We are pleased to formally introduce Sarah Larsen, our Executive Operations Lead at HIG.

Many of you may have already interacted with Sarah. Over the past year, she has supported our team in a part time capacity and has recently joined us full time as the operational and organizational backbone of the firm.

Sarah’s work spans executive support, people operations, finance, and firm administration. Her role is designed to help our leadership and advisory team stay focused on what matters most: serving you well, thoughtfully, and consistently.

As part of our recent expansion of service hours, you may hear Sarah’s voice if you call later in the day. Her presence helps ensure that when you reach out to Hill, there is a steady, capable person on the other end who knows our team and how we work.

Sarah brings more than eight years of experience running her own administrative support business, following an earlier chapter in advertising. While she enjoyed building and leading her own firm, she was drawn to HIG’s culture, values, and people. When I approached her about stepping into a full time role, it felt like a natural fit and the right place for her to do her best work.

Known for her curiosity and can-do mindset, Sarah is a lifelong learner who is not afraid to jump in, figure things out, and move important work forward. Her focus on building strong support systems helps our leadership and advisory teams operate at their best so we can continue delivering thoughtful guidance and strong long-term outcomes for the families we serve.

Based in Seattle, Sarah lives with her husband Patrick, their two children Luke and Piper, and their dog Rosie, a Cavapoo. A California native, she has fully embraced life in the Pacific Northwest, rain included.

We are grateful to have her on the team and excited for the ways her work strengthens the Hill experience for our clients.

Clients and those that know us well expect clarity and transparency in all that we do, especially when it comes to fees. In fact, HIG goes overboard to fully communicate all fees and expenses because every last basis point matters.

In contrast, most of Wall Street uses every means possible…including regulations…to disclose as little as possible, especially when it comes to fees.

Jason Zweig of the Wall Street Journal makes a crystal clear statement in a recent article:

“The first question on most investors’ minds is usually: How much can I make on this? Instead, their first question should always be: How much will this cost me?”

We wholeheartedly concur.
Be on the lookout for and learn about the latest pending legislation that would hide fees from investors here.

If you’re interested in more clarity and transparency in your life, set up a time to talk here.

The Hill perspective is well known. It is our motto and our compass: Take the Long View. Many of our clients and friends of the firm also know our culture. We strive to be warm, caring, thoughtful, serious about our work, and human enough to enjoy it together.

As we grow, an important question stays front and center: how do we continue to deepen both our culture and our perspective at the same time, especially as our team is spread across the country?

Occasionally, we’re given a rare gift: the chance to be together in one place. Last month, nearly our entire nationwide team happened to be in St. Louis at the same time. Recognizing how uncommon that is, we chose to be intentional with the moment and invest it in something meaningful.

When author, artist, and former financial advisor Carl Richards was in town for our event, we extended the experience by taking the team to a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition by German artist Anselm Kiefer at the Saint Louis Art Museum. The visit was arranged by my wife, Jeana, who serves in a volunteer leadership role at the museum. Notably, Jeana and Rex Sinquefield, co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, were among the significant underwriters supporting the exhibition.

Together, we spent time immersed in the work of one of the most important living contemporary artists. Kiefer, who recently turned 80, is known for confronting history, destruction, and renewal on a monumental scale. His work takes the long view. From loss comes rebirth. From devastation, renewal. The physical scale of his art reinforces the message. Some things simply cannot be understood without stepping back and taking them in fully.

It is hard not to see the parallel.

Life is not smooth. Markets are not either. Both move in cycles that include setbacks, uncertainty, and moments that test conviction. Yet over time, periods of decline have been followed by recovery. Often the most meaningful progress comes from staying engaged rather than stepping away when things feel uncomfortable.

Clients often tell us that one of the most valuable things we do is help them stay on the ride. Not because there are guarantees. There are not. But because perspective matters. When you zoom out and look across decades rather than days, the long-term story of investing has been one of resilience and growth.

That perspective is deeply embedded in our culture. It shapes how we invest, how we advise, and how we support clients through both calm and turbulent moments.

Hill Investment Group is only 20 years old, but we are grounded in values and relationships that allow us to do our work with care, humility, and conviction. When we have moments to come together as a team, we try to use them intentionally to reinforce who we are and how we think.

We’re grateful to share this journey with you, and we look forward to continuing the ride together.

Happy Holidays.