'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett said this is the 'best investment' you can make to fight inflation — how to put his advice into action

With a net worth like his, you might anticipate Buffett living a lavish retirement. But unlike the high-roller lifestyles of other extremely rich celebrities and business people, Warren Buffett lives by smart — and surprisingly simple — investment philosophies that have positively influenced millions of investors around the world. One of his most famous rules is to buy and hold for as long as possible.

“You’ve got to be prepared when you buy a stock to have it go down 50% or more, and be comfortable with it… but some people are not really careful. Some people are more subject to fear than others.”

Invest in yourself

At the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder’s meeting, Buffet said “Whatever abilities you have can't be taken away from you. They can't be inflated away from you,” he said. “The best investment by far is anything that develops yourself, and it's not taxed at all.”

While this isn’t a traditional investment tip, Buffett firmly believes that by regularly investing in knowledge and self-improvement, you yourself become an asset and can more easily access opportunities for growing your wealth.

Even now, Buffett has wise investment advice for investors seeking to shield their wealth and even grow it while keeping their tax obligations low.

Here are some of his top investing strategies.

Real estate

Real estate is generally a “good investment” during times of inflation, according to Buffett.

“They’re the businesses that you buy once and then you don’t have to keep making capital investments subsequently. So, you do not face the problem of continuous reinvestments involving greater and greater dollars because of inflation,” he said during the 2015 Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting.

But, while real estate might be a good investment, its barrier to entry can be difficult to cross. Luckily, there are plenty of platforms out there that allow you to invest in real estate with ease.

First National Realty Partners makes it easy for accredited investors to diversify through opportunities in grocery-anchored, necessity-based retail space.

Through FNRP’s online platform, accredited investors can potentially collect quarterly cash flow through a diverse real estate portfolio.

New investing platforms are making it easier than ever to tap into the real estate market.

For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted internal returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

You can also tap into the real estate market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.

Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.

Stocks pricing power

Buffett has been around the block a few times, experiencing many highs and lows in the U.S. economy. He has managed a stock portfolio through periods of double-digit inflation rates in the 1970s and has plenty of insight on what to own when consumer prices spike.

Buffett likes high-quality businesses with low capital needs, such as Apple. The technology company boasts some impressive financial metrics — a testament to the company's efficiency, strength and negotiating power — which have enabled it to thrive during this period of inflation.

You don’t always have to put away large sums to move toward your retirement goals. Ten dollars a week could make a difference – if you’re smart about what to do with your spare change.

When you make a purchase on your credit or debit card, Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and places the excess — the coins that would wind up in your pocket if you were paying cash — into a smart investment portfolio.

Let’s say you purchase a doughnut for $2.30. Before you’re done licking the sugar off your fingers, Acorns will round the amount to $3.00 and invest the 70-cent difference for you. Look at this math: $2.50 worth of daily round-ups add up to $900 per year — and that’s before your savings earn money in the market.