fades, a broader swath of the market has advanced. What stocks might come out ahead?
Help protect yourself on your next trip with these cybersecurity tips.
Global growth should stay steady at just over 3% in 2024 and 2025, though volatility will remain as a pickup in growth around the world contrasts with a slowdown in the U.S.
Amid a backdrop of steady growth, declining inflation and interest rate cuts, investors may look to corporate credit and agency mortgage-backed securities for opportunity as well as European and Japanese equities.
Mortgage rates are forecast to drop slightly, but affordability likely won’t return to pre-pandemic levels. Here’s what to expect.
Artificial intelligence is set to become a $3 trillion industry in the next several years. Where can investors find potential opportunities?
The global market for the blockbuster drugs could increase by 15-fold over the next five years as their benefits expand beyond weight loss, with expected implications for consumer goods and longevity.
Potential rate cuts and a return to contrasting performance for stocks and bonds could mean an attractive environment for fixed income in 2024.
The coming years could bring stronger economic growth, greater business productivity, and a new set of stock market winners. How can investors position themselves now to benefit?
Longevity, decarbonization and technology disruption could provide long-term investment opportunities.
Consider these five investing ideas where we think the market may be missing the full picture.
Investing in the S&P 500 today may mean overexposure to a handful of mega-cap tech stocks known as “the Magnificent 7.”
The era of ultra-low interest rates has passed. But smart investors may find that is not such a bad thing.
The coming years could bring stronger economic growth, greater business productivity, and a new set of stock market winners. How can investors position themselves now to benefit?
Navigating the market during times of global conflict can be challenging. Here’s what investors should know to help safeguard your portfolio.
Navigating the market during times of global conflict can be challenging. Here’s what investors should know to help safeguard your portfolio.
Navigating the market during times of global conflict can be challenging. Here’s what investors should know to help safeguard your portfolio.
The development of human-machine interfaces is taking a leap forward. Learn what it means for investors.
New investment strategies, demand for resources and more stringent regulations are shaping the next decade of sustainable investing.
India is on track to become the world’s third largest economy by 2027, surpassing Japan and Germany, and have the third largest stock market by 2030, thanks to global trends and key investments the country has made in technology and energy.
Many pundits are bullish on stocks, but there may be evidence that investors need to prepare for a less rosy scenario.
Should investors be concerned about the surging national debt? Wealth Management’s Lisa Shalett shares three risks to watch and what it could mean for your portfolio.
A rise in Japan’s nominal GDP after a long period of flatlining could create opportunities.
The economy’s resilience is keeping investors bullish on US stocks. It may be time to prepare for a less favorable scenario.
With a handful of mega-cap stocks dominating the S&P 500, concentration could leave your portfolio vulnerable to potential losses.
Increasing demand and significant cost reductions have changed the clean energy landscape. Learn how decarbonization efforts may present long-term opportunities for investors.
The recent breakthrough in nuclear fusion represents a remarkable advancement in the development of a potentially radical decarbonization technology. But nuclear fusion technologies will need to advance much further before they can be relied upon as a source of abundant, sustainable energy.
Investors can gear up for a long-term shift in automotive trends, as electric vehicles are expected to account for 90% of auto sales by 2050.
Here’s what investors may want to know about the nascent technology that surrounds decentralized finance, and the investing landscape.
Large global banks have an opportunity to develop new ‘green’ sources of revenue tied to everything from carbon trading to helping finance the estimated $50 trillion needed to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
The cybersecurity sector is rapidly growing and developing new ways to guard against sophisticated attacks. How can investors participate in this long-term opportunity?
Learn why municipal bonds align with ESG principles that could make a positive impact and why these securities may be undervalued.
Global e-commerce stocks surged during the early days of Covid-19 but have since slumped. Despite overall slowing economic activity, key trends suggest e-commerce still has room to grow. What it means for economies, industries, and investors.
India’s GDP has increased 11-fold, and its equity market cap has grown by 30-fold over the past three decades. Discover what’s behind the country’s economic growth and the unique characteristics of its stock market.
The gap between the world’s renewable supply of water and demand is expected to be 40% by 2030, bringing a new urgency to addressing water scarcity. Morgan Stanley’s Sustainable Research Team does a deep dive on the causes, implications, and solutions.
A new study from Calvert, part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, examines whether racial and ethnic board diversity can have a positive effect on stock performance.
Climate change, security, and telecoms are among the key themes driving a boom in the space economy. Here's a look at what’s behind the increased interest.
The new credit payment is the latest Fintech disruptor. Can established legacy banks adapt to keep up with the increased e-commerce demand and the red-hot tech services?
The convergence of social media and gaming, along with increased opportunities for in-game monetization and the addition of new gaming platforms have fueled growth in the industry. What trends may be of interest to investors?
Despite talk of COVID driving a long-term exodus from big cities, Morgan Stanley Research analysis shows that many are booming or rebounding. What does that mean for assets tied to urban living?
Findings from a recent Morgan Stanley survey highlight key initiatives within the evolving world of cloud tech.
Morgan Stanley Research explores what the post-pandemic work environment could mean for office REITs.