We are officially opening the search for a new Administrative Assistant. We need your help keeping an eye out for someone exceptional who might be a good fit for our team. Interested in learning more? Watch this video for some thoughts on our culture at Hill Investment Group and then contact me for a job description. We hope to identify the ideal candidate within the first quarter of 2015.

Want to know what others in our industry say about how much impact the ideal assistant can make? Click here to read this story from ThinkAdvisor…

Using data and evidence to make better decisions is one of our foundational beliefs, yet some of the sports world is just finally catching on.

The May episode of 60 Minutes Sports on Showtime looks at the use of analytics in the NBA. The episode features the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and shows how data is helping teams make better decisions about players and players make better decisions on the court.

Much like when traditional investment wisdom was turned on its head, the NBA has learned that it’s not always the highest vertical jump, the fastest dribbler or the most slam dunks that indicate the best recruit or combination of players. As their understanding of the data continues to evolve, it helps coaches and owners make more informed decisions for the long run.

You can watch a trailer of “The Revolution of Sports Analytics” report or Showtime subscribers can watch the full episode (Episode 5) OnDemand or via Showtime. More information and links are available here.

I often find inspiration in charities that demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and make a real difference early on in their lifespan; imagine my pride when I witnessed that first-hand in a charity started by my own nephew, Newell Hill.

I was fortunate to participate in a local event last month hosted by his charity: Keys 4/4 Kids. They are founded on the principle that music inspires kids to believe in themselves, so they set out to promote arts education and mentorship through various efforts that connect kids with music. Newell founded the charity in 2000, working out of his parents’ basement. They’ve since grown to four retail locations where they sell donated pianos to fund their work with kids. In the picture above, you see me with Newell at St. Louis’ renowned Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital where children painted a Keys 4/4 Kids piano as part of The Ellen Project.