With Rick Hill officially retiring last year, we’re thrilled to continue celebrating his incredible legacy with the Rick Hill Award. As you may recall from a post Buddy shared in early 2024, we announced this special recognition at our 2023 holiday party to honor Rick’s values and actions, which have been at the heart of our firm’s success (and our friendship) since day one.

This annual award, paired with financial recognition, will be presented to the team member who best exemplifies living our firm’s values throughout the prior year. We’ve been paying close attention to those moments in 2024 when teammates have gone above and beyond, and we’re excited to share the winner with our team at our company celebration on February 8th. We’ll tell you about the winner our February email.

There’s still time to nominate someone you believe deserves this honor! If you’ve had a meaningful interaction with a team member that reflects Rick’s and our firm’s values, please email Matt Hall directly at matt@hillinvestmentgroup.com. The nomination window closes on January 31st, so don’t wait!

We value your insight and are grateful for your help in recognizing the teammates who make our firm extraordinary.

I’m excited to share some recent news: Besides the television ads we’ve mentioned, I’ve had the privilege of being featured in a recent New York Times advertising campaign by Charles Schwab, celebrating the work of independent financial advisors. The campaign highlights the unique value we bring to our clients by considering their entire lives when managing their financial futures.

When people see the ad, they often ask, “How did you get selected for this?” It’s a good question, and the answer is simple: Schwab invited me to participate. We’re not paid to be in this ad, and we don’t pay anything to be featured. We chose to be involved because we believe wholeheartedly in the power of independent advice.

My quote in the ad says, “Your dreams deserve more personal attention,” and that’s not just a tagline—it’s core to the philosophy that drives us at Hill Investment Group. Unlike the traditional brokerage firms or wirehouses that are often more focused on sales targets, independent advisors are free to prioritize what truly matters: you and your goals. We’re not just managing portfolios; we’re connecting your investments to your big picture, your dreams, and your life.

We’re honored to be part of this campaign because it gives us an opportunity to share the story of independent advice with a broader audience. It’s a story about how personalized, unbiased guidance can make a real difference in people’s lives and how being independent allows us to align our interests with those of our clients.

Being featured in the campaign is not just about recognition; it’s about raising awareness of the benefits of working with independent advisors. It’s about championing a model that puts clients first, free from the conflicts of interest that can come with sales-driven environments. At Hill Investment Group, we’re proud to be part of this community and to show what’s possible when your dreams truly receive the personal attention they deserve.

If you have any questions about what it means to be an independent advisor or how we connect your portfolio to your life, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you dream bigger, plan smarter, and live fully.

This year’s Hill Investment Group summer bash celebrated our 19th birthday! In typical fashion, a casual outdoor soirée was hosted by Matt Hall and his wife Lisa at their home in Clayton.  

While we enjoyed a delicious and unique meal provided by Kirk’s Traveling Kitchen, The Gaslight Squares provided an upbeat musical atmosphere. To close out their set, our Sherrie Dickson serenaded the team with her beautiful rendition of Moon River!

This year, we also had a few new faces at the party and a very special guest – Miss Saronda Summerland, our beloved mail carrier and friend (pictured above, along with Anna Farrell, Matt Hall, and me). Saronda has always gone the extra mile for Hill Investment Group, and we will miss seeing her every day now that the St. Louis office has moved into our new space. Yes, we tried to get her to switch her route, but she sadly declined. 

Thankfully – we’ve already planned several ways to keep in touch because her sense of humor, candid communication, and comedic genius put a smile on our faces whenever she’s around.  

Making friends is still, and always will be our business.