With no savings at 30, I’d use Warren Buffett’s 3 golden rules to build wealth (2024)

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Bernd Struben

Bernd Struben earned his BA in economics from the University of Michigan in 1991, with post-graduate studies in environmental economics at the University of Connecticut. Over the years he’s written about and analysed the tourism industry in the Caribbean; Europe’s commercial real estate markets; and, since moving to Australia in 2010, global and Aussie share markets.

Bernd studies geopolitical and macroeconomic trends, alongside sector and company specific data, to gauge what he believes could be tomorrow's best investments.

In his free time, you might find Bernd at the beach with his family or working on his next science fiction novel.

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With no savings at 30, I’d use Warren Buffett’s 3 golden rules to build wealth (3)

Warren Buffett didn't start life as a billionaire.

In fact, the world's most famous investor started his career with minimal savings, just like most of us.

Yet these days the 93-year-old CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) has a personal fortune worth north of US$120 billion.

And he achieved this by consistently employing some surprisingly simple golden rules.

So, if I was 30 with no savings, here are three Warren Buffett investing principles I'd stick with to build wealth for my retirement.

Set a little aside each month…and don't lose it!

First, it's important to begin setting aside a little money every month to invest in the markets.

Second, Warren Buffett's prime rule is "don't lose money".

As he famously said, "Avoid anything that will not increase your purchasing power over time."

Now, not every investment I make (or that the Oracle of Omaha has made) will gain in value. But as Buffett also advises, "Minimize your mistakes, but learn from the ones you make."

Preserving the capital you have in the markets today is the key to watching it grow over time.

Remember, if I lose 50% of my investment in a certain stock, I'll need to gain 100% down the road just to break even again.

So, I'll be sure to do thorough research or secure some expert advice, before buying my ASX shares.

Warren Buffett doesn't overpay

The second Warren Buffett golden rule I'll be following is, "Never overpay for anything."

Atop preserving my investment capital, I obviously also want to see it grow.

Now an index tracking fund would have done pretty well this past year.

In 2023 the S&P/ASX 200 Index(ASX: XJO) gained 9.3%. And the S&P/ASX 200 Gross Total Return Index (ASX: XJT), which includes reinvested dividends, gained 13.9%.

But by following Buffett's rule of targeting undervalued assets, with strong management teams and "unbreachable moats", I'd aim to beat the annual ASX 200 returns to generate long-term wealth.

And I wouldn't ignore the opportunities on offer in the United States markets either. Berkshire's top holding, after all, is Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), which has gained 419% over the past five years.

Time in the markets

Which brings us to the third Warren Buffett investment rule I'd follow to build my retirement wealth.

Time.

Buffett built his fortune by first achieving inflation-busting annual returns and then compounding these gains over many years. Since 1965 the Oracle of Omaha has delivered annualised returns of 19.8%. That's double the 9.9% gains from theS&P 500 Index(INDEXSP: .INX) over this same period.

The good news here is that regardless of my lack of savings, at 30 I'd have a lot of time to let the magic of compounding work in my favour.

Just what kind of magic are we talking about here?

Well, if I start with nothing and begin investing just $200 a month in the markets, and manage to achieve returns in line with what Warren Buffett has delivered, that will see me with $4.45 million in 30 years.

Time for an early retirement, perhaps?

With no savings at 30, I’d use Warren Buffett’s 3 golden rules to build wealth (2024)

FAQs

What is Warren Buffett's golden rule? ›

Buffett's headline rule is “don't lose money” and his second rule is “don't forget rule one”. This might sound obvious. Of course, it is. But it's important to look at the message within.

How to build wealth by Warren Buffett? ›

Warren Buffett's Advice

Buffett shared his advice during an interview with CNBC, in which he suggested that savers should continually buy shares in an S&P 500 index fund, and simply keep buying it “through thick and thin, especially through thin.”

What is the rule never lose money Buffett? ›

Warren Buffett 1930–

Rule No 1: never lose money. Rule No 2: never forget rule No 1. Investment must be rational; if you can't understand it, don't do it. It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked.

