Market volatility is back in the headlines, and if you’re feeling uneasy, you’re not alone. Over the past month, markets have given us another sharp reminder of what it means to be an investor. On April 2nd and 3rd, the S&P 500 fell a combined 10.7%—a drop that understandably triggered anxiety for some. And just when the idea of sitting on the sidelines might have felt tempting, the market turned on a dime. On April 9th, the S&P 500 gained 10.5% in a single day, quickly recapturing much of the prior decline.

That’s the market. It moves. Sometimes violently. In hourly bursts. Often unpredictably. And always in response to new information.

One of the best examples of this came on April 9th at 1:18 p.m. Eastern, when President Trump posted on Truth Social that he would lift tariffs on all countries other than China. Within ten minutes of that post, the S&P 500 had surged nearly 6%. Markets are incredibly efficient at digesting new information, whether it’s about trade policy, inflation, interest rates, or elections. The current price of a security reflects the consensus expectations of millions of participants, each with skin in the game.

So what should you do in the face of this kind of uncertainty?

Stick with your plan.

At Hill Investment Group, every client portfolio is built around a long-term strategy, not short-term noise. Your plan was designed with the understanding that markets will experience sharp moves, both up and down. We don’t pretend to know what tomorrow’s headlines will be or how the market will respond to them. What we do know—based on decades of data and mountains of research—is that markets are priced to deliver a positive expected return every single day. That’s why being in the market is so critical.

Missing just a handful of the best days has an outsized impact on long-term results. And as we just saw, those days often come immediately after the worst ones. Getting out and waiting “until the dust settles” may feel comforting, but it’s rarely profitable.

Global diversification is also part of the plan.
This year offers a good reminder of why. While the S&P 500 is down 9.7% year-to-date as of April 22nd, international developed and emerging markets are actually up 6.3%. No one can consistently predict which areas of the market will outperform in the short term. That’s why we build portfolios that don’t rely on a single country or asset class to deliver returns. Diversification ensures that when one area of the market struggles, others may pick up the slack. It’s not just about reducing risk—it’s about improving the odds of long-term success.

Instead of reacting to volatility, we encourage our clients to focus on what can be controlled—things that actually add value:

• Tax Loss Harvesting – When markets decline, we actively harvest losses to offset gains elsewhere in your portfolio. This reduces your tax bill while keeping you invested.
• Rebalancing – We monitor portfolios to ensure your exposure to risk remains aligned with your plan, buying when assets are down and trimming when they’ve run up.
• Staying the Course – Most importantly, we help you stay focused on the big picture. Financial goals aren’t achieved in a week or a month—they’re met over years and decades by maintaining discipline and a long-term perspective.

Trying to respond to every market move or every tweet is not an investment strategy. It’s gambling. It’s a recipe for regret.

So yes, volatility has returned. And no, we can’t predict what comes next. But we can control how we respond. And our response is grounded in evidence, backed by decades of research, and aligned with your goals.

We’re here to help you take the long view. That’s not just a tagline—it’s a philosophy that has helped our clients build and preserve wealth through all kinds of markets. And it’s one we continue to believe in today.

Stick with it.

Hill Investment Group is a registered investment adviser. Registration of an Investment Advisor does not imply any level of skill or training. 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.

Markets cranked up the drama in April—with back-to-back days that whipsawed the S&P 500 in both directions. It was a powerful reminder of how misleading short-term moves can be. This piece from Dimensional breaks down the numbers and underscores a lesson we live by: Taking the long view isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Read the full article

At Hill Investment Group, we’ve found that when a few clients ask similar questions, many more likely share the same curiosity. To better serve you, we’ll periodically feature this “Hey Hill” segment in our newsletter, addressing common client questions and explaining our perspective. To submit questions for future newsletters, email us at service@hillinvestmentgroup.com.

Tax season always feels like a scramble. Are there things we (or you) can be doing throughout the year to make it easier – and smarter?

At Hill Investment Group, we believe taxes aren’t just a once-a-year concern. They’re a year-round opportunity. While most people only think about taxes in the spring, we’re building strategies into your plan every day—so you’re not just reacting in April, you’re planning ahead with purpose.

Markets move. Headlines shift. But one thing we can control is how efficiently your portfolio is managed from a tax perspective. It’s a key part of Taking the Long View, helping you keep more of what you earn—not just this year, but every year.

How We Build Tax Efficiency into Your Plan

• Strategic Asset Location – Some investments generate more taxes than others, and where you hold them matters. We structure your portfolio to keep tax-inefficient assets in tax-advantaged accounts, reducing unnecessary tax drag.
• Tax-Loss Harvesting – When the opportunity arises, we strategically offset gains with losses—lowering your taxable income without disrupting your investment strategy.
• ETF Investing – ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) allow investors to defer most, if not all, capital gains taxes until they sell, helping avoid surprise tax bills.
• Tax-Advantaged Accounts – From IRAs and Roth conversions to HSAs, we help you maximize the long-term tax benefits of these accounts.
• Charitable Giving Strategies – Tools like donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), and appreciated stock donations allow you to give while staying tax-smart.
• Estate & Gifting Strategies – Thoughtful wealth transfer planning helps minimize estate taxes and ensures your legacy is passed on efficiently.

Making Tax Season Easier

Beyond these long-term strategies, we make tax season seamless by preparing tax packets with key reports and details your CPA needs. Because we work closely with your tax team, we help ensure that your investment and tax strategies are always aligned.

If you have questions about how tax planning fits into your financial picture, we’re here to help.

Taking the Long View means thinking ahead—about taxes and beyond.