• Discounts and special offers
  • Subscriber-only articles and interviews
  • Breaking news and trending topics

Already a subscriber?

By signing up, you accept Moneywise's Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.

Not interested ?

1. Save

One of Buffett’s core principles is the power of compounding: where you can earn returns on both your initial investment and its accumulated growth. For example, had Mary invested her $10,000 and allowed it to grow at a 5% annual compounded rate for 10 years, it would have amounted to $16,288.95.

But finding the best possible rate isn’t always easy. If you’re willing to park your money for at least a year, you can get a rate of return over ten times higher than a typical high-yield savings account with a certificate of deposit (CD). A CD locks in your funds for a set period, providing stability and guaranteed returns, which the stock market cannot promise.

SavingsAccounts.com can help you shop around across various banks and financial institutions. The platform allows users to easily compare different CD terms, interest rates, and features to find the best options for their savings goals.

They aim to simplify the process of choosing the right CD by providing transparent and up-to-date information, helping you maximize your return while locking in financial security.

Learn More

on their website

Discover how a simple decision today could lead to an extra $1.3 million in retirement

Learn how you can set yourself up for a more prosperous future by exploring why so many people who work with financial advisors retire with more wealth.

Discover the full story and see how you could be on the path to an extra $1.3 million in retirement.

Read More

2. Invest

Beyond saving, another way to take advantage of compound returns is through investing.

Investing is higher risk than a savings account, but it can also lead to higher returns. That’s why when Buffett started gifting his family shares instead of cash, Mary Buffett wisely chose to retain her gifted shares in a diversified trust, rather than cashing them out.

But you don’t need to invest in private trusts to ensure your portfolio is diversified.

With Acorns, you get instant diversification every time you spend. Their platform helps you start saving and investing each time you make a purchase on your credit or debit card. When you spend, Acorns automatically rounds up the price of the purchase to the nearest dollar, and places the excess into a smart investment portfolio.

Sign up for Acorns today and receive a $20 bonus investment.

Learn More

on their website

3. Real estate

In 2012, Warren Buffett told CNBC that if there was a way to buy thousands of single-family homes at once, and to manage them easily, he would “load up.” He also emphasized he’d take out mortgages at “very, very low rates.”

Not everyone can purchase multiple properties, nor can they tap into low mortgage rates. After all, the average rate for a 30-year mortgage was 3.65% in 2012. These days, a 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 7.13%.

There are, however, ways to invest in real estate and avoid some of the downsides of the market.

First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited individual investors to access institutional-quality commercial real estate investments — without the leg work of finding deals yourself, negotiating for mortgage rates, or managing the purchasing logistics.

FNRP has relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods. And since the investments are necessity-based, they tend to perform well during times of economic volatility and act as a hedge against inflation.

You can engage with experts, explore available deals, and easily make an allocation, all in one personalized portal.

Learn More

on their website

Earn cash back on what you buy most

Maximize your spending and earn up to 6% cash back on groceries, streaming, gas, and more. Whether it’s everyday purchases or splurges, this card puts money back in your pocket.

Learn more

4. Plan for the future

Another reason Buffett’s not a big fan of cash gifts is that its value erodes over time. Buffett famously said, “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.”

Investing for retirement

To avoid working after retirement, you need to be prepared with the right investments and accounts. For instance, qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free. So your earnings and any growth are tax free, too.

Selecting the right account can be daunting, though. RothIRA.org connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who can guide you in choosing the best Roth IRA to meet your needs.

When you sign up with RothIRA.org, you’re custom matched with two or three advisors near you who meet your specific needs. Your financial advisors will contact you to set up your initial one-on-one consultation — for free, with no obligation to hire.

Learn More

on their website

Gold for retirement

You could also turn a cash windfall into a physical asset, like gold, to diversify your portfolio. Gold has historically acted as a hedge against inflation, and many find it to be a more secure place to invest their wealth.

If you’re keen on making gold a key part of your retirement strategy, consider opening a gold IRA with Lear Capital. This retirement account can help you stabilize your finances by allowing you to invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds.

With zero fees on all first-year trades and free storage for up to five years, Lear Capital has helped thousands of clients make over $3 billion worth of precious metal transactions.

If you think this strategy might be the right one for your retirement, you can get a free investor kit that will teach you everything you need to know about setting up a gold IRA.

Learn More

on their website

Planning for your future

Most of Buffett’s wealth will only be shared with his kids once he passes on. His ethos is you should “give your kids enough so they can do anything, but not so much that they'll do nothing.” Whether or not you agree, you’ll want to ensure your own wishes are honored. Platforms like LegalZoom can help.

The platform allows you to easily set up an estate plan that includes a last will or living trust, financial power of attorney, healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization. If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can call LegalZoom for a free discovery call to help you get started on estate planning.

For January 2025, LegalZoom is offering 10% off on premium wills and trusts.

Learn More

on their website

Sponsored

This 2 minute move could knock $500/year off your car insurance in 2024

OfficialCarInsurance.com lets you compare quotes from trusted brands, such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO to make sure you're getting the best deal.

You can switch to a more affordable auto insurance option in 2 minutes by providing some information about yourself and your vehicle and choosing from their tailor-made results. Find offers as low as $29 a month.

Gemma Lewis Freelance Contributor

Gemma Lewis is a freelance contributor with her CFA UK Certificate in Investment Management. She has navigated the ever-evolving world of financial technology as both a product manager and investment analyst, having earned her Master’s of Business from the University of St Andrews, and Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University. Her writing and commentary has been featured across top-tier publications, including Forbes, the BBC, Financial Times, Telegraph, Yahoo!, Motley Fool, and Fortune. If she's not writing, she's either reading, or running around and exploring the great outdoors.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.

†Terms and Conditions apply.