It’s never been easier or more overwhelming to get financial advice. Open your phone and you’ll likely see someone with a large following and bold opinions telling you what to do next with your money. Scroll your feed and it’s hard to miss: dramatic predictions, attention-grabbing “can’t-miss” trades, and influencers claiming to decode the secrets of building wealth.

Welcome to the age of the “finfluencer.” While some have genuine experience, many are focused on views, and not your best interest.

At Hill Investment Group, we believe that real advice should be simple, clear, and grounded in evidence, not hype. That’s why we’re launching a new series to unpack misleading ideas that circulate online or in print.

Our goal? To inform, not entertain. To offer substance, not speculation.

We won’t chase the latest trend. We’ll challenge it with patience, perspective, and real-world research. That’s because, when it comes to your financial future, having a long-term plan that is built on decades of data and thoughtful execution matters more than a viral headline.

We hope this series gives you and those you care about a steady hand in a noisy world. We’ll start next month with one of the most common (and flawed) ideas making the rounds today.

Heard something at work, at golf, or on social media that has you asking, “Should I be paying attention to this?”

Feel free to share it with us. We’d love to help unpack it. Submissions will remain confidential unless we get your permission to share anonymously. Send to: zenz@hillinvestmentgroup.com

Please note: Submissions are reviewed for educational purposes only and do not constitute personalized investment advice.

This month marks 20 years since we opened Hill Investment Group on June 6, 2005. What began as a bold idea between two friends has grown into a boutique firm serving clients in 34 states, with over $1 billion in assets under management (as of June 2025), and a talented team that now stretches from San Diego to Brooklyn.

It’s a milestone we’re proud of, and yet, we feel like we’re just hitting our stride. Our ambition today remains the same as it was at the outset: to become the leading boutique evidence-based firm in the country. That means earning your trust every day, guiding you through market swings, and standing with you through the milestones that matter most.

We’ll be celebrating this anniversary throughout the year, with reflections, lessons learned, and maybe even a few fun (non-investment!) predictions about what’s to come. If you’d like to hear how it all started, listen to this 2019 podcast episode where Rick Hill and I revisit our early days.

And here’s a favorite image from our recent team and family gathering—a reminder that what we’re building isn’t just a firm, but a community grounded in shared values and complementary skills.

Thank you for the continued trust you place in us. It’s a responsibility we’re honored to uphold.

When my husband and I got engaged, we did what most couples do—we planned a wedding, dreamed about our future, and tried to figure out how to merge two different systems of “doing money.” Somewhere between cake tastings and choosing a venue, we met with a pre-marital counselor. Of everything we talked about, one idea stuck with me:

“To most people, money is either power or security.”

Understanding which it is for you—and for your partner—can be the difference between financial tension and financial teamwork.

At Hill, we regularly walk couples through these kinds of conversations. Many of the couples we meet share core values (like a love for travel or a desire to raise a family), but are still working through the logistics of, “How do we actually combine this all?” and, “What shared values around money do we want to build from?”

In these discussions, we cover topics like:

• What should stay “yours,” what becomes “ours,” and what needs to remain “mine”
• How to build an emergency fund that feels safe and sufficient for both partners
• When it may make sense to pay down debt versus investing for the future
• Tax-efficient account structures and developing a clear savings strategy
• When to begin thinking about estate planning
• Planning for big goals like kids, real estate, or education

What we appreciate about these conversations is that they’re part financial planning, part real talk. We help couples organize their accounts and align their savings with their goals—but we also make space for the deeper stuff.

What does financial security look like to each of you? Who’s the natural saver, who’s the spender? Do you feel more confident when you can track every transaction—or does that stress you out?

Sometimes it takes a neutral third party to open the door to better understanding. In our experience, couples don’t usually argue about the numbers—they struggle to see each other’s financial values or life experiences clearly. And there’s research to support that insight. One study from UCLA found that couples who pooled at least some of their finances reported higher relationship satisfaction.¹ The researchers also noted that shared accounts may support transparency, reduce conflict, and promote long-term planning.

Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some couples prefer the simplicity of pooling everything. Others value some financial autonomy. Still others are blended families managing multiple generations, stepchildren, and pre-existing commitments. Wherever you fall, what matters most is being intentional—and finding a structure that reflects your reality and values.

As you might guess, we’re strong advocates of simplicity. Whether it’s consolidating accounts, automating savings, or establishing shared systems, simplicity creates clarity. And clarity opens the door to better conversations.

So if you—or someone you care about—could use help having these conversations or setting up better systems, know that we’re here. Whether it’s your first time talking openly about money, or your tenth, we’re ready to guide the conversation with care, curiosity, and a bias for action.

Taking the Long View together starts with a strong foundation—and a shared understanding of what money means to each of you.

Book a time to talk here.

¹ Pooling Finances and Relationship Satisfaction. Gladstone, Garbinsky & Mogilner (2018). Available via UCLA Anderson Review.

Disclosures:
The information provided herein is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice. Hill Investment Group (“Hill”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Readers should consult with their legal or tax professional regarding their individual circumstances.