In 2025, 94-Year-Old Investment Sage Warren Buffett Leaves Us With 10 Final Pieces of Advice
Just a few days ago, the small town of Omaha in the central United States was once again packed with people from all over the world. The annual Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting had begun. But this year’s event felt a little different—because the star of the show, the 94-year-old "Oracle of Omaha" Warren Buffett, is finally retiring.
Although Buffett is stepping down, he did not hold back at this final meeting. Over four hours, he answered every question thrown his way, speaking candidly on everything from trade wars and dollar risks to artificial intelligence and advice for the younger generation. A man who has grown his wealth through nearly a century of market ups and downs surely possesses wisdom about life, money, and the world that is worth learning from.
Today, I’ve distilled 10 key insights from over 50,000 words of transcripts and detailed reports—practical truths that could be truly valuable for ordinary people. Let’s start with one of the hottest topics: tariffs.
1. Trade Wars Burn Everyone, Especially Ordinary People
When you hear about “trade wars” or “tariffs,” you might think it’s just political maneuvering between countries, far removed from your everyday life. But the impact is real and close to home.
Online shopping gets pricier. Domestic goods become more expensive due to rising raw material costs. Friends and family in manufacturing complain about declining orders. When a government uses tariffs as a weapon, it disrupts the global supply chain that took years to build, reducing efficiency and raising costs. And who foots the bill in the end? The everyday consumer.
Buffett strongly criticized trade protectionism this year, emphasizing that trade should not be weaponized. Once trust between nations is broken, rebuilding it is incredibly difficult.
2. Your Money Might Be Quietly Losing Value
Buffett, typically optimistic about the U.S. economy, admitted a rare concern this time: "The U.S. fiscal situation scares me."
Governments spending more than they earn often resort to printing money. When too much money chases too few goods, the value of money drops—this is inflation. And when the dollar, still the world’s dominant currency, loses value, its ripples affect every corner of the globe, including us.
His message: understand inflation and manage your wealth wisely. Wealth isn’t about how many zeros you have, but what your money can actually buy.
3. Don’t Touch What You Don’t Understand
The world is changing fast—AI, Web3, new technologies sprout daily, tempting people with "hot" opportunities.
Buffett remains cautious: “I don’t base my investments entirely on AI.” Instead, he relies on trusted experts within his company for such areas. He refuses to dabble in anything outside his “circle of competence.”
If even Buffett avoids what he doesn’t fully understand, we should too. Not because he’s outdated, but because making blind bets is often a costly mistake.
4. Patience Is Not an Excuse for Hesitation
People often associate Buffett with "patience," but he clarifies: patience isn’t about being indecisive.
He told a story from 1966, when he was offered a highly profitable business for a bargain price. Despite initial hesitation, once he had enough information, he acted immediately.
His point: in your field of expertise, you must be ready to act swiftly when real opportunities arise. Patience is for waiting, not delaying once the moment is right.
5. Slow Wealth Is Smart Wealth
Many chase instant riches. Buffett believes: “You only need to get rich once.” In other words, don’t take reckless risks.
Wealth built slowly and steadily is more reliable. The path of compounding returns—time and discipline—is safer than chasing short-lived hype. Whether it's investing, creating content, or entering a growing industry like elder care, the key is long-term value.
He has always preferred the "snowball" method: start small, build steadily.
6. Find Work Worth Your Devotion
Buffett advises young people: don’t obsess over your starting salary. If you're only working for money, you're just renting your time. But if you work for love, you're investing your life.
He himself, despite being a billionaire, still joyfully goes to the office every day. Money is important, but loving your work gives you energy that money can't buy.
7. Surround Yourself With People You Admire
“Birds of a feather flock together.” Buffett encourages young people to stay close to those they aspire to be like.
When you’re around driven, intelligent, and kind people, you’ll rise to their level. The average of your five closest relationships often reflects your own quality. Your friends shape your future.
8. Curiosity Keeps Your Mind Young
Even at 94, Buffett remains sharp. Why? Because of his endless curiosity.
He emphasized to a 13-year-old at the meeting: curiosity is key. Once you stop being curious, your mind starts aging. But curiosity must be paired with action—read, ask questions, think deeply.
He praises his partner Charlie Munger for digging into subjects thoroughly. Real understanding comes from study, not surface-level skimming.
9. Happiness Comes From Perspective
Asked about how to deal with tough times, Buffett replied honestly: bad things always happen—focus on the good.
Despite all the ups and downs in his life, he chooses to be grateful for what he has. Even being able to drink his favorite Coke at 94 is a joy.
He reminds us: compare to history, and you’ll realize we’re already lucky to live in this era. Much unhappiness stems not from lacking, but from endless wanting. Shift your focus from what's missing to what you already have.
10. Your Name Is Your Most Valuable Asset
Buffett once said: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation, and five minutes to ruin it.”
Money can be earned back. But trust—once lost—is nearly impossible to recover. Berkshire Hathaway earns unique opportunities because of its integrity and credibility, built over decades.
His successor Greg Abel reaffirmed that the company will always prioritize reputation over profits. In the end, your character determines how far you go.
Final Thoughts
From his first stock purchase at age 11 in 1942 to today, Buffett has seen wars, bubbles, crashes, and revolutions in tech. And yet, his advice still resonates in 2025.
Because while the world changes, human nature doesn’t. Technology evolves, but core values remain. Tools shift, but the essence of value creation stays the same.
Learning from Buffett isn’t about becoming the next Buffett—but about becoming the best version of yourself.
May his wisdom light your path forward.
