We’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone in Hill Investment Group’s journey. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional environment for our team and clients, we are moving our headquarters to The Plaza in Clayton, a move that promises to bring new opportunities and a fresh perspective to our operations. This marks an exciting new chapter in our company’s history.

The decision to relocate our main office from 7701 Forsyth (where we have been for 18 years) to The Plaza was fueled by our vision for pursuing excellence and innovation. The Plaza, nestled in the heart of Clayton, not only offers a prime location but also embodies the values of sophistication, professionalism, and forward-thinking that resonate deeply with our own ethos.

This move represents more than just an address change. It symbolizes our unwavering dedication to our clients, as we strive to create an environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and most importantly, client satisfaction. The Plaza provides state-of-the-art facilities and amenities, ensuring we can continue delivering our valued clients the highest level of service.

With its mix of traditional exterior and modern interior design and prime location, The Plaza offers a vibrant atmosphere that aligns perfectly with our dynamic team and the progressive nature of our industry. This move will enhance our ability to serve our clients effectively while providing an inspiring space for our team to thrive.

At Hill Investment Group, every detail matters. From the investments we recommend to the spaces we inhabit, excellence is not just a goal; it’s our standard. Our new location at The Plaza is a testament to this commitment, reflecting our dedication to providing the best for our clients and setting the stage for continued growth and success.

We are incredibly excited about this new chapter in our journey. We are eager to share this exciting new space with you and look forward to the opportunities it will bring. Stay tuned for updates as we settle into our new home and continue to elevate the standard of financial services in Clayton and beyond.

*The move-out date is 5/22; we will move in one month later. Rest assured, we will be available as usual during the interim, working mainly from the fifth floor of the Plaza building. With clients in 34 states, many of you see us on Zoom, but for those in and around St. Louis, we look forward to showing you the new space this Summer.

Remember our movie event in 2023? We hosted an in-person viewing of the documentary created by Dimensional (the trailblazing firm we have partnered with since our inception) titled Tune Out the Noise. They engaged Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris to make this film. It is about the birth of modern finance and its impact on money management and investing.

Told through the stories of 15 people involved, the film captures how finance became a science and challenged traditional investing methods. It chronicles how this shift led to the invention of index funds, the founding of Dimensional, and the evolution of client-focused advice—all of which have ultimately benefited investors worldwide.

We invite you to watch the documentary before it is more broadly available. It is a feature-length film with a running time of 88 minutes, and we highly recommend watching it at home on your favorite television, especially with family or friends.

Here is a link and access code to stream it online now through June 1:

Website:          Tune Out the Noise film
Access code:  MARKETSWORK

Feel free to share the website and access code with those who might be interested.

We hope the film makes you feel even more confident and proud to work with a firm that digs into science over guesswork to give you the best odds of financial success. We also hope it can open even more people’s eyes to a better way to invest.

“The United States Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse. Pursuant to federal law, victims are entitled to certain rights, which include notification of the status of the investigation. This letter is to inform you that you have been identified as a possible victim of alleged mail theft.”

This is the opening statement of a letter I received in December 2023. The next day, I received a second letter from a USPS inspector that said:

“Postal Inspectors found evidence that your name, address, and other personally identifiable information was in the possession of a fraudster. We do not know how they initially obtained your information, only that they possessed it.

I believe you may be a victim of this scheme, and I need to speak with you.”

And sure enough, they were right. Someone, who is now in jail, stole mail that contained a check I had written and then used that information to make a new check with my signature that they successfully used to take more than $30,000 from one of my accounts.

Here is what I have learned from this terrible situation:

• One of our custodial partners (Schwab) has our back. They have a team of people who work on the client’s behalf to make victims whole.
• Check fraud is on the rise. A nationwide alert regarding a surge in check fraud schemes targeting the U.S. mail has been sounded. 
• Even as fewer paper checks are circulating, check fraud is increasing—by 84% in 2022 alone. The alert (from FINCEN Financial Crimes Enforcement Center) focused on reports of fraudsters stealing checks from public USPS Collection Boxes, then changing the dollar amount and recipient. This scheme is sometimes combined with identity theft.
• The Postal Inspection Service is working to secure these collection boxes further. 

What can we do to protect ourselves?

1. Use an electronic payment method instead of a paper check (e.g., ACH) whenever possible. (MoneyLink), bill pay or, if needed, a wire).
2. If you’re expecting a check for a significant dollar amount, request a direct deposit into your checking account versus a physical check in the mail.
3. Take your mail into the post office versus dropping it into an outdoor USPS collection box. If you must use a collection box, drop it in before the final scheduled pickup to ensure it doesn’t sit in the box overnight when criminals target these boxes. Please note, even this is not a guarantee, as we have a client who was also a victim of check fraud after delivering a check inside the post office.
4. Monitor your bank account online and verify check images to ensure all checks have been properly deposited.
5. Consider signing up for the free USPS Informed Delivery service, which the post office uses to send you electronic previews of upcoming mail.
6. Report any fraud and suspicious activity to us immediately.

I share this with you to be helpful, and I hope you find reassurance in knowing that there are systems in place should you become a victim of identity theft, mail fraud, and check fraud. My situation was remedied, and I’m thankful for the support and professionalism I have experienced with the USPS Inspection Service and Schwab’s fraud team.

If you have questions or want to talk, feel free to call, email, or try texting us, as mentioned in last month’s post here.