At Hill Investment Group, we often say that real financial planning isn’t about being exactly right today—it’s about being less wrong tomorrow.

That may sound strange coming from a team grounded in evidence, logic, and long-term thinking. But we also know life doesn’t follow a straight line. That’s why we believe the most valuable part of financial planning isn’t the plan itself—it’s the process of ongoing planning.

Carl Richards, a friend and fellow long-term thinker, offers a great analogy we love to share:

Airline pilots prepare a flight plan before every trip. Yet when asked how often the flight goes exactly according to that plan, the answer is: rarely.

Course corrections are built into the process because the unexpected is expected. Weather changes. Winds shift. But the destination remains the same—and they keep adjusting until they land safely.

The same principle applies to your financial life. We build your plan using the best data available—making thoughtful assumptions about returns, taxes, inflation, goals, and more. But the moment the plan is complete, we know one thing for sure: it will be wrong. We just don’t know how yet.

That’s not a flaw. It’s reality.

Real planning is what happens next. It’s the process of revisiting, refining, and adjusting—so you can stay on track, even when the world around you changes.

That’s why our team is here: not just to build your plan, but to keep you flying steady all the way to your destination.

Take the Long View.

Earlier this month, Hill Investment Group team members joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony for an education center for elementary school students at a small, private inner-city school. This new facility, dedicated to advancing children’s education, was made possible by the generosity of one of our client families. Their contribution honors the wife’s lifelong commitment to supporting education and ensures the school’s mission will thrive for years to come.

This inspiring moment reflects what we call “taking the long view.” By investing in the future, this family is creating opportunities for children today and for future generations—many of whom they will never meet.

The event marked the culmination of years of thoughtful planning and goal-setting. Once their financial goals were secure for themselves and their children, this couple asked themselves, “How can we use our resources to benefit others?” For them, this school was the perfect partner to bring their vision to life while aligning with its mission.

If you’re dreaming about how a charitable gift could make a lasting impact on an organization close to your heart, let’s connect. Together, we can explore ways to turn your aspirations into reality.

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.