With Warren Buffett stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025, the Oracle of Omaha shared some parting wisdom in his most recent Thanksgiving letter to shareholders.
While sent in November 2025, the letter is full of financial wisdom nuggets that the average American can apply in 2026 and beyond. Some of his top advice — especially if you read between the lines — includes the following below.
Don’t Sweat Normal Stock Volatility
Berkshire Hathaway is often considered a safe-haven stock, as it’s diversified across many different areas, such as with its large insurance business and sizable stakes in tech companies like Apple. Buffet also carries a reputation of being a value investor who doesn’t make impulsive bets.
Yet even though Berkshire has this relatively safe reputation, Buffett noted in his letter that the company’s “stock price will move capriciously, occasionally falling 50% or so as has happened three times in 60 years under present management. Don’t despair; America will come back and so will Berkshire shares.”
This advice can arguably be extrapolated to the broader stock market. Even if you invest in something like an S&P 500 index fund, there are going to be some years with big gains, and some years with big losses.
That’s not to say you should completely ignore volatility, but you should get comfortable with the fact that there are normal ups and downs. Staying invested rather than panic trading is often the way to go. And if you’re unsure what’s normal or don’t trust yourself to avoid rash decisions, consider working with a financial advisor who can help you keep a level head.
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Learn From Mistakes and Let Them Go
This might fall more under general life advice, but it applies to finances, too. As Buffett noted, “Don’t beat yourself up over past mistakes — learn at least a little from them and move on. It is never too late to improve.”
So, if you made money mistakes, like getting into credit card debt, don’t beat yourself up forever. Learn what types of behaviors and patterns got you into that situation, and figure out a path forward. Or, if you made an investing mistake, don’t chase your losses. Accept the mistake, and get back on a path that aligns with realistic goals.
Don’t Chase Money for the Sake of It
While it’s true that money can often make life easier in many ways, pursuing it at all costs probably shouldn’t be your main goal. Instead, think about what you want your life to actually look like — which money might support — but don’t ignore what it takes to live a good life, like developing strong relationships and being kind to others.
As Buffett noted in his letter, “Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money.” He also said to “keep in mind that the cleaning lady is as much a human being as the Chairman.”
In other words, don’t assume that achieving a position of power and wealth automatically makes you a better person. That’s not what life is all about. You might be a wealthy executive who’s miserable, in part because you treat others around you poorly, or you might be a working-class person with a rich, fulfilling life, due to great relationships with friends, family and general kindness to strangers.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Warren Buffett Retires: Here’s the Money Advice He’s Giving Americans for 2026
