Thursday

This week we found you 35 Warren Buffet related articles to read


Warren Buffett, Freak of Nature
Warren Buffett, Freak of Nature - The Motley Fool, 04 February 2014
The more I learn about Warren Buffett and other successful entrepreneurs and investors, the more convinced I am that their success can be replicated -- perhaps not to the same magnitude, but to a considerable extent nonetheless.

The key is to train your brain how to think. Buffett doesn't have a patent on value investing. It isn't proprietary. He's open and honest about the theoretical framework underlying his approach -- namely, that of Benjamin Graham and Philip Fisher -- and he discusses it at length in Berkshire Hathaway's annual report.
What distinguishes people like Buffett is how they make decisions. He, in particular, is a consummate rationalist. He approaches issues in a deliberate, calm, and dispassionate manner. And by doing so, his decisions aren't adulterated by the logical errors that obscure a less rational person's thought process.

How Buffett Manages Fear
Nothing illustrates this better than Buffett's philosophy toward fear. Everyone knows his saying to be "fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful." But what's less appreciated is how incredibly radical this advice is from a biological perspective.

In the whole scheme of things, modern humans are little more than well-accessorized cavemen -- think Fred Flintstone as opposed to George Jetson. Yes, we have houses and cars. Yes, we listen to music on our iPods and watch movies on our iPads. And, yes, medicine and other sciences have come a long way since our club-carrying days.
But the commonalities that we share with our ancient ancestors greatly outnumber the differences. And this is particularly true when it comes to the brain. "Our brains were simply not shaped by life in the world as we know it now, or even the agrarian world that preceded it," wrote Daniel Gardner in The Science of Fear.
They are the creation of the Old Stone Age. And since our brains really make us what we are, the conclusion to be drawn from this is unavoidable and a little unsettling. We are cavemen. Or cavepersons, if you prefer. Read more…

Warren Buffett's Acquisitions
Warren Buffett should bet a billion on Berkshire Hathaway - Seeking Alpha, 06 February 2014
Warren Buffett (BRK.B), the fourth richest person in the world-estimated at $53 billion, according to Forbes-is creating a sensation among NCAA basketball fans by offering a billion dollars to anyone who can predict the March Madness bracket perfectly.

The simple reason Warren Buffett will never buy an NFL Team - The Motley Fool, 01 February 2014
Warren Buffett doesn't own a sports team, and many have questioned whether he ever would. His answer on what investment in the sporting world he would make may surprise you.

Warren Buffett squares off with hedge funds over Dow Chemical - The Motley Fool, 30 January 2014
It's not very often that Warren Buffett gets in a beef with someone regarding the holdings in Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B). But the proposal made by Third Point hedge-fund CEO and activist investor Dan Loeb to spin off Dow Chemical's (NYSE: DOW) petrochemical manufacturing business didn't go over well with Buffett.

Why Warren Buffett would never buy Facebook - The Motley Fool, 27 January 2014
We are just weeks away from the latest report of what stocks Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has been buying and selling -- and one thing is certain: Facebook (NASDAQ: FB ) and Twitter (NYSE: TWTR ) will not be on his list.

Here's why Warren Buffett mostly avoids Tech Stocks - Wall St. Cheat Sheet, 25 January 2014
In addition to his impressive pile of wealth and wisdom, Warren Buffett is famously known for avoiding investments in industries he does not completely understand. The Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKA) CEO has managed to avoid peer pressure and the desire to find the next hot stock by simply investing in his circle of competence — a crucial lesson all investors should keep in mind.

1 Thing Warren Buffett's favourite stocks all have in common - The Motley Fool, 25 January 2014
When it comes to making an investment in a company, there is one thing Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway always looks to -- and it likely isn't what you think.

The 1 stock Warren Buffett will sell in 2014 - The Motley Fool, 12 January 2014
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett called his $6 billion 2008 investment in ConocoPhillips a "mistake of commission," that would cost the company billions in losses.
 Warren Buffett - The Investor
Why Warren Buffett won't sell out - The Motley Fool, 08 February 2014
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway lists 56 majority-owned companies in its portfolio. Some are relatively new, like a 2010 acquisition, Lubrizol. Some, however, have some age.

