A life in balance: Napa singer/songwriter Forrest Hill also works as a meditation teacher and financial planner
Napa singer/songwriter Forrest Hill didn’t always have it easy.
“I had a hard time in school when I was young,” said Hill. “Music was the thing that kept me grounded.
“I wasn’t the most popular kid” Hill added. “Music also served that sort of psychological thing of just allowing me to be creative and to meet people who had similar interests.”
Music also helped Hill get through rough times in high school. He recalls his earliest memories of being drawn to music.
“I discovered guitar pretty early,” said Hill. “There wasn’t a lot of music in my house, but I had a lot of friends that played music.
“Back then, guitar was the thing. Learning to play the guitar was a good way to make friends.”
Sometimes, there can be a song or an album that particularly hits home for someone. Hill had an album by Cat Stevens at his house that he deeply resonated with.
“I loved it as a kid,” said Hill. “I wanted to learn those Cat Stevens songs and that sort of became the beginning,”
Hill’s newest album, “Beyond the Veil,” came out July 11.
On the album, Hill looks at things from a sociological standpoint. He believes that as difficult as life can be, “it’s important to care for ourselves and like each other.” The overarching theme of the album is a combination of self-love and self-care as well as a belief that humans need to possibly take some responsibility for society.
Hill has his opinions about what’s going on in the world right now, and some of the stuff that’s happening is challenging for him. On the album, he wants to suggest that we can’t lose hope during difficult times and that it’s important “to believe that we can make change even when things seem overwhelming.” He also feels it’s important to remember that “there’s a lot of good in the world” right now and that “we need to take care of ourselves.”
To learn more about Hill’s music, visit forrestofficial.com.
Hill’s work with Napa Valley Insight Meditation
If you thought being a musician was the only part of Hill’s life, you’d be proven drastically wrong.
Hill serves as a founding teacher and board member at Napa Valley Insight Meditation.
Hill describes Insight Meditation as a “community-based meditation group” that’s open to everyone of all skill levels, including those who have no experience with meditation.
Hill remembers what originally drew him to meditation.
“I drew originally to meditation because I suffered a lot from anxiety as a kid,” said Hill. “I really started practicing meditation early on when I was in college but the kind of meditation I do now I started seriously practicing about 20 to 25 years ago in Oakland.”
“I have always been an explorer of trying to understand myself,” continued Hill. “I think that mindfulness meditation gives us insights into who we are and perhaps some of the difficulties we face and how to face life in a more open and heartfelt way.”
Hill moved to Napa after 10 years in Oakland. When he arrived, he tried out different meditation groups but none of them “clicked” for him. Insight Meditation began with Hill starting a meetup and having meetings at his house every Wednesday. If people showed up, that was considered wonderful news. If no one showed up, Hill was still going to sit and meditate. A few people came at first but then “all the sudden, it got bigger” and eventually grew into what it is today.
To learn more about Napa Valley Insight Meditation including their weekly Tuesday evening and Thursday morning events, visit napainsight.org.
Hill’s work as a certified financial planner
The third key aspect of Hill’s multifaceted life is his work as a certified financial planner and portfolio manager at DeDora Capital, a registered investment advisor.
Hill got involved with Ralph Nader of the Green Party in 2000 and met his vice-presidential candidate, Peter Camejo, who did socially responsive investing. Camejo suggested to Hill that he should work for him and learn about investing. Hill wasn’t interested in it at first, but after working with Camejo and a couple different firms when he came to Napa, his interest grew.
“What I like the most is really just working with people directly,” Hill said. “I like helping people out with their finances.” Hill praises DeDora Capital as a “team-oriented place” that allows its employees to be who they are. He appreciates the ability to work with “some really amazing clients.”
According to Hill, DeDora Capital offers two kinds of investing: conventional investing and environmental social governance investing. The second of the two focuses on the impacts that companies have on the environment and society.
Hill’s work focuses on managing money to help people grow their assets so that they can meet their needs and have the ability to take care of themselves in retirement. There is a focus on how to invest and what the right kind of investments are depending on people’s goals and what they want to do with their lives. His work also focuses on figuring out what people’s goals are in their lives and how to help them meet their goals. Hill says there are always ongoing discussions with people because things come up in their lives.
“It’s always interesting to be able to delve into people’s problems and try to help them solve their problems,” said Hill. “That’s what I find the most interesting about my work.”
To learn more about DeDora Capital, visit dedoracapital.com.
Balancing all three roles
Hill’s life is so busy that it makes you wonder if it can get overwhelming being a musician, meditation teacher and financial planner all at the same time or if his schedule aligns itself in a way where he’s easily able to fit all 3 roles in.
“It hasn’t been that hard for me to juggle those things,” said Hill. “In fact, I find that doing all three of them and other things I’ve done in my life really support each other.”
Hill has always worked jobs and been involved with other things outside of his work. Music isn’t too stressful for him because he’s mostly just writing and recording. He also doesn’t perform out much anymore. He praises DeDora Capital for supporting a healthy work-life balance.
Hill thinks he wouldn’t be fulfilled if he was doing just one thing. He appreciates having something creative with music, technical with finances, and spiritual with meditation in his life.
“I think all of those things are a part of living a kind of holistic life,” said Hill.
Hill can be reached at forrestnvim@gmail.com.
