Lessons I learned from Charlie Munger (1924-2023)

 

I want to write this post in memory of a great investor, remembering what he taught us.


Reading Time: 4 minutes         Financial activity: Investing          Knowledge level: Beginner


Summary

Who was Charlie Munger?

"The best thing a human being can do is to help another human being know more"

What it means to be an investor for Charlie Munger

Some videos to watch and some books to read

Conclusions


Who was Charlie Munger?

Charles Thomas Munger was born in Omaha (U.S.A.) on Jan. 1, 1924.

His father Alfred was a lawyer.

In 1943 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and he was sent to the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena to study meteorology.

He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1948, and then he moved to California where he practiced real estate law (In 1962 he founded and worked as a real estate attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP).

Munger was better known for his association with Warren Buffett, he ran an investment partnership of his own from 1962 to 1975 that generated compound annual returns of 19.8% during this period.

Munger was chairman of Wesco Financial Corporation from 1984 through 2011; he was also chairman of the Daily Journal Corporation and Director of Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Actually, he was vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate controlled by Warren Buffett.


"The best thing a human being can do is to help another human being know more"

The phrase "The best thing a human being can do is to help another human being know more" by Charlie Munger encapsulates the essence of knowledge sharing and the power of education. This is also the motivation that pushed me to publish this blog!

In a world where information is constantly evolving, empowering others with knowledge becomes a transformative act. By facilitating the growth of understanding, we not only contribute to individual development but also foster a collective environment of enlightenment and progress.

This philosophy underscores the idea that the true richness of life lies in our ability to share wisdom, inspire curiosity, and uplift one another through the gift of knowledge.

Here's to the power of knowledge and the positive impact it can have on individuals and society.


What it means to be an investor for Charlie Munger

"If you want to be a good investor, you have to have a long-term perspective. You have to be willing to be very patient and wait for the right pitch. And when you get the right pitch, you have to be ready to swing hard. You can't just take a little teeny tiny swing. You have to swing with all your might."

"The great investors are always very careful. They think things through. They take their time. They're calm. They're not in a hurry. They don't get excited. They just go after the facts, and they figure out the value. And that's what we try to do."

"The big money is not in the buying and the selling, but in the waiting."

I became a profitable investor when I understood that my main virtue had to be patience (thank you, Charlie).


Some videos to watch and some books to read

I suggest you watch this article/video made by CNBC: CNBC on Mungerand this one made by Kathy Lien: Charlie Munger’s Top 10 Lessons for Traders.

A couple of good books:

Trent Griffin: "Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor", Columbia Business School Publishing

Daniel Pecaut with Corey Wrenn: "University of Berkshire Hathaway: 30 Years of Lessons Learned from Warren Buffett & Charlie Munger at the Annual Shareholders Meeting"


Conclusions

Charlie Munger is a mentor of ours.

I believe his best quality is that he understood the human nature inherent in every investor (for example: "You're not learning anything if you're not making mistakes").

I want to end this post with one of his best tips: "I always laugh when people talk about how they're going to learn how to invest. It's not a subject you learn in a few weeks. It takes a lifetime to learn how to invest properly."

So study, be patient, and maintain your humanity and your (self-)irony over time.


A sincere wish of good work to all!



Written by F. GRAMOLA (*).

(*) Member of S.I.A.T., the Italian Society of Technical Analysis (member society of I.F.T.A. – International Federation of Technical Analysts).


Warning

We merely cite our personal opinions for educational purposes only.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Investing and trading are risky. Don't invest or trade money that you cannot afford to lose.

Initial photo by Nick - Charlie Munger, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75743370.


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