Ten years after Odds On was first published, Matt received a note from a fellow advisor that felt worth sharing.

Robert DeNovo, a private wealth advisor in Knoxville, wrote to say that he first came across the book through Dimensional, Larry Swedroe, or perhaps a recommendation that followed from both. However he found it, the impact stayed with him.

“Odds On, and later your podcast, was a catalyst to build a better experience for our clients. We, and they, are better for it.”

That says a lot.

Not because it is praise for the book, though we are grateful for that. It matters because it points to something bigger. The right ideas travel. They move from a book to a conversation, from one advisor to another, from a team meeting to a better client experience.

That was always the hope behind Odds On.

The book was written to make evidence-based investing easier to understand and easier to live with. It was never meant to be a technical manual. It was meant to help people see that a disciplined financial life does not have to be complicated. But it does require clarity, patience, and a willingness to let evidence guide the way.

Robert’s note also mentioned that when his team brought on a new associate, one of the first resources he shared was Matt’s podcast, especially the conversation with Danny Meyer. That detail felt fitting.

At Hill, we have always believed that the client experience matters as much as the advice itself. People need more than smart portfolios. They need a sense of calm. They need clear communication. They need a guide who helps them make better decisions when the stakes are high.

Odds On was never just about investing. It is about behavior, trust, and the kind of partnership that helps people stay focused on what matters.

Ten years later, it is meaningful to hear that those ideas still resonate with other advisors, with other teams, for other clients we may never meet. That is one of the best outcomes a book can have.

It keeps working.

It keeps traveling.

And, as Robert put it, people are better for it.

Thanks to Robert for allowing us to share his comments and for his support.

Request a copy of Odds On here.

Investing in People

Some people make an impact through their work. Others make an impact simply through the way they treat people. Rick and Lynn Hill have done both.

Many of you know Rick as the co-founder of Hill Investment Group and someone whose vision helped shape our firm into what it is today. Outside of HIG, Rick and Lynn have also spent years quietly supporting organizations that make St. Louis a stronger community.

The Hills have been longtime supporters of Lift for Life Academy, a St. Louis charter school focused on helping students and families through education, support, and opportunity. Last month, they were honored at Lift for Life Academy’s annual Fashion Show for their continued generosity and commitment.

Anyone who knows Rick and Lynn probably isn’t surprised by that recognition. What has always stood out to me about them is that their generosity is both genuine and personal. They care deeply about people, and they believe in showing up consistently over time. Not just a pop-in. In many ways, their support of Lift for Life reflects the same philosophy that has shaped Hill Investment Group for years: Take the Long View.

At HIG, we often talk about long-term thinking in the context of investing, but Rick and Lynn live that idea in a much broader way. They understand that the most meaningful things in life, strong relationships, thriving communities, and lasting change, are built slowly and intentionally over time.

While Rick is well known professionally, Lynn has clearly been an equal partner in their commitment to family, philanthropy, and community. In fact, Rick calls Lynn his “secret weapon.” Together, they have created a life centered around success, generosity, and stewardship.

We are proud to celebrate Rick and Lynn — not only as longtime clients and friends of the firm, but as people who continue to make St. Louis better by taking the long view in the ways that matter most.

If you’re interested in discussing ways to get more involved in your community, let’s talk.

Last month, we dedicated an issue of the journal to Odds On. As we were putting that together, I had a realization. The reason I’m actually here at Hill is because of this book I read years ago.

Before Hill, I worked at Dimensional Fund Advisors. That’s how I met Matt Hall, through a study group we were putting together of advisors who had an aptitude for media and marketing. In advance of that meeting, I read Odds On. What initially stuck out to me is how the book reads. It’s not a typical finance book. There’s no jargon. There are no equations. It’s simply a story about someone finding a better way to invest and building a firm that treats clients right.

Hill is a really special place. What is apparent to me now is that the values and the things that drew me into the firm years ago still ring true. The intentionality we put into every interaction. The hospitality we try to show our clients every step along the way.

Making the switch ultimately gave me the ability to use my CFP in a much more meaningful way. Rather than just focusing on investments, now I get to help and guide clients through some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Looking back, reading Odds On and meeting Matt felt relatively small at the time. Today it feels more monumental. It led me to where I am now, and it shaped the way I show up for this work and the way we want to treat clients every day here at Hill.