What is the basis of Warren Buffett's wealth? ›

His fortune is largely tied to his investment company.

The vast majority of Buffett's net worth is tied to Berkshire Hathaway, his publicly traded conglomerate that owns businesses like Geico and See's Candies and holds multibillion-dollar stakes in companies like Apple and Coca-Cola.

What is Warren Buffett's number one rule? ›

Buffett is seen by some as the best stock-picker in history and his investment philosophies have influenced countless other investors. One of his most famous sayings is "Rule No. 1: Never lose money.

What is the Warren Buffett 70/30 rule? ›

A 70/30 portfolio is an investment portfolio where 70% of investment capital is allocated to stocks and 30% to fixed-income securities, primarily bonds.

What is Warren Buffett's best financial advice? ›

Buffett has long advised most investors to use index funds to invest in the market, rather than trying to pick individual stocks. By picking individual stocks you're working against the pros who have extensive intelligence on companies.

Can I ask Warren Buffett for money? ›

Warren Buffett typically does not give money to individuals, although he frequently donates to charities. However, he has in the past forwarded individual requests for money to his sister, Ms. Doris Buffett, who operates an organization called the Sunshine Lady Foundation.

What does Warren Buffett read daily? ›

I read annual reports, and I read a lot of other things, too. So, I've always enjoyed reading. I love reading biographies, for example.” – Warren Buffett. So Buffett says he reads around 5-6 hours daily, including newspapers, magazines, 10Ks, annual reports, and biographies.

How to stay poor by Warren Buffett? ›

Warren Buffett: 12 Things Poor People Squander Money On
  1. Neglecting Personal Development. ...
  2. Relying On Credit Cards. ...
  3. Frequenting Bars and Pubs. ...
  4. Chasing the Latest Technology. ...
  5. Overspending on Clothes. ...
  6. Buying New Cars. ...
  7. Unused Gym Memberships. ...
  8. Unnecessary Subscription Services.
Apr 22, 2024

What will never lose value? ›

"A diamond retains its value because there is a finite supply," he said. "The basic laws of supply and demand maintain that as demand increases, value goes up. With lab-grown diamonds, there is an ever-growing supply but not an overwhelming demand.

Is Warren Buffett actually frugal? ›

But there's more to this American business magnate than just his job. Despite his roughly $116.7 billion net worth, according to Forbes, the fifth-wealthiest man in the world enjoys a life of simple taste, frugal living and generous philanthropy.

What are the Warren Buffett's first 3 rules of investing money? ›

What are Warren Buffett's biggest investing rules?
  • Rule 1: Never lose money. This is considered by many to be Buffett's most important rule and is the foundation of his investment philosophy. ...
  • Rule 2: Focus on the long term. ...
  • Rule 3: Know what you're investing in.
Mar 6, 2024

What are Warren Buffett's 5 rules of investing? ›

Here's Buffett's take on the five basic rules of investing.
  • Never lose money. ...
  • Never invest in businesses you cannot understand. ...
  • Our favorite holding period is forever. ...
  • Never invest with borrowed money. ...
  • Be fearful when others are greedy.
Jan 11, 2023

What are the 4 golden rules investing? ›

In conclusion, the 4 golden rules of investment - start early, watch out for costs, stick to your goals, and diversify - collectively play a crucial role in building a resilient and rewarding investment portfolio. By starting early, investors can benefit from compounding returns over time.

What is the Buffett's two list rule? ›

Buffett presented a three-step exercise to help streamline his focus. The first step was to write down his top 25 career goals. In the second step, Buffett told Flint to identify his top five goals from the list. In the final step, Flint had two lists: the top five goals (List A) and the remaining 20 (List B).

What is Warren Buffett's 90 10 rule? ›

Warren Buffet's 2013 letter explains the 90/10 rule—put 90% of assets in S&P 500 index funds and the other 10% in short-term government bonds.

What is the #1 rule of investing? ›

1 – Never lose money. Let's kick it off with some timeless advice from legendary investor Warren Buffett, who said “Rule No. 1 is never lose money.

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