AWOL 2014 Issue 297 29th August | Page 9

Advertise here from only 40 baht per week cashING in The Financial Benefits of Being an Expat. Every week in this article Helen Couldrey, a financial consultant with the deVere Group, and also a qualified English lawyer, will give you tips and ideas of how to take advantage financially of being an expat. Helen has clients in Bangkok, Hua Hin and ChaAm who she helps to maximise the financial benefits of living overseas. Letters to shareholders. - an ode to warren buffet This August 30th is Warren Buffet’s birthday, so what better time to pay an ode to one of the best investors of all time. Buffet, born in 1930, Nebraska USA, is renowned for his investing and business acumen. As I write this the current going price for a share in his company, Berkshire Hathaway, is $205,000, which is the same price as a family home in some parts of America. This is quite a difference from the original $7 price in 1962! With share prices stepping over the $200,000 mark, the company is valued at about $322 billion which, astonishingly, is about the GDP of a country the size of Denmark! In addition to founding one of the largest US companies ever, Buffet is also well known for his frugal attitude when his own spending style is concerned. Despite his riches, he is noted for trying to maintain a relatively simple lifestyle and his philanthropist side shone through when he pledged to dedicate around 99% of his personal wealth to needy causes. As a result of his experience and success, (not to mentioned his infamous style of straight talking), Mr Buffet has provided useful nuggets of financial advice over the years, whether through articles, speeches or his letters to shareholders. Here are a few snippets that I have found particularly thought provoking. CHA-AM AND HUA HIN Retirement Planning - Education Fee Planning Regular Savings - Tax Saving Lump Sum Investments Helen Couldrey, BA (Hons), L.L.B, CISI Contact Helen for a finance review 086 088 2127 helen.couldrey@devere-group.com • THE COMPANY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRICE “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.” • BAD THINGS AREN’T OBVIOUS WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD “After all, you only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.” • IDIOT-PROOF YOUR INVESTMENTS “I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will.” • ON WALL STREET ADVICE “Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls-Royce to get advice from those who take the subway.” • PRICE AND VALUE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS “Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that ‘Price is what you pay; value is what you get.’ Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” And when one of the richest people in the world gives out advice, it’s definitely worth listening to. Happy birthday, Warren. • THE GOLDEN RULE OF INVESTING “Rule No. 1: never lose money; rule No. 2: don’t forget rule No. 1” • TIME IS ONLY GOOD FOR SOME “Time is the friend of the wonderful business, the enemy of the mediocre.” Join the AWOL forum 9