Turbulent markets are a great reminder to practice one of our key tenets: focus on what you can control. 

I was reminded of this when we had a recent dinner with family visiting from out of town.  We had just shared a great meal from our favorite Chinese restaurant, and everyone opened their fortune cookie. 

My wife opened hers to reveal a timely statement:

“Don’t worry about the stock market. Invest in family.”

Outstanding advice!

No. Hill hasn’t left data and evidence behind to encourage reliance on fortune cookie advice or predictions to invest your money! However, it just may provide a common-sense reminder. In this case, when the world may be spinning a bit fast, embrace your family even more. And take the long view.

At Hill Investment Group, we often say that real financial planning isn’t about being exactly right today—it’s about being less wrong tomorrow.

That may sound strange coming from a team grounded in evidence, logic, and long-term thinking. But we also know life doesn’t follow a straight line. That’s why we believe the most valuable part of financial planning isn’t the plan itself—it’s the process of ongoing planning.

Carl Richards, a friend and fellow long-term thinker, offers a great analogy we love to share:

Airline pilots prepare a flight plan before every trip. Yet when asked how often the flight goes exactly according to that plan, the answer is: rarely.

Course corrections are built into the process because the unexpected is expected. Weather changes. Winds shift. But the destination remains the same—and they keep adjusting until they land safely.

The same principle applies to your financial life. We build your plan using the best data available—making thoughtful assumptions about returns, taxes, inflation, goals, and more. But the moment the plan is complete, we know one thing for sure: it will be wrong. We just don’t know how yet.

That’s not a flaw. It’s reality.

Real planning is what happens next. It’s the process of revisiting, refining, and adjusting—so you can stay on track, even when the world around you changes.

That’s why our team is here: not just to build your plan, but to keep you flying steady all the way to your destination.

Take the Long View.

Earlier this month, Hill Investment Group team members joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony for an education center for elementary school students at a small, private inner-city school. This new facility, dedicated to advancing children’s education, was made possible by the generosity of one of our client families. Their contribution honors the wife’s lifelong commitment to supporting education and ensures the school’s mission will thrive for years to come.

This inspiring moment reflects what we call “taking the long view.” By investing in the future, this family is creating opportunities for children today and for future generations—many of whom they will never meet.

The event marked the culmination of years of thoughtful planning and goal-setting. Once their financial goals were secure for themselves and their children, this couple asked themselves, “How can we use our resources to benefit others?” For them, this school was the perfect partner to bring their vision to life while aligning with its mission.

If you’re dreaming about how a charitable gift could make a lasting impact on an organization close to your heart, let’s connect. Together, we can explore ways to turn your aspirations into reality.