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Why Warren Buffett Says Index Funds Beat Stock Picking for Most Investors

Fact checked by Stella OsobaBloomberg / Contributor / Getty ImagesWarren Buffett, arguably the greatest stock picker of all time, has a surprising piece of advice for everyday investors: don't do it. "A very low-cost index is going to beat a majority of the amateur-managed money or professionally managed money," Buffett has said.Despite building his $166 billion fortune through careful analysis and selecting undervalued companies as the longtime chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A), Buffett says his approach requires expertise, time, and emotional discipline that most investors lack. This seeming contradiction between Buffett's personal investment strategy and his advice to the public reveals essential truths about investing that can help anyone build wealth more effectively.Key TakeawaysDespite his personal success with stock picking, Warren Buffett consistently recommends low-cost S&P 500 index funds as the best investment for most people.Even professional money managers with extensive resources struggle to beat market indexes consistently, with studies showing most funds fail to outperform the S&P 500 over time.What Are Index Funds and Why They WorkIndex funds hold every stock in a specific index, such as the S&P 500 index, which includes major companies like Apple Inc. (AAPL), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (META). Unlike actively managed funds, where managers attempt to select winning stocks, index funds simply mirror the entire market or a specific segment of it, which is why holding these funds is called "passive investing."Buffett recommends them for several reasons. First, fund managers trade far less frequently (the indexes don't change often), which means fees and taxes tend to be lower than those of actively managed alternatives. "Costs really matter in investments. If returns are going to be 7% or 8% and you're paying 1% for fees, that makes an enormous difference to how much money you're going to have in retirement," Buffett says.The data support this view. According to S&P Global Inc. (SPGI), 64% of actively managed funds failed to match the S&P 500's returns in 2024.In addition, Buffett argues that it's extremely difficult for individual investors to consistently identify undervalued stocks. The challenge is magnified by the fact that investment success often hinges on just a few outstanding performers. An Arizona State University study found that fewer than 100 stocks accounted for half of the stock market's total wealth creation over a 90-year period up to 2024, with similar results for most historical periods. The lesson is clear: if you don't own the few outperforming stocks, you have virtually no chance of beating the index.Even Buffett, with his extraordinary track record, admits the challenge. In his 2022 shareholder letter, he summarized nearly six decades of managing money: "At this point, a report card from me is appropriate: In 58 years of Berkshire management, most of my capital-allocation decisions have been no better than so-so."NoteIn early 2025, amid market turmoil, Warren Buffett's net worth had grown by more than $24 billion as of the end of April, outpacing everyone else in the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.The Bottom LineBuffett argues that, for most investors, simplicity, discipline, and lower costs are more likely to build wealth than attempting to outsmart the market. "The goal of the nonprofessional should not be to pick winners," he wrote in 2013. "Instead, they should own a cross-section of businesses that in aggregate are bound to do well. A low-cost S&P 500 index fund will achieve this goal."
New In-Person Requirement at Social Security Offices for 2025: How It Affects You

Fact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugGreggory DiSalvo / Getty ImagesIf you rely on Social Security benefits, new identity verification changes could affect you. As part of an effort to better protect individuals from fraud, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has strengthened its identity verification process.This means new steps to complete routine actions like applying for benefits or updating direct deposit details.Key TakeawaysThe SSA has tightened its verification procedures to better protect personal information and benefits from fraud.In-person identity verification is now required for retirement, survivor, and family benefits applicants who do not yet have access to the online portal.SSDI, Medicare, and SSI applicants are exempt from the in-person identification requirement.Direct deposit changes will be processed faster, now within one business day instead of 30 days.What’s Changing and Why?The Social Security Administration now requires that if you’re applying for retirement, survivor, or family benefits (spouse and child) and can’t use the online portal, you must verify your identity in-person at a Social Security office. This applies to both new applications and updates to existing accounts. Although individuals can begin the process of applying for benefits on the phone, they must still verify their identity in-person to complete the process.However, if you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you won’t be required to go in person because your identity can be verified during the claims process.Another change affects direct deposit, which will now be processed within one business day, whether submitted online or in person. That’s a major improvement from the old 30-day delay on online requests.According to the SSA’s acting commissioner, Lee Dudek, the agency is stepping up security because older methods of identity verification are no longer sufficient. These new steps are meant to better protect people’s personal information and benefits.Navigating the New SystemNow that the new rules are active, here’s how to manage Social Security interactions under the updated policy:Use your “my Social Security” account for the fastest access. If you haven’t set one up, go to ssa.gov/my account.If you can’t use the online portal, be prepared to verify your identity in person. Call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment to avoid long waits. And be sure to gather all required documents before heading to the SSA office so you can complete your task in one visit.Contact the SSA, specifically your local SSA office, if you’re unsure what’s needed or how to access services. You can use the Social Security Office Locator to ensure you contact the correct location.The Bottom LineThese changes went into effect on March 31, 2025, and while they’re meant to improve security and reduce identity theft and fraud, they may be inconvenient for some individuals. However, there are steps you can take to ensure the process of verifying your identity goes as smoothly as possible.
From CEO to Volunteer: Reinventing Your Purpose in Retirement

