1. That no one can accurately predict the market:

• in advance,
• consistently,
• or for decades at a time.

2. That trying to pick individual stocks or active managers is a loser’s game. Winners buy the world in bulk at a fair price and let capitalism work its magic.

3. That delegating the activity and attention of my personal investing to someone that knows me:

• is liberating,
• has higher expected returns, and
• frees me to pursue my unique abilities.

4. Investing based on the data and evidence shown in decades of market returns and peer-reviewed academic research beats:

• picking stocks,
• gurus,
• black boxes, and
• Las Vegas.

5. Focusing on the things that matter and that I can control are most important, e.g.:

• asset allocation,
• spending, and
• investment expenses.

6. That managing my investing behavior is MORE important than tracking short-term investment performance.

7. That there will always be an apocalypse du jour, so “taking the long view” reminds me that the multi-decade trend of the global stock market is UP.

We are proud to share the story of Gateway to Hope, a local charity that supports breast cancer patients by covering their medical costs during treatment. Our own Katie Trout co-chaired their 2015 KaleidoHope event along with our peer advisor, Tiya Lim (both pictured above). They celebrated many successes, including the organization’s 10th anniversary. Best of all, they have never turned a patient away. To learn more about their story, click here.

It was especially poignant for me and other members of my family to attend since we lost my mother to breast cancer this August. Thank you to all at Gateway to Hope and elsewhere who support breast cancer patients, survivors, and their families.

Finding Buddy Reisinger and introducing him to our firm is one of my favorite memories in the evolution of Hill Investment Group. Our firm wouldn’t be where it is today without his ongoing contribution.