00:00Warren Buffett's 90-10 rule is a simple asset allocation instruction he gave in his
00:052013 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter, specifically for the cash left to his wife's
00:10trust after his death. Put 90% into a low-cost S&P 500 index fund and 10% into
00:17short-term
00:18government bonds. The logic rests on two pillars. One, over long horizons, few active managers beat
00:25a broad index after fees. Buffett has repeatedly cited data, including his own 2007-decade-long
00:32bet against hedge funds, which he won decisively, showing most professionally managed funds
00:38underperform simple indexing once fees. Roughly 1-2% annually for active funds versus under 0.1%
00:45for index funds like VOO or SPY are factored in. Two, the 10% bond allocation exists purely as a
00:52liquidity buffer, letting the holder avoid selling stocks during a downer to cover near-term cash
00:58needs. Since equities historically recover but can take years, the S&P 500 took about 5-6 years to
01:05fully recover after the 2008 crash. This differs fundamentally from standard retirement allocation
01:11models. A. Traditional age-based rules, e.g., 100 minus your age in stocks, gradually shift toward
01:19bonds as retirement nears, while Buffett's ratio stays fixed regardless of age. B. Risk parity or
01:2660-40 portfolios diversify across more asset classes for smoother volatility, whereas 90-10 accepts higher
01:33short-term volatility for higher expected long-term return. Context changes its suitability. It fits
01:40investors with long-time horizons, 10-plus years, and high risk tolerance, but is arguably too aggressive
01:46for someone near retirement needing income stability or for non-U.S. investors without easy access to
01:52low-cost S&P 500 equivalents. I can't verify current expense ratios or exact historical return
02:00figures beyond general knowledge, so check current fund data directly. Practically, this rule is a
02:06starting framework, not a universal prescription. Adjust the ratio based on your own time horizon and
02:12cash flow needs rather than copying it exactly. Finally, remember that everything we discussed today
02:17is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Good luck to everyone
02:23and see you in the next video.