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.

—

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

We are thrilled to announce that our CIO, Matt Zenz, is officially joining our leadership team and becoming a partner. Matt’s extensive experience in our evidence-based approach to investing makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership team.

Matt has an impressive background in systematically managing assets across multiple strategies. His career includes significant roles such as Chief Investment Officer at Hill Investment Group (past 3 years), Product Specialist at Stone Ridge Asset Management, and Portfolio Manager at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he managed over $80 billion in U.S. small and mid-cap equity assets.

Matt holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the Ohio State University, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s degree in both Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. His academic accomplishments are bolstered by his practical experience in and deep knowledge of multi-factor investing and asset pricing.

Throughout his career, Matt has been dedicated to engaging with clients, ranging from sophisticated institutional investors to families and individuals. His ability to clearly communicate and implement our research-based approach has been instrumental in building strong client relationships with clients and HIG teammates. 

When asked about why Matt loves his work and what it means to him he said “I care about and seek truth in all things – I just happen to love doing that most within investing. Helping clients find that truth about their financial situation brings me great satisfaction.”

Matt will continue to leverage his extensive expertise and leadership skills as a partner to drive our firm’s mission of delivering exceptional evidence-based investment solutions. His addition as partner marks not just a new chapter but a potential turning point for Hill Investment Group as we strive to enhance the quality of our services and help achieve your long-term goals.

Please join us in celebrating Matt Zenz as our third partner!

(Matt Hall and Nell Schiffer are the other firm leaders and owners) 

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from Matt and the rest of our team as we strive to excel in serving our clients and the broader financial community!