5 Hilarious Warren Buffett quotes from the turn of the Century - The Motley Fool, 06 February 2014
A lot has changed since 2000. Friends and Will and Grace are no longer two of the most popular comedies on TV, the St. Louis Rams are far from Super Bowl champs, and U.S. debt is just slightly higher than $5.6 trillion. But, if just one thing hasn't changed in 14 years, it's Warren Buffett's letter to Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders and Buffett's infinite wisdom.

Warren Buffett: The three things I look for in a person - The Motley Fool, 02 February 2014
Warren Buffett is known for picking great managers for Berkshire Hathaway's businesses, but how exactly does he find people he can trust?

You've got it all wrong. Here's the real story behind Warren Buffett's favorite stock - The Motley Fool, 02 February 2014
Berkshire Hathaway's top individual stock position is in Wells Fargo, that much is well known. But how it got to that spot is less well understood.

The Warren Buffett argument against paying dividends - Seeking Alpha, 30 January 2014
One of the main arguments that opponents of dividend investing make is that Warren Buffett has never paid dividends on Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B). He has managed to reinvest profits and buy more businesses and shares in publicly traded companies.

Fed may protect Warren Buffett as a National Treasure - Bloomberg, 24 January 2014
Should Berkshire Hathaway be designated a systemically important non-bank financial firm and subjected to Federal Reserve oversight, as the Financial Stability Oversight Council is considering? Oh I don't know. Obviously, insurers don't want to be subjected to Federal Reserve oversight.

Warren Buffett invests like a girl - The Motley Fool, 21 January 2014
Think the stock market is a man's domain? Think again. This video is from the recent Women's Investing Conference held at The Motley Fool headquarters in Alexandria, Va., which gathered women investors from all ages and walks of life to discuss how individual investors can get an edge on Wall Street and invest better.

Warren Buffett says these stocks won't make you rich - The Motley Fool, 19 January 2014
Warren Buffett is an excellent stock picker. But looking at his stock-picking success only shows half of his incredible skill. In Buffett's case, it's not about the stocks he picked. Often, it's about the stocks he didn't pick -- stocks he would never own.

Let Warren Buffett guide you on this Investment Vehicle - Wall St. Cheat Sheet, 13 January 2014
Warren Buffett has been investing in the stock market for more than 70 years. At only 11 years old, he made his first equity purchase — three shares of Cities Service Preferred. He sold early and made a small profit, but ultimately learned a lesson about patience as shares soared higher.

8 Hilarious Warren Buffett insights from the Ronald Reagan era – The Motley Fool, 13 January 2014
A lot has changed since 1984: Ronald Reagan isn't president, gas costs well more than a dollar per gallon, and Apple personal computers look considerably different. But, if just one thing hasn't changed in 30 years, it's Warren Buffett's letter to Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) shareholders.

Think Warren Buffett and Jay-Z don't have anything in common? Think again - The Motley Fool, 12 January 2014
At first glance, Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway and rapper Jay-Z are total opposites, but digging beneath the surface reveals the two are more similar than we could ever imagine.

Warren Buffett tells you how to turn $40 into $10 million - The Motley Fool, 07 January 2014
Warren Buffett is perhaps the greatest investor of all time, and he has a simple solution that could help an individual turn $40 into $10 million.

 General News
Warren Buffett reveals the biggest mistake we make when it comes to money - The Motley Fool, 08 February 2014
According to Warren Buffett, there are two simple and costly mistakes most of us make when managing our personal finances. Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is the third richest man on the planet, and knows a thing or two about success when it comes to money and investing.

Yahoo sued over Buffett's billion-dollar basketball bet - CNN Money, 03 February 2014
A small sweepstakes company in Dallas says the Internet Company owes it $4.4 million for backing out of a contest that would have paid $1 billion to anyone who correctly picked the entire NCAA men's basketball tournament. Sound familiar?

