At the end of the 1970s and the early 1980s, a decade of financial instability and high inflation rates led Warren Buffett to ponder the correct path forward for Berkshire Hathaway in his letters to shareholders. His solutions in those years could hold some valuable information for investors as we find ourselves once again in turbulent times.

While the financial, societal, and cultural contexts have drastically changed over the course of three and a half decades, the underlying business principles and inherent behavioral characteristics can offer insights into how wise investors can find success during times of uncertainty in the modern world.

This Vault episode offers us a glimpse into both the recent and not-so-recent past as Danielle considers how a post-pandemic world can benefit from Buffett’s wisdom following one of the most volatile decades of the 20th century. 

For help with protecting your investments in unstable markets, get your free copy of the Rule #1 Inflation-Ready Checklist: https://bit.ly/3yyrDdS

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing in companies that interest you can be more engaging and rewarding on a personal level, but it may not always align with long-term financial success. A core aspect of value investing lies in identifying companies that are undervalued but have strong potential for future growth, even if their business is less fascinating.

Additionally, aligning investments with personal values and the way you see the world ensures that your portfolio reflects your beliefs and principles. With a limited lifetime portfolio, it’s crucial to balance passion-driven investments with those that have a solid track record of stability and growth. It makes sense that many people are drawn to flashy consumer-facing businesses, but those aren’t necessarily the best move for every investor.

In this continuation of the utility of expert networks, Phil and Danielle discuss how and why value investors might place restrictions on their research process in order to find the best companies to buy, even if it doesn’t fully match their personal passions.

If you’re searching for the next business to add to your portfolio, click here for an assortment of Rule #1 investment calculators that can help you identify key metrics in your research process: https://bit.ly/3A57OeC

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

• SBA SCORE network

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you're trying to learn about an unfamiliar industry as part of your investing process, expert networks can be an incredibly helpful tool for getting started. These networks offer the opportunity to connect with people who have deep knowledge and experience in the industry, providing valuable insights into market trends and key players.

However, you're not guaranteed to get completely reliable or unbiased information, so it's important to stay prudent and do your own research to make well-informed investment decisions. The knowledge and advice coming from the person you speak to can depend on the caliber of vetting taking place or the hourly rate you’ll be asked to pay, so the value of these networks will change depending on the specifics of your own investing goals.

Listen in as Phil and Danielle discuss the merits and drawbacks of these networks, who they might be best suited to help, and where they’ll be taking this conversation in the weeks to come.

To get some expert help directly from Rule #1, make sure to grab your free copy of How to Pick Stocks: The 5-Step Checklist: https://bit.ly/3ros8mU

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever find yourself in the process of research and realize that you’re only looking for information that supports your hunches? That’s confirmation bias, and it’s a trap that value investors must learn to dodge as they investigate the next business to buy into.

With billions of dollars on the line at times, there’s no limit to what some people will do to see their companies achieve success, regardless of the ethics involved. Therefore, one of the best tools we can have in our toolbox is knowing how to spot red flags and steer clear of the deception and fraud that can fool even the savviest investor.

In this week’s episode, Phil and Danielle tell us how “being a reporter for your own newspaper” is not only among the more interesting aspects of investing, but why it can safeguard your portfolio and avoid costly missteps.

To know exactly where to start when researching companies to invest in, don’t miss out on your free copy of Phil’s Value Investing Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/3QeCCje

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

• Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To be a well-informed investor, it's crucial to read widely across various topics. This broad knowledge base enhances your ability to make strategic investment decisions by understanding industry dynamics, economic trends, and global events.

Investing involves betting on the future of the country where you place your money, making a comprehensive worldview essential for success. While some may dismiss those without formal education in a specific field, unconventional thinking can offer unique and valuable insights in the investment world.

On this week’s episode, Phil and Danielle take a look at the frontier economics of Daniel Boone, and how going outside the bounds of investing and finance can be a huge advantage for value investors.

To learn how to better plan, save, and invest at any age, click here for a free copy of Rule #1’s guide Map Out Your Investing Journey: https://bit.ly/3DTy4qN

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite all the mystique around investing, it essentially boils down to understanding the business you’re investing in and viewing it as owning a part of a real company, not just buying a stock. This tends to hold true no matter the company, the industry, or the state of the market as a whole.

Few investors have understood this as well as Warren Buffett and his team at Berkshire Hathaway. With Munger having recently passed and Buffett offering insights into his twilight years as the world’s premier value investing superstar, what does the future hold for BH with the potential for a huge shakeup in leadership?

This week finds our hosts back in the “studio” to discuss the question of succession planning at Berkshire Hathaway, and what that means for the value investor and the market at large.

For more knowledge from some of the most successful minds in value investing, click here for your free copy of The Best Investors in the World: https://bit.ly/3DhbmIS

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

• The Intelligent Investor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer is here, and the season of barbecues, block parties, and swimming pools may actually have more to offer for your investing practice than just a nice break from sitting in front of the computer.

In this week’s truncated “tidbit episode,” Danielle reminds us that every conversation can be an opportunity to dig a bit deeper into an unfamiliar subject, and that a good value investor keeps their eyes, ears, and mind open to the wealth of knowledge and perspective that comes from the people in their life.

To get a handle on your own investing practice for all 4 seasons, don’t miss out on your free copy of Phil Town’s 12-Month Financial Success Planner: https://bit.ly/45AP6Xh

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The market is a thrilling arena for investors in the internet age. Due to the previously unimaginable connectivity afforded to the public by the internet and social media, we’ve seen coordinated efforts by online investors who’ve used message boards to engineer short squeezes against hedge funds, like with the highly-publicized story surrounding GameStop.

A short squeeze occurs when investors betting on a stock's decline are forced to buy shares to cover their positions, driving the price up further. This phenomenon was vividly demonstrated with GameStop, causing substantial losses for hedge funds and prompting a regulatory response.

In this week’s throwback episode, we check back on the early days of the ongoing GameStop/Reddit saga to see where it all began.

To discover your investing weaknesses and learn how to manage your money smarter, click here to take the Rule #1 Investing Personalities Quiz:  https://bit.ly/468F8eW

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

• Chamath Palihapitiya interview

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world’s best investing minds have made fortunes that most people can barely dream of in their lifetimes, but having a successful portfolio doesn’t require the highest IQ, an office full of analysts, or access to top secret information.

Understanding your own strengths and being able to identify the fields that are of interest to you are crucial components of a fruitful investing practice, and maintaining a limited scope in your research and analysis can help you maintain focus and avoid wasting energy on superfluous data.

This week, Phil and Danielle take a look (and listen) to the latest Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting and discuss some key takeaways from one of value investing’s most important financial summits.

If you’d like to evaluate your investing knowledge, discover areas for improvement, and enhance your investment strategies, click here for the Rule #1 Investing IQ Quiz: https://bit.ly/3Faf7ks

Topics Discussed:

Resources Discussed:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices