As the final months of 2025 come into view, it’s natural to revisit the goals you set back in January. The year often speeds up this time of year—with family, travel, and commitments pulling in different directions—making it even more valuable to pause and check in.

Did you commit to saving more, refining your estate plan, or establishing a charitable giving strategy? Maybe you wanted to align your spending with what matters most. Wherever you stand, this is a good time to take stock and finish the year with focus.

At Hill Investment Group, we believe meaningful progress comes less from grand gestures and more from steady, intentional steps. Goals left unattended can linger and create stress. Addressing them now, even in small ways, can bring clarity and momentum into the new year.

Here are a few areas to consider before year-end:

Revisit your plan to confirm it reflects your current stage of life and any significant changes since January—such as retirement, the birth of a child or grandchild, or an inheritance. Even small adjustments, like reviewing account allocations or rebalancing, can help keep your plan aligned with your long-term objectives.

An up-to-date will, trust, or power of attorney helps ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are cared for. If your documents are out of date, this may be a good time to refresh them. We’re glad to coordinate with your legal team as part of your broader planning process.

Year-end is often a time when families think about giving. Tools such as donor-advised funds or direct contributions can help support the causes you value. Depending on your circumstances, certain strategies may also provide tax advantages.

If your income allows, consider reviewing contributions to retirement accounts before year-end, especially if you have a company match in a 401(k) or access to a Roth IRA. Even incremental increases may help keep you on track toward your long-term savings goals.

Finishing your 2025 goals isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Each thoughtful step you take builds confidence and strengthens your foundation for the years ahead.

If you find your goals overwhelming, or you’re unsure where to start, remember: you don’t have to go it alone. We’re here to help you simplify, focus, and take the long view.

You’re invited to email the team here.

This is an ad we’d be proud to run in the Wall Street Journal, or anywhere, for that matter, because it’s the truth.

However, we’re only seeking to help a handful of new, special families each year…not tens of thousands. So, rather than charge higher fees to our clients to pay for expensive ads, we’ve been blessed with your help in achieving over 20 years of highly successful, selective growth through your heartfelt and warm introductions to family, friends, and those you care about who’ve become part of the Hill Family. Thank you!

As you celebrate along with us, if there’s someone special you’d like to help and think might be a good fit, please reach out to me.

Not ready for that? We’d be happy to send them a copy of Odds On so they can learn more about our “Take the Long View” philosophy, evidence-based investing, and values.

Many of the people we work with tell us they value not just our diligence and professionalism, but also the personal touch and team chemistry that make working together feel special. In that spirit, we’re pulling back the curtain to share what’s been on our bookshelves lately and why these titles resonated with us. Think of it as an open invitation to browse, discover, and maybe even find your next great read or a thoughtful gift.

Let’s start with my suggestion:
Odds On: The Making of an Evidence-Based Investor by our own Matt Hall is a thoughtful overview of our evidence-based approach, how it reflects academic insights, and how it contrasts with more traditional investing methods.

You may have read it at some point over the past decade, but your friends and family—especially the next generation of investors who were too young when it debuted in 2016—may not have had the chance.

If you or someone you know would like to explore our investing philosophy, we’re happy to share a complimentary copy. There’s no cost or obligation. It’s simply a resource we’re proud to pass along. Just email me and we’ll send one your way. Short on time or attention? Email me for a two-page summary. Prefer audio or Kindle? Those versions are available too.

Now, onto more team favorites for you to explore:

I’ve been leaning hard into fiction lately and found some real gems. Pachinko is an epic family story set in Korea and Japan, surprising and moving in how it explores generational identity. Tom Lake is a beautifully written portrait of family and choices that shape a life. The Night Circus—magical realism, stunning imagery, and an immersive mystery—is pure escape. My latest nonfiction read was Good Morning, Monster: powerful real-life stories of resilience that stay with you.

In fiction, I recently reread A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a timeless favorite. I also enjoyed The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post (a great example of someone who took the long view). The Favorites is a story about figure skaters I picked up for nostalgic reasons—think The Cutting Edge. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women scratched my historical fiction itch. On the nonfiction side, The Anxious Generation has been especially helpful as a mom looking to support calm and confidence in my kids.

Going Infinite (by Michael Lewis) offers a fascinating look at Sam Bankman-Fried and the broader crypto narrative. It’s a complex profile of someone who became a central figure in one of the biggest financial stories of the decade. For fiction, Project Hail Mary (by the author of The Martian) was a standout, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow might be one of the best books I’ve read in a while. For a lighter beach read: Nora Goes Off Script.

Good Morning, Monster was a recommendation from Matt, and it’s now one of my top five books. It shares a therapist’s most difficult cases—dark, yes, but incredibly insightful. It helped me appreciate how much childhood experiences shape adult life.

A fiction book I recently loved is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It follows two childhood friends who reconnect in college and begin designing video games together. What stood out most was the deep, complex relationship between the two main characters, intimate without being romantic. It was refreshing and emotionally rich.

My favorite nonfiction book is Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. It tells the gripping true story of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarctic expedition, where his crew endured an unimaginable struggle for survival after their ship was crushed by ice. It’s an unforgettable story of leadership and perseverance.

We’d love to hear what you’re reading, too. If you have a book you’d recommend, please send it our way, along with a short note about why you loved it. With your permission, we may feature your suggestion in an upcoming issue of the Monthly Journal.