What is Warren Buffett's 2 list strategy?

Asked by: Joanie Torp DVM  |  Last update: April 6, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (14 votes)

Buffett's Two Lists is a productivity, prioritisation and focusing approach where you write down your top 25 goals; circle your 5 highest priorities; then focus on those 5 while 'avoiding at all costs' doing anything on the remaining 20.

What is the Buffett's two-list rule?

Buffett presented a three-step exercise to help streamline his focus. The first step was to write down his top 25 career goals. In the second step, Buffett told Flint to identify his top five goals from the list. In the final step, Flint had two lists: the top five goals (List A) and the remaining 20 (List B).

What are the Warren Buffett 2 rules?

Rule 1: Never lose money.

He emphasizes this so much that he often says, “Rule number 2 is never forget rule number 1.”

What is the 5 25 rule Warren Buffett?

The 5/25 rule's popularity came from a story about Warren Buffett having given Mike Flint, his pilot for 10 years, advice about his career priorities. The advice is to list out his top 25 career goals, and from those 25, encircle the top 5. Buffett then advised Flint to focus on these 5 and let go of the others.

What is Warren Buffett's 90/10 rule?

The 90/10 rule in investing is a comment made by Warren Buffett regarding asset allocation. The rule stipulates investing 90% of one's investment capital toward low-cost stock-based index funds and the remainder 10% to short-term government bonds.

Warren Buffett’s 2 List Strategy How to Focus on What Really Matters for Success

17 related questions found

What is the 10 5 3 rule of investment?

The 10,5,3 rule gives a simple guideline for investors. It suggests expecting around 10% returns from long-term equity investments, 5% from debt instruments, and 3% from savings bank accounts.

What is Warren Buffett's golden rule?

Many novice investors lose money chasing big returns. And that's why Buffett's first rule of investing is “don't lose money”. The thing is, if an investors makes a poor investment decision and the value of that asset — stock — goes down 50%, the investment has to go 100% up to get back to where it started.

What is Warren Buffett 70 30 rule?

The 70/30 rule is a guideline for managing money that says you should invest 70% of your money and save 30%. This rule is also known as the Warren Buffett Rule of Budgeting, and it's a good way to keep your finances in order.

What is the rule #1 in investing according to Warren Buffett?

Warren Buffett, one of the world's most successful investors, has shared plenty of advice over his long career. But one piece of advice stands out as his top rule: “The first rule of investment is don't lose money.” And if you ask about the second rule?

What is Warren Buffett's best advice?

Buffett's most commonly cited financial advice is as follows, “Rule №1: Never lose money. Rule №2: Never forget rule №1.” So, before investing, determine whether you can lose the money you're investing in.

What is the rule number 1 buffet?

Warren Buffett Quotes

1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.

Which index fund is best for beginners?

FNILX and QQQM are often described as some of the best index funds for beginner investors.

What are the two rules of Warren Buffett?

The first rule of investment is don't lose. The second rule of investment is don't forget the first rule.” Buffett famously said the above in a television interview. He went on to explain that you don't need to be a genius in the investment business, but you do need what he deems a “stable” personality.

Why Warren Buffett never split?

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett has never allowed a stock split of the company's A shares, despite their high trading prices. Buffett believes that splitting the stock would go against his strategy and that the high price tag attracts like-minded investors seeking long-term gains in intrinsic value.

What is Warren Buffett's strategy today?

Buy And Hold For The Long Term

Since 2020, the investing legend has dumped many financial, drug and airline stocks — not long after buying them for the first time. However, Buffett continues to prioritize finding and buying quality stocks at a fair price — and holding them for the long term.

What are Warren Buffett's five rules?

Warren Buffett's TOP5 Ground Rules
  • Never try to predict the market.
  • Investing in the "Deep Value"
  • Approach investment with a long-term mindset.
  • Have something to compare against.
  • Pay attention to the compound interest.

What are the 4 golden rules investing?

By following these four golden rules—starting early, investing regularly, thinking long-term, and diversifying—you set yourself up for a successful investing journey. Remember, the goal isn't just to make money but to build wealth in a sustainable, low-stress way.

What is the 80% rule investing?

YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

In this case, many investors will find that roughly 20% of their investment holdings will lead to about 80% of their growth. While these percentages won't be exact, the general rule applies that a small number of your investments will result in the most growth.

What does Warren Buffett recommend for retirement?

Buffett's retirement strategy, known as the 90/10 strategy, involves allocating 90% of retirement funds to a low-cost S&P 500 index fund and the remaining 10% to low-risk short-term government bonds.

What are Warren Buffett's 10 rules for success?

Warren Buffett's 10 Rules for Success
  • Be Willing to Be Different. Don't base your decisions upon what everyone is saying or doing. ...
  • Never Suck Your Thumb. ...
  • Spell Out the Deal Before You Start. ...
  • Watch Small Expenses. ...
  • Limit What You Borrow. ...
  • Be Persistent. ...
  • Know When to Quit. ...
  • Assess the Risks.

What did Warren Buffett tell his wife to invest in?

Warren Buffett has said that 90 percent of the money he leaves to his wife should be invested in stocks, with just 10 percent in cash. Does that work for non-billionaires? As far as asset allocation advice goes, 90 percent in stocks sounds pretty aggressive.

What is the buffet $1 rule?

“We test the wisdom of retaining earnings by assessing whether retention, over time, delivers shareholders at least $1 of market value for each $1 retained.” This will assess whether management's capital allocation decisions are creating value for shareholders.

What is the 7% loss rule?

Always sell a stock it if falls 7%-8% below what you paid for it. This basic principle helps you always cap your potential downside. If you're following rules for how to buy stocks and a stock you own drops 7% to 8% from what you paid for it, something is wrong.

What was Warren Buffett's best quote?

Here are some of the best Warren Buffett quotes of all time.
  • “A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” ...
  • “It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.” ...
  • “Price is what you pay; value is what you get.”