A periodic review of your investments will reveal whether your allocations are out of balance. A moderate portfolio geared for growth and income typically holds 60% stocks and 40% bonds. An aggressive portfolio—for people with more risk tolerance and a time horizon of ten years or more—typically holds 80% stocks and 20% bonds.
Step 1
Visit the Instant X-Ray tool at www.morningstar.com. Input your fund and stock symbols in the first column, and put the dollar value or percentage value of each holding in the second column. Hit the “Show Instant X-Ray” button. The service is free.
Step 2
See at a glance how your portfolio breaks down. The “x-ray” shows how much you have in stocks, bonds and cash, as well as how the assets are divvied up by sector (health care, energy and so on), among other details. It even lists all of the stocks you hold, including the ones in funds you own, ranked by weight.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Step 3
Use the x-ray to pinpoint potential weak spots. Is your portfolio too heavily weighted in stocks? Are you paying too much in fees? The tool compares your annual fees to a similarly weighted model portfolio. If you pay more, look for comparable lower-cost index funds and exchange-traded funds.
The payoff
Your investments match up with your goals.
-
Think Twice Before Getting a Credit Card Cash AdvanceA credit card cash advance can be a quick solution when you need emergency help with money. But you'll pay for the convenience with high interest and fees.
-
What is AI Worth to the Economy?The Letter Spending on AI is already boosting GDP, but will the massive outlays being poured into the technology deliver faster economic growth in the long run?
-
457 Plan Contribution Limits for 2025Retirement plans There are higher 457 plan contribution limits for state and local government workers in 2025. That's good news for state and local government employees.
-
Medicare Basics: 12 Things You Need to KnowMedicare There's Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. We sort out the confusion about signing up for Medicare — and much more.
-
The Seven Worst Assets to Leave Your Kids or Grandkidsinheritance Leaving these assets to your loved ones may be more trouble than it’s worth. Here's how to avoid adding to their grief after you're gone.
-
SEP IRA Contribution Limits for 2025SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $70,000 in 2025, up from $69,000 in 2024.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to fund your retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2025 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
SIMPLE IRA Contribution Limits for 2025simple IRA The SIMPLE IRA contribution limit increased by $500 for 2025. Workers at small businesses can contribute up to $16,500 or $20,000 if 50 or over and $21,750 if 60-63.
-
457 Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans State and local government workers can contribute more to their 457 plans in 2024 than in 2023.
-
Roth 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2025retirement plans The Roth 401(k) contribution limit for 2025 increased, and workers who are 50 and older can save even more.