Warren Buffett's 'Cool' assistant at Berkshire Hathaway - Seeking Alpha, 31 January 2014
Warren Buffett has a rising young executive on his Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) team, the 29-year-old Tracy Britt Cool. Buffett hired Cool in 2009, just out of Harvard Business School, to look after a commercial real estate finance operation he had just purchased.

Berkshire Hathaway could be facing a Double-Whammy - The Motley Fool, 29 January 2014
Warren Buffett is kind of a big deal. But is his company too big to fail? Recent reports that the Fed is considering naming Berkshire Hathaway, a "Systemically Important Financial Institution," the technical term for "too big to fail," come after a number of highly publicized accidents, fires, and explosions involving crude oil shipped by rail.

Buffett praises Dimon's leadership at J.P. Morgan - The Wall Street Journal, 24 January 2014
Warren Buffett, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said if he owned J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., he would keep Chief Executive James Dimon at the helm and would pay him even more than he's making now.

Moody's affirms Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation's Aa1 insurance financial strength rating; outlook stable - Moody's, 24 January 2014
Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the Aa1 insurance financial strength (IFS) rating of Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation (BHAC). The outlook for the rating is stable.

Berkshire faces U.S. scrutiny on systemic risk: Bloomberg - Reuters, 22 January 2014
The U.S. risk council is looking to determine whether Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-A) could be systemically important, a tag that would subject it to stricter regulatory oversight, Bloomberg reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Warren Buffett's underlings outperform their Master - Seeking Alpha, 21 January 2014
Warren Buffett may have some contenders for his title, the "Oracle of Omaha"-and they may be within his own ranks. Todd Combs and Ted Weschler have been Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.B) top pickers the past year, and Buffett's reasoning in putting the two men in such prominent positions is now becoming evident as their results are tallied.

Berkshire Hathaway: Shooting dead fish in a drained barrel - Seeking Alpha, 17 January 2014
At its present price, Berkshire Hathaway appears to have very favorable risk/reward characteristics. Berkshire's share price is essentially flat since mid-year 2013 despite what I estimate is an addition of an incremental $17-$18 billion in shareholders' equity during this period.

1 Warren Buffett stock to buy and hold forever - The Motley Fool, 18 January 2014
Perhaps no one's stocks ideas are more sought after than Warren Buffett's, the investor extraordinaire and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

How Warren Buffett would use Google Glass to get rich - The Motley Fool, 18 January 2014
For most of us Foolish investing geeks out there, the concepts of "wearable tech" or the "Internet of things" probably takes your mind to disruption, changing market shares, and opportunities to find the next hot growth stock.

Why bother Diversifying, just buy Berkshire Hathaway - Seeking Alpha, 15 January 2014
One of the most asked questions I get from readers of my books and blogs - especially after the publication of my latest book Think, Act and Invest like Warren Buffett - is: Instead of building a globally diversified portfolio, why not just buy the stock of Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)?

Mass. mill that started Buffett's empire razed - Yahoo Finance, 14 January 2014
The Massachusetts textile mill that helped billionaire Warren Buffett launch his investment empire, but which he also called one of his biggest blunders, is being torn down.

Your kid can become the next Warren Buffett. Here's how to get started - The Motley Fool, 11 January 2014
Want your kid to be the next Warren Buffett? He tells you himself how to do it. When Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway was asked by Steve Forbes about his unique and legendary success and what made it all possible, Buffett had one simple response...

Should Berkshire Hathaway finally pay a dividend? - Seeking Alpha, 11 January 2014
To the disappointment of many shareholders, Berkshire Hathaway doesn't pay a dividend, and Warren Buffett has frequently said that as long as he and his investment managers can add more than $1 of intrinsic value for each $1 of earnings retained, shareholders will be better off without dividends. 


Monday

7 Reasons to invest in property

1. Simple but highly effective
Far removed from complex investment options, shrouded in jargon, buy-to-let property investment is simple and streamlined.
You don’t need to understand economics, markets or financial jargon. You simply buy a property using mortgage finance and rent it out to a tenant.
Provided you choose a good property in a good area with solid rental demand, and maintain the property over the years, this property will continue to produce an ongoing, passive, inflation-linked rental income year after year, as well as steady capital growth over the long term.

