Warren Buffett is retiring. At 95, it's not exactly shocking news—but it still hits hard. This isn’t just the end of a remarkable career. It’s the closing chapter of an era that shaped the way millions of people—myself included—think about investing, business, and long-term value.

Plenty will be written this week (and for years to come) about his legacy, his performance, and the lessons he leaves behind. But for me, this one’s personal.

Buffett was a mentor from afar. I’ve followed him for nearly my entire investing life, going back to the mid-1990s when I was scraping together paychecks from Blimpie and Uni-Mart during college. A portion of each check—maybe just enough to buy two mutual fund shares—was sent off to be “invested.” (though I use that word loosely). Most of my capital went to the joys of college, which, to be fair, also delivered good returns in their own way.

Like many others, my early wins in investing led to overconfidence. Then speculation. Then losses. That cycle was humbling—and necessary. I returned to fundamentals and thankfully in 2000 discovered Buffett, Munger, Graham, Fisher: their philosophies offered a foundation, a framework that withstood not just market cycles but ego as well.

Over time, I’ve made plenty of mistakes—many that Buffett probably warned me about directly, if I had just listened more carefully. But that’s investing. Some lessons you only learn by touching the stove. Others sink in slowly by standing on the shoulders of giants. For the last 25 years, I’ve tried to do both (well I doubt I tried to burn myself on the stove but it continues to happen nonetheless).

Three timeless Buffett lessons continue to shape the way we think at Members’ Wealth:

• Rule #1: Don’t lose money. Rule #2: Don’t forget Rule #1.
• Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.
• Stay within your circle of competence—and gradually expand it.

Did Buffett invent all of these ideas? Maybe not. But that’s not the point. Originality is overrated. Application, adaptation, and evolution matter more. For me, these ideas were entry points—starting lines that evolved over time into the Members’ Wealth framework: Preserve. Grow. Endure. Evolve.

• Preserve the core: your values, your capital, your foundational principles.
• Grow intentionally, not recklessly. Expand your circle of competence through learning and experience.
• Endure volatility, uncertainty, and change—by building a framework that lasts.
• Evolve with the world. Because markets shift. Life shifts. And so must we.

Our clients—many of them entrepreneurs, executives, retirees, and real estate investors—aren’t looking for flashy trades or market predictions. They want a framework they can trust, one that flexes with their life while staying rooted in time-tested wisdom. That’s the gift Buffett gave us: not just a way to think about stocks, but a way to think about risk, value, and human behavior.

The times, as Dylan reminds us, are always changing. So will we. But the principles endure.

Thank you, Warren. Enjoy your well-earned retirement.

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About the Author

Dane Czaplicki, CFA®

Dane Czaplicki is CEO of Members’ Wealth, a boutique wealth management firm that offers a comprehensive approach to serving individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. The firm’s goal is to preserve and grow its clients’ wealth to endure over time, while thoughtfully evolving its strategy to suit an ever-changing world. With over 20 years of wealth management experience, Dane and the Members' Wealth team thrive on bringing clarity and confidence to clients' unique situations. He believes everyone needs sound financial advice from someone whose interests are aligned with theirs, and is determined to put service before all else.

Dane received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University. Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, hiking and camping, reading, running, and playing with his dog. To learn more about Dane, connect with him on LinkedIn.

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