Fact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugHalfpoint / Getty ImagesRetirement isn’t just about stepping away from your job. It’s about stepping into something new.For high-achieving professionals whose identities are tightly woven with their careers, that shift can feel less like a reward and more like a disorienting freefall.So, how do you retire from a high-stakes role without losing your sense of self?The answer: Think of retirement as an important new role that you're headed toward and not about the status or identity you’re leaving behind.That mental shift is critical, according to retirement advisors and coaches who help people navigate life after a long, fruitful career.Purpose isn’t just a feel-good bonus in retirement. It’s essential to your health and well-being.Key TakeawaysRetirement can trigger a loss of structure, identity, and purpose, especially for high-achievers, so it's important to be intentional about your values and how you seek fulfillment.Exploring volunteer work, hobbies, or passion projects can ease the transition and foster fulfillment.Starting with small, low-pressure commitments can help prevent burnout and lead to more authentic reinvention.Find Purpose in RetirementFor those used to 40-hour (or longer) work weeks and packed calendars, a blank slate can be both liberating and terrifying. But purpose in retirement doesn’t have to mean launching a nonprofit or sitting on a board (at least not right away).“We often start with a simple question: What kind of impact do you want to make now that your time is your own?” says Daniel Milks, founder of Woodmark Advisors.“That opens the door to thinking beyond status and toward service, creativity, or mentorship.”Carlie Ransom, cofounder of Equal Path Investments, puts it this way: “We start with identifying core values and go from there into goals.""By identifying core values before goal setting, we avoid the 'bucket list' of goals turning into an arbitrary list from society that may or may not align with true fulfillment.”For some, that might mean strategic volunteering. For others, it could be exploring new hobbies, diving into local community efforts, or even using donor-advised funds to financially support causes they care about.“The more local and rooted the work is, the more satisfaction people tend to feel,” Ransom notes. “There's a big difference between donating from afar and directly participating in a hands-on project in your community.”That might mean helping to organize a neighborhood cleanup, mentoring high school students, or taking a course that reignites your creative side.As Milks shares, one group of retirees he works with founded Rock by the Sea, a nonprofit that organizes music festivals to fundraise for other charities.“For them, retirement became a platform for purpose. It combined their passion for music with meaningful impact, and they’ve built a strong community around it.”Retirement and Mental Well-BeingFinding your purpose as a retiree is particularly critical because studies have shown that some retirees experience a loss of purpose, fewer social connections, and even declining health if they don’t find something meaningful to do.Avoid BurnoutEven if you're incredibly eager to get involved during retirement, remember that finding a new purpose isn’t the same as replacing your old career with a second one. Many retirees make the mistake of diving in too fast, too hard.“I find that some clients start off a little too involved,” says Ransom. “For high-impact, high-achieving professionals, it is really hard to step into an organization and just watch and lay low, so they often end up in a leadership role ... and then sometimes get burnt out.”Instead of going all-in right away, Ransom recommends what she calls low-stakes experiments: small, short-term commitments with no strings attached.“Commit to something new for just four to six weeks, with no pressure to continue. Try volunteering for just an hour a week. Then try something else,” she says. “Notice what energizes you and where you feel like you're making a difference.”Ransom adds that retirement can stir up feelings of aimlessness, but that discomfort isn’t a sign of failure. “Give yourself permission not to have it all figured out immediately. Meaningful retirement identities typically evolve through what I call productive discomfort—that space between your old identity and your new one.”Align Your Finances With Your ValuesA purposeful retirement isn’t just emotional—it’s financial, too. That means planning for service-based work, passion projects, or travel in your budget.“We build this flexibility into your retirement plan,” says Milks. “That means budgeting for philanthropy, travel tied to service work, or seed money for passion projects.”He also encourages clients to structure their weeks as they used to, just with more intention: Budget in time for purpose, people, and personal growth, he says.Ransom echoes that approach through what she calls the WATER framework: Work Alignment To Empowered Retirement.This mindset should begin before you even retire. It emphasizes taking rest as needed while in the workforce.It also focuses on aligning your financial budget with your core values to help prioritize social engagement throughout your career, as well as in retirement.“It encourages clients not to think about retirement as a finish line, but to instead rest and reinvent as needed throughout their career, and only retire once they are really ready," Ransom says.The Bottom LineRetirement marks the beginning of a new chapter. And while that can feel overwhelming at first, it also unlocks the freedom to do something personally meaningful on your terms. Start small, be curious, and give yourself space to explore without taking on too much or putting too much pressure on yourself.Whether you find joy in mentoring, gardening, teaching, or organizing community events, the right next step doesn’t need to mirror the career you just left. Now that you've got time, use it to figure out and enjoy what truly fulfills you.