Register for free property investment training at http://www.res-invest.com/
2. Proven, tried-and-tested system
Buy-to-let property investment is a system of wealth creation that has been proven and tried-and-tested by countless ordinary investors, as well as the world’s wealthiest property owners, institutional investors such as pension funds, and listed property companies, all of which, essentially, are large-scale buy-to-let specialists.
They simply acquire quality portfolios of commercial properties utilising corporate property finance or by issuing shares or units, and rent these properties out to tenants.
In addition to the monthly rental income generated by the properties in the portfolio, the value of the properties also appreciate over time, raising the value of the portfolio.
3. Low risk investment
Unlike many traditional investments, buy-to-let property investment does not expose investors to the extreme market volatility and fluctuations that have become the norm in recent times - risks beyond the control of an individual investor.
For example, if an investor invests R500 000 directly in an entry-level buy-to-let property and rents this property out for R5 000 per month, the annual income from this property would be R60 000 (R5 000 x 12 months), which translates into a 12 percent return (R60 000 return / R500 000 invested * 100) over 12 months. Register for free property investment training at http://www.res-invest.com/
Buy-to-let property investment is far less susceptible to fickle investor sentiment and market volatility.
Of course, as with all investments, there are some inherent risks involved in investing in a buy-to-let property.
However, unlike the many risks traditional investments entail, the risks in property investment can be managed and mitigated -if not eliminated - through tried-and-tested risk management strategies the investor can implement easily and cost-effectively.
4. High and multiple return investment
Buy-to-let property yields investment returns are far superior to any other asset class, because they produce both ongoing passive income and capital growth.
For example, if an investor invests R500 000 directly in an entry-level buy-to-let property and rents this property out for R5 000 per month, the annual income from this property would be R60 000 (R5 000 x 12 months), which translates into a 12 percent return (R60 000 return / R500 000 invested * 100) over 12 months.
If the property also increased in value during the year by 8 percent, this would produce a further R40 000 return on the R500 000 investment, bringing the total return to R100 000 (income at R60 000 and capital growth at R40 000) for the year - a 20 percent return in the first year.
If inflation at 5 percent is factored in, the ‘real’ return would be 15 percent in the first year. And, as the rental increases each year and as house price growth recovers, the returns become more even impressive with each passing year.

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5. Hedge against inflation
Buy-to-let property investment has proven to outperform inflation. Firstly, property price growth, while experiencing short-term fluctuations, continues to keep pace with inflation over the long term. In fact, it is widely recognised that inflation boosts physical asset prices like gold, silver, oil and property.
Given the stunning simplicity of the property investment model, buy-to-let investors thoroughly understand their investments, and always know exactly where their money is - in bricks and mortar where they can see and touch it. Register for free property investment training at http://www.res-invest.com/
Secondly, and similarly, the monthly rental income generated by a buy-to-let property keeps pace with inflation year after year, as the rental increases each year by the amount stipulated in the lease - generally 10 percent - or at least the inflation rate. This means that the income is also hedged against inflation.
6. Gearing
Buy-to-let property investment allows ordinary investors to harness the power of gearing - borrowing the money required to invest in an asset and using the asset acquired itself as security for the loan.
Of course, not all assets lend themselves to the practice of gearing. No bank will lend you R500 000 to buy shares, but banks will most certainly lend you R500 000 to buy a property through a mortgage or home loan, if you are creditworthy and have chosen a good property.
7. Retain control
Many investors simply hand over their hard-earned money to an unknown third party - be it a financial adviser, a banker or an asset manager - without really understanding the investment options.
In doing so, these investors relinquish control over their investment and can do nothing to influence the performance of their investment. 
Given the stunning simplicity of the property investment model, buy-to-let investors thoroughly understand their investments, and always know exactly where their money is - in bricks and mortar where they can see and touch it.
They are also not at the mercy of the performance of asset managers, but can actively manage their portfolios, making decisions that are truly in their own best interests.
first published in Property24

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