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. 

Dear Clients and Friends,

At Hill Investment Group, we believe change is inevitable and essential for growth. Like nature’s evolution, we see change as an opportunity to enhance and sharpen our commitment to you.

We are excited to share some significant updates:

A New Home for Our St. Louis Office

As mentioned in our prior newsletter, we are moving our St. Louis office to a new, handsome location. This space will better serve our team and, ultimately, you, fostering greater collaboration and innovation. We are officially out of the space that served us well for nineteen years, and the St. Louis team will be working remotely or on a communal floor in the new Plaza building.

*Did you know our 14 team members are currently spread between Austin, Houston, Nashville, St. Louis, and New York?

Welcoming Matt Zenz as a New Partner 

As you’ll read below, we are delighted to welcome Matt Zenz as our newest partner. His dedication and expertise align perfectly with our evidence-based approach, strengthening our leadership team. Matt is the kind of person you want on your side (see his Picking up Pennies series on our site to know precisely what I mean.)

Commitment to Our Boutique Approach

While embracing these changes, we remain committed to staying small and boutique in size. This allows us to deliver the best evidence-based value in the independent RIA world, ensuring your unique needs are our top priority. Please hold us accountable if you ever see something that could be improved. Our team is fiercely committed to improving every day as we strive to be known as one of the country’s premier boutique, evidence-based advisors!

Thank you for being a part of our journey and for your continued trust and support.

Take the long view,

Matt Hall

Hill Investment Group

Addressing Common Client Questions

At Hill Investment Group, we recognize that when a few clients raise the same question, it’s likely that many more have similar thoughts. To better serve you, we’re introducing a new segment in our newsletter where we’ll address common questions and how we approach them. The goal is to address what’s top of mind for our clients. To submit questions for future newsletters, email us at info@hillinvestmentgroup.com

This month, we’ll debut our first frequently asked question:

“Hey Hill, how can I secure a high rate of return for my cash savings?”

Understanding Cash Savings:

Every investor has to hold on to some amount of cash. We all have daily bills and expenses, something big we’re saving for, or just want something set aside for emergencies. This is money you want to keep safe. As you’ve likely noticed, cash sitting in your bank account earns very little and it may feel like you’re missing out on potential earnings. The great news? You have options at your fingertips, that we can help you take advantage of.

Why does this matter? Ensuring cash is managed effectively is one of the best ways we can help you “pick up the pennies” of extra return around the edges of your portfolio. 

For earning a return on cash, we recommend three options, tailored to your specific situation:

• Money Market Funds

Money market funds invest in highly liquid, short-term debt instruments like US Treasury bills. These funds offer high liquidity and very low risk, making them a secure option. Investors in money market funds can expect a positive return, currently around 5%, matching the returns on short-term US government debt. We recommend money market funds for cash you plan to use within the next year. We can manage this investment for you, ensuring your cash earns the highest return with minimal risk.

• BOXX ETF

BOXX is an ETF providing money market-like returns but in an ETF format. This means returns are reflected in the increasing price of the ETF rather than as income. Since capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than income, holding BOXX for over a year could significantly enhance your after-tax return. 

We recommend BOXX for cash that you plan to hold for more than a year. We can manage this investment and monitor the holding period to maximize your after-tax return.

• Flourish – New Service Announcement!

We are excited to introduce Flourish, a new service for Hill Investment Group clients. Flourish removes the hassle of hunting for the highest savings account rate by partnering with over a dozen FDIC-member program banks to ensure you always receive the highest savings rate. Flourish links to your personal checking or business account and offers money market-like returns and up to $10 million in FDIC insurance. This all comes with no fees or minimums and a clean, user-friendly interface. 

We recommend Flourish as your high-yield savings account solution for cash held in personal accounts. We can help you set up Flourish to talk to your personal accounts hassle-free so you know you are getting the most out of your cash at all times.

We’ll be rolling out this service over the coming months, but if you are curious to dive deeper – Check out this 5-minute video. If you’re eager to start using Flourish now, email us, and we’ll send you an invite so you can start benefiting immediately.

We’re here to ensure your cash works as hard as you do. Let us help you maximize your returns with minimal risk.

Summary

This information is educational and does not intend to make an offer for the sale of any specific securities, investments, or strategies.  Investments involve risk and, past performance is not indicative of future performance. Return will be reduced by advisory fees and any other expenses incurred in the management of a client’s account. Consult with a qualified financial adviser before implementing any investment strategy.