Hill Investment Group clients have come to know, like and expect simple images that creatively tell a story. The 2013 Holiday card is no exception.

Working with our long-time friend and designer, Cheree Berry of Cheree Berry Paper, we wanted to deliver a combination of iconic holiday images (along with our familiar coffee cup!) that would also provide a subtle nod to “the benefits of having a Diversified Portfolio.” The card is a seasonal play on a beloved Hill Investment Group T-shirt created by Life is Good. Their mission is to “spread optimism” —another thing that we at Hill Investment Group believe in strongly.

In mid-November, a few members of our team attended the largest conference of independent investment advisors and wealth managers in the country—Charles Schwab’s 2013 IMPACT conference in Washington, DC. Attending conferences like Impact is just one of the ways we stay sharp. As you know, DC is a beautiful city and an idyllic backdrop for speakers like Michael Lewis, Daniel Pink, Steve Kroft, and others who inspired us along the way. We also returned with our own renewed perspectives on our country, our peers, and our practice.

November 15, 2013. For most people the day came and went like most Fridays. But that date was circled and starred on my calendar. November 15, 2013 was the first day of the two-day exam to earn the designation of Certified Financial Planner™. After working through the required education courses during the first half of 2013, attending a four day intense review session in Atlanta, GA, and spending over 200 hours during the final few months reviewing the material, I was ready to sit for the 10-hour exam. According to the CFP board, the historic pass rate is approximately 57%. How did I do on the exam? Ask me after December 20th when the results are released by the CFP board.