This year’s Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting was unlike any other. For the 60th time, Warren Buffett took the stage in Omaha, drawing thousands from all corners of the globe. But this year, there was a bittersweet undertone: Buffett announced it would be his final year as CEO. At 94, he admitted he’s “not quite as sharp as he once was,” and starting in 2026, Greg Abel will step in as CEO, with Buffett remaining chairman of the board.

Every year, I write about Berkshire, Buffett, or the annual meeting. But this year, I want to share what Buffett has meant to me – not just as a legendary investor but as my north star in the world of finance.