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About Christine
Christine Benz is director of personal finance for Morningstar and senior columnist for Morningstar.com. She is author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances (Wiley, 2010). Ms. Benz is also co-author of Morningstar® Guide to Mutual Funds: 5-Star Strategies for Success, a national bestseller published in 2003, and author of the book's second edition, which was published in 2005. Before assuming her current role in 2008, she also served as Morningstar's director of mutual fund analysis. Ms. Benz has served as editor of several of Morningstar's publications over the years, including PracticalFinance, Morningstar® Mutual Funds™, and Morningstar® FundInvestor. She has worked as an analyst and editor at Morningstar since 1993. Ms. Benz holds a Bachelor's degree in political science and Russian/East European studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Christine's Videos
One of the most difficult questions in retirement planning is how much retirees can safely spend without prematurely depleting their assets. Morningstar's director of personal finance and retirement planning, Christine Benz, will discuss key factors to bear in mind as you develop a safe and livable in-retirement spending rate. She will also share what current conditions—higher interest rates, declining stock prices, and high inflation—mean for in-retirement spending going forward. Finally, Ms. Benz will look at the interplay between your in-retirement spending and your portfolio's asset allocation and share some in-retirement model portfolios.
Christine Benz
RETIREMENT
41:06
A bear market for equities and a brutal year for bonds have presented retirement investors with numerous questions—and some possible opportunities. Is a 60/40 portfolio suddenly a viable option for retirees again. Hear three retirement experts, Christine Benz, Jamie Hopkins, and Tracey Longo, discuss these and other challenges as an unusual year winds down.
Christine Benz
RETIREMENT
46:20
Low bond yields and elevated equity valuations suggest that new retirees are confronting a challenging environment. This presentation discusses some of these headwinds and shares strategies for troubleshooting them at the portfolio and financial plan levels. Christine Benz will also discuss Morningstar's recent research on safe withdrawal rates.
Christine Benz
RETIREMENT
37:37
The pandemic and related economic weakness have implications for many aspects of retirement planning. Older adults have experienced higher rates of unemployment and may be contemplating early retirement, which can stress a portfolio and lead to suboptimal Social Security claiming decisions. Meanwhile, yields on "safe" securities have dropped significantly, creating challenges for income-focused investors. This wide-ranging presentation will delve into these issues and provide concrete takeaways for retirees aiming to improve their plans.
Christine Benz
RETIREMENT
31:05
Christine's Books
Christine Benz
Morningstar's 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances
The quick and easy way to manage money and achieve financial goals
The recent economic meltdown has left people in terrible financial shape with little idea of how to turn things around. Using Morningstar's time-tested strategies and sensible approach to money management, Morningstar's 30-Minu
Christine Benz
Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: Five-Star Strategies for Success
Christine Benz is Director of Mutual Fund Analysis at Morningstar, where she manages a staff of thirty-five mutual fund analysts. Previously, she was the editor of Morningstar® FundInvestor, a monthly newsletter, as well as Morningstar® Funds 500, an annual publication covering 500 top mutual funds.
Christine Benz
Find the Right Mutual Funds: Morningstar Mutual Fund Investing Workbook, Level 1
The Morningstar Investment Coach: Finding the Right Funds allows readers to take their first steps in the world of mutual funds with confidence. Filled with informative topics such as how to purchase a fund and how to find a fund's total return, as well as important fund documents, this guide has been designed to give readers a solid mutual fund investing foundation.