Warren Buffet’s right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway once revealed the ‘magic number’ you need to save to build wealth
Investment guru Charlie Munger was Warren Buffett’s right-hand man and a key figure in Berkshire Hathaway’s success.
Buffett called him the “architect” of their company and described their relationship as “part older brother, part loving father.”
So it is worth listening to his advice on financial matters – even after his death. He died in December, just before his 100th birthday, with a fortune of $2 billion.
One of Munger’s timeless tips was his take on building wealth: He said you should scrimp and save until you reach $100,000. Once you do, that amount grows quickly – all because of the effect of compound interest.
At a shareholder meeting in the late 1990s, Munger famously said, “The first $100,000 be damned, but you gotta do it.”
Berkshire Hathaway chairman CEO Warren Buffett, left, and vice chairman Charlie Munger at the 2019 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting. Buffett credits his longtime partner – the late Charlie Munger – as the architect of the Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate
‘I don’t care what you have to do. If that means walking everywhere and not eating anything that wasn’t purchased with a coupon, find a way to get $100,000.”
This blunt statement acknowledges that reaching the milestone is not easy.
But once individuals reach that $100,000 mark, their path to greater wealth becomes easier.
That’s because compound returns can significantly grow the initial investment over time.
Simply put, compound interest is the interest you earn on interest.
Over the years, this will continue to evolve and grow at an increasingly rapid pace as you earn interest on an ever-increasing account balance
“After that you can ease off the throttle,” he said.
Although Munger’s statement was made in the mid-1990s, $100,000 then, adjusted for inflation, would be roughly equivalent to $200,000 today.
Many financial advisors today echo Munger’s sentiment, recognizing that the first $100,000 is often the most difficult and crucial step in building wealth.
The path to this amount will vary based on individual circumstances – with some needing a second job or side hustle, while others could cut back on expenses.
However, Munger’s message is clear: the journey to building wealth begins with reaching this crucial first milestone.