A Classic Approach to Modern Investing: 4D Wealth

I’m a simple guy, and I don’t think investing needs to be complicated. Sure, the math, contracts, and technology can get messy, but the philosophy? That’s straightforward. At Ridge Group Investments and Alpine Ridge Partners, we’re guided by a thesis that’s been proven time and time again: If you invest in good people, doing positive things for society, in an innovative way, the financial returns will be outsized.

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Others may call it ESG, impact investing, or double/triple bottom line. We just call it good business. It’s not about checking boxes or chasing buzzwords—it’s about long-term thinking and sticking to principles. Here’s how we break it down:

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Relationships Matter

The right people are everything. Businesses are just ideas until the right people make them real—creating products, serving customers, and solving problems.

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It’s not about building a 3 player NBA-style superteam; it’s about aligning people around a common goal and ensuring everyone shares in the success. That includes customers, employees, shareholders, and vendors. Supporting one group shouldn’t come at the expense of another. The system works best when everyone is taken care of.

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Example: Companies like Costco, Southwest Airlines, and Trinity International excel because they serve all their stakeholders. They take care of their people and, in return, achieve long-term financial outperformance.

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Positive Impact

This doesn’t have to mean saving the planet or idealistic visions of human potential. It can be simple. Our investments in auto parts and home organization aren’t world-changing, but they make life easier for people without causing harm.

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More importantly, these companies treat their employees, vendors, and customers with respect, creating environments where everyone thrives. Positive impact isn’t about grandeur—it’s about doing business the right way.

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Innovation or Bust

“If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse” says every high school football coach, they’re right. Improvement doesn’t require building the metaverse or inventing artificial general intelligence. It’s about showing up every day and striving to get 1% better. In business and investing, constant improvement is non-negotiable. Without it, you’re on a fast track to irrelevance.

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Financial Returns Are Lagging Indicators

The truth about great investments? They grow over time. We don’t look for hypergrowth companies destined to collapse if they aren’t flipped to someone else. We look for sustainable improvement—great people working together to build something that moves communities forward. This process takes time, constant monitoring, and a willingness to adapt. That steady march ultimately delivers the most durable financial performance.

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So, What’s 4D Wealth?

·??????? Relationships: Bet on talent and character, and treat people right.

·??????? Social Impact: Make the world better—just a little goes a long way.

·??????? Innovation: Get better every day.

·??????? Financial Returns: Great returns are results, not goals.

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That’s it. No magic formulas, no shortcuts—just principles and good, old-fashioned common sense. If you’re thinking, “Well, that sounds nice, but it’s not the real world,” take a look at the best-performing stocks of the S&P 500 over the decades. You’ll find these same elements at play.

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What principles guide your investing? Let me know in the comments—or, better yet, share this with someone who could use a bigger perspective.

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