Aug 05, 2019 · Morningstar is an investment advisor that relies on a large team of in-house investment experts. The company began with an idea by a 27-year-old stock analyst. That guy is Joe Mansueto, who thought it was unfair that people did not have access to the same information as financial professionals. Zacks vs. Morningstar: What's the Difference? May 09, 2019 · Morningstar's rating system is not an indication of an opinion. It is more of a comparison of a fund’s performance in relation to its peers within its category. Morningstar also has analyst ratings for mutual funds, based on a five-tier scale. The ratings are gold, silver, bronze, neutral, and negative.