Featured entries from our Journal

Details Are Part of Our Difference

Embracing the Evidence at Anheuser-Busch – Mid 1980s

529 Best Practices

David Booth on How to Choose an Advisor

The One Minute Audio Clip You Need to Hear

Tag: Hillfolio

New Video – PJ McDaniel

 

When a new client starts their relationship with Hill Investment Group, we ask what made them select us. Often responses are some version of, “We were told you really care, and our meetings with you confirmed that you do.” We agree and are thankful. We really do care, and PJ McDaniel is the person in charge of demonstrating our intentions with new families. Take two minutes to watch PJ McDaniel’s video. I bet you’ll feel how much PJ wants to help families get the kind of financial guidance they deserve…and have been in search of.

It’s hard to imagine someone more likable than PJ. He’s a partner in our firm, leads our business development efforts, and is known for his positive focus. PJ estimates that he’s met over 8,000 advisors through his prior career. He’s said that he picked the best firm of the bunch when he joined HIG. It’s nice of him to say, but we’re the lucky ones. There is no better person to introduce new families to our evidence-based investment philosophy and Take the Long View approach. I’m proud to call PJ my business partner and hope that you consider him as your partner as well.

If you want to get to know PJ even better, set a time to talk or meet with him here.

Two Notifications Worth Caring About During a Volatile Market

While millions of people frantically check their smartphone notifications about the coronavirus disrupting the stock market, here are a few notifications that catch my attention.

These reminders are reassuring, especially when the 24-hour news cycle tempts us to hit the panic button. Most importantly, they keep me focused on things that I can control. In this case, my investment accounts have been busy taking advantage of the volatility in the stock market by using intelligent portfolio management.

Let’s quickly break down both of these notifications:

The first alert I received was for tax-loss harvesting, which is a nerdy term for converting market downturns (such as the one we’re seeing right now) into tangible tax savings. When properly applied, tax-loss harvesting turns your financial lemons into lemonade. A successful tax-loss harvest lowers your tax bill without substantially altering or impacting your long-term investment outcomes.  

The second alert I received was for rebalancing – also known as buying what’s cheap in the market and making sure my overall risk profile, also known as my asset allocation, is on target. This happens automatically—and without additional fees. It’s the investing equivalent of having your GPS re-route your trip to maximize efficiency.

These are the little things that add up over time. In fact, last month we posted a popular article titled “No Tipping on Taxes” which explores how important tax-loss harvesting is to avoid paying unnecessary taxes. No one likes to be surprised by a larger-than-expected tax bill.

In times like these you need to focus on the things you can control (automating your portfolio management) and avoid worrying about the things you can’t control (fear-mongering news alerts). In fact, the smartest financial decision you make could be putting your phone away. If you’re curious about how these simple yet important investment management tools could help you during this period, schedule a short call with us here.

Transferring Assets is Easier Than You Think

In my experience, most people are reluctant to speak to a new advisor. Often, the hesitation is rooted in logistics: the obligatory transition process involving opening accounts and selling their assets sounds daunting. As part of our Hillfolio service level, we’ve built out a sweet start-to-finish process of setting up an account, approving asset transfers, and, most importantly, setting up a monthly contribution. It generally takes about 25 minutes – less time than it takes to watch an episode of your favorite Netflix show. You can set up your account securely and seamlessly from your phone or with a couple clicks of your computer mouse. We are always here to make this process feel effortless for you, every step of the way.

The process boils down to these 4 simple steps

  1. Answer a few straightforward questions so we can understand your current situation and future goals,
  2. Choose the account(s) you want to open,
  3. Electronically sign a form that gives us permission to transfer your assets into a low cost globally diversified portfolio of nearly 13,000 companies,
  4. Set up a monthly contribution that aligns with your budget and goals,

No paper. No 800 numbers. No sales gibberish. No hidden fees. We’ll also set you up with our app so you’ll get a notification when we rebalance your portfolio (at no extra charge). 

Ready to talk? Just pick a time on this calendar.

Featured entries from our Journal

Details Are Part of Our Difference

Embracing the Evidence at Anheuser-Busch – Mid 1980s

529 Best Practices

David Booth on How to Choose an Advisor

The One Minute Audio Clip You Need to Hear

Hill Investment Group