In a recent conversation with Charles Kafoglis, he shared a profound realization: it’s time. After years of taking the long view, Charles has decided to retire. Inspired by the wisdom in the book Die With Zero, which encourages us to embrace and maximize the unique opportunities of life’s seasons, Charles is stepping into his next chapter with excitement and purpose.

With his wife, Pattie, Charles plans to explore more of the world, deepen their involvement in non-profit work, and set meaningful new goals—including an ambitious one: running a 10-minute mile on his 80th birthday!

While he will undoubtedly miss the people of Hill, the clients he has served so thoughtfully, and working alongside his son Michael, we know this next season will bring new joys and adventures.

Charles’ departure will be effective at the end of December, and we are committed to making this transition seamless for our clients and team.. We are actively meeting with candidates for this lead position and look forward to an announcement we can share with you soon. In the interim, a combined team at Hill will ensure continuity for all clients. 

We are deeply grateful for Charles’ contribution and wish him a fulfilling and hopeful journey ahead.

This month, you’ll notice our survey question invites you to reflect on what financial decision you’re most proud of. It’s a great opportunity to pause and acknowledge the milestones—big or small—that bring you closer to your goals. As I thought about this question, one decision immediately came to mind.

As I write this, my family and I are on the cusp of a new chapter. Our daughter (a junior in high school), born just two years after we started Hill Investment Group, is now preparing for college. We recently took our first college tour together—a moment that felt both surreal and gratifying.

What makes this milestone even more meaningful is the financial foundation we laid for her education. Like many of you, we started a 529 college savings plan shortly after she was born—when she received her Social Security number, to be exact. At the time, saving for college felt abstract, almost odd. She was still an infant, and college seemed a lifetime away. But we made the decision to start, set a clear goal of having two years of college funded by the time she graduates from high school, and stuck with it. Today, that plan has grown with the power of markets, and it will help cover a significant portion of her next phase. 

This journey reinforces something we talk about often at Hill Investment Group: the power of the long view. A clear goal, consistent contributions, and the discipline to stay the course—even when the market tempts you to second-guess—are at the core of successful investing. It’s the same philosophy we apply to everything we do for our clients.

And just like you, I’m a client too. I’ve felt the sacrifices that come with prioritizing savings, along with the satisfaction of watching a plan work over time. As we look ahead to this exciting next chapter for our daughter, I feel proud—not just of the financial growth but of the steady, intentional path we’ve taken. We believed in the data and evidence that our initial decision was founded upon, and that belief, coupled with disciplined behavior, has allowed us to achieve our goal.

So, as the year winds down and you reflect on your own financial decisions, I encourage you to think about what you’re most proud of. What goals have you set? What steps have you taken to achieve them? And most importantly, how can we help you take the long view toward whatever comes next?

Here’s to steady progress and celebrating milestones—big and small.

Happy Holidays!

This testimonial is provided by a current client who received no compensation for their statement. Their experience reflects their personal results, which may not be representative of all clients. Investing involves risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results.