How We Use Independent Morningstar Research to Build Better Portfolios
At Compound Wealth, we believe good advice should be backed by great research. That’s why we subscribe to Morningstar Adviser Research - a globally respected, independent research house that helps advisers like us cut through the noise and make evidence-based investment decisions.
When we build bespoke portfolios for clients, particularly those using our Compound Pro service or KiwiWRAP KiwiSaver platform, Morningstar plays a key role in our process.
What is Morningstar Adviser Research?
Morningstar provides in-depth, unbiased research on thousands of managed funds, ETFs, and investment strategies. Their analysts look beyond the marketing to assess the true quality of a fund: its people, process, performance, fees, and sustainability.
It’s independent — they don’t take commissions from product providers — and global in scale, meaning we get access to insights on both local and international investment options.
How We Use It
For clients with larger balances or more complex investment goals, we often step outside of standard off-the-shelf portfolios. That’s where Morningstar’s research helps us with:
1. Fund Selection
We use Morningstar’s qualitative ratings to identify best-in-class funds — not just those that have performed well recently, but those that are likely to deliver consistent returns over time due to strong fundamentals.
2. Portfolio Construction
Once we’ve shortlisted quality funds, we use Morningstar’s data and analytics tools to construct diversified portfolios that match each client’s risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals — whether it’s for retirement, a trust, or a significant wealth transfer.
3. Ongoing Due Diligence
Markets change, and so do fund managers. We use Morningstar’s updates and fund reports to regularly review our investment recommendations, ensuring our portfolios stay aligned with client goals and expectations.
Why It Matters
Independent research helps us make decisions based on facts, not sales pitches. It allows us to explain the "why" behind each fund we recommend, and it gives clients added confidence that their portfolios are grounded in a disciplined, evidence-based approach.
If you're looking for a portfolio that’s more tailored to your goals - and backed by real research - let’s chat. We’d be happy to show you how we build portfolios that go beyond the default.
Compound Wealth are based in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and offer KiwiSaver, Investment & Retirement Financial Advice to clients all over New Zealand.
