As big believers in the power of data and evidence—whether it’s in investing, medicine, or sports—we’re thrilled to share this exceptional podcast episode featuring Jeff Luhnow, a valued client of Hill Investment Group. Jeff is a former St. Louis Cardinals leader, GM of the World Champion Houston Astros, and now a European Football (or soccer, for most Americans) Champion.

In this conversation, Jeff dives into the keys to success across business and sports, illustrating how interconnected these areas truly are. Remarkably, Jeff has applied his expertise in engineering, consulting, entrepreneurship, and team building to a sport he knew little about just a few years ago, achieving incredible success on the pitch (the field).

One of our favorite moments from the podcast is when Jeff shares: “The principles that drive success—whether in baseball, soccer, or business—are rooted in understanding the numbers, building the right team, and having the patience to see the vision through.”

Jeff’s career journey exemplifies a data-driven mindset and the power of taking the long view—principles that resonate deeply with us and guide our own work. We’re proud to support leaders like Jeff who embody these values. We think you’ll find his insights as inspiring as we do.

During the summer months, we often recommend books we are reading in the offices of Hill Investment Group. This year, we decided to steer you to a podcast we enjoy; some episodes are almost as long as an audiobook. If you’re reading this, you, like us, believe in the power of a long-term perspective, continuous learning, and evidence-based decision-making. These core principles guide our investment strategies and resonate with the themes explored in the extraordinary podcast “Acquired.”

What is “Acquired”?

“Acquired” is a highly regarded podcast that dives into the stories behind some of history’s most significant companies and acquisitions. Hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal provide in-depth analyses of how these companies were built, the strategic decisions they made, and the challenges they overcame. Each episode offers valuable insights into the entrepreneurial and business world, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of successful companies.

Themes from “Acquired” that Resonate with Hill Investment Group

• Long-Term Perspective:

Episode Highlight: In the episode covering Amazon, “Acquired” explores Jeff Bezos’ long-term vision and his relentless focus on customer experience, illustrating how patience and strategic planning can lead to enduring success.

Hill’s Approach: Similarly, we at Hill Investment Group emphasize the importance of taking the long view. We believe patient, disciplined investing, guided by enduring principles rather than short-term market trends, is key to building sustainable wealth.

• Evidence-Based Decisions:

Episode Highlight: The episode on Whole Foods’ acquisition by Amazon underscores the significance of data-driven decisions. Bezos’ use of extensive market research and analytics to guide Amazon’s strategies reflects the power of evidence-based decision-making.

Hill’s Approach: Our investment strategies are grounded in Nobel Prize-winning academic research, ensuring our clients benefit from the most reliable financial principles.

• Resilience and Adaptability:

Episode Highlight: The story of Apple’s turnaround under Steve Jobs, as discussed on “Acquired,” showcases the company’s ability to innovate and adapt in the face of adversity.

Hill’s Approach: We prepare our clients to navigate market volatility through diversified portfolios and robust financial planning, helping them stay resilient and focused on their long-term goals.

• Continuous Learning:

Episode Highlight: Each “Acquired” episode is a business history and strategy masterclass that provides listeners with knowledge and insights.

Hill’s Approach: We believe in lifelong learning and continuous improvement. Our team regularly engages with the latest industry developments to ensure we provide our clients with the best possible advice and service.

We encourage you to explore the “Acquired” podcast to gain deeper insights into the principles that drive successful businesses. Let’s continue to embrace the long view, grounded in evidence-based principles and enriched by continuous learning.

Take the long view,

The Hill Investment Group Team

Our favorite episodes include Starbucks, Hermes, Porsche, Costco, and Nike.

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Feel free to listen to “Acquired” and join us in exploring the fascinating stories behind the world’s most successful companies. 

The Bloomberg podcast Odd Lots recently featured Dimensional Co-CEO and CIO Gerard O’Reilly as a guest. Hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway joined him at Dimensional’s Austin headquarters to discuss his views on market efficiency and where he sees the fund management industry going.

We especially like the segment from around minute 3:40 to minute 20. Enjoy!

Listen to the full episode here.