On 31 December 2025, Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway after six decades with the company. The so-called “Oracle of Omaha” retired at age 95 as a billionaire and one of the ten richest people in the world.
Throughout his career, he delivered some timeless lessons on finance and investing that will resonate into his retirement and long after he is gone.
As geopolitical tension continues to cause stock market volatility in the first three months of 2026, here are just five Buffett lessons that help you to stay calm and focused on your long-term investment goals.
1. “If you aren’t thinking about owning a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes”
This oft-quoted line came from one of the annual letters that Buffett wrote to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders from 1965 onwards.
While Forbes estimated his wealth to total around $146 billion (as of 11 March 2026), his financial journey began with a single stock purchase.
From then on, patience was key. In fact, Buffett is also quoted as saying that “The stock market is a device to transfer money from the impatient to the patient”.
Bear this in mind when news headlines are dominated by global unrest and market volatility, and remember that Jane Smith is always on hand to provide help and reassurance.
2. “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”
If you find your patience or focus wavering, this investment metaphor might prove useful. As with the above quote, it teaches the importance of patience and that great things can grow from small beginnings.
The same is true of your investments. Remain in the markets even when times are hard, and your money will benefit from investment growth and the effects of compounding. Remaining patient and focused on the long term also means your fund will benefit when markets recover from short-term blips.
3. “Rule number one is never losing money. Rule number two is never forget rule number one”
An important part of patient investment is not cashing out when markets fall. Doing so simply turns a paper loss into a real one and means that your money won’t be there to benefit from the recovery that history tells us will follow.
The general trend of markets is upward, so remember that a fall in market value isn’t a loss until you sell at a loss.
Remember too that your investments are diversified to spread risk. This means that even if an attention-grabbing headline reports a fall in one asset class, sector, or region, this is unlikely to equate to the same size fall in your wealth.
4. “Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing”
Investment carries inherent risk, but with that risk comes the chance of greater returns than you might expect to receive from savings. The important thing is to manage that risk.
That means understanding your investment goals and timeframes, as well as your risk profile and capacity for loss.
We can help here, and having these conversations early is key to setting you on the right financial path to your objective. We’ll then keep track of your investments to ensure they remain aligned with your goals and profile and let you know of any changes that might be needed.
As finance professionals, we’ll keep an eye on global markets, leaving you with peace of mind that your money is in safe hands, and free to enjoy your wealth and life now.
5. “Do not save what is left after spending; instead, spend what is left after saving”
Finally, when you’re building wealth for the future and juggling household budgets in the present, you’ll have heard us give our advice before: pay your future self first.
The origin of this phrase is actually a 1926 book by George S. Clason called The Richest Man in Babylon. In this book, Clason gave financial lessons based on ancient parables. The Oracle of Omaha has something to say on this topic, too.
A solid financial plan will allow you to live the life you want to now while saving for your ideal future. But to enjoy peace of mind now, you’ll need to know that you’re working towards your goals, and that’s where paying your future self first, and budgeting with what remains, comes in.
Get in touch
If you’re looking for an independent financial adviser in Milton Keynes or Olney, look no further. At Jane Smith Financial Planning, we’ve been helping clients for 30 years, so contact us at info@janesmithfinancial.com or call 01234 713131 to see what we can do for you.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
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