Three Pieces of Straightforward Wisdom from Duan Yongping and Warren Buffett Duan Yongping has a saying that the more I understand investing, the more I realize how true it is: the most effective investment advice is often so simple it doesn’t even feel like a secret. Take these three points, for example. They come from the likes of Duan Yongping and Warren Buffett. None of them are thrilling, but every single one can help you stay in the game for the long haul. 1) Don’t fear missing out on opportunities, fear stepping on landmines When faced with all kinds of “opportunities” in the market, we often can’t help ourselves and feel the urge to jump in quickly. But someone once asked Duan Yongping: How can you quickly determine if a company is worth a long-term investment? His answer was: He doesn’t make such judgments quickly—it requires a deep, long-term understanding of the business, its model, and its products. Look at Buffett and Munger. These two top-tier investors move at a very slow pace. In investing, it’s better to miss out than to step on a landmine. Missing an opportunity means you earn less; stepping on a landmine could take you out of the game entirely. That’s the key to surviving in the long run. 2) Don’t gamble money you need for money you don’t need The essence of this advice is to set realistic expectations for your “returns.” Reasonable expectations can help you avoid most of the traps in the market. Here’s a stat I have: From 1950 to 2026, the S&P 500’s annualized return, including dividends, is 11.7%—this is the result of 76 years of compounding from some of the best companies in the world. In other words, if you can steadily earn around 10% a year, you’re already at the top level. Stop dreaming about doubling your money overnight. That kind of gambling mindset often leads to losing everything in the end. Betting your living expenses on a big win won’t bring you a leap in social class if you succeed, and if you fail, there’s no coming back. No matter how you calculate it, it’s just not worth it. 3) Think long-term, find good companies, and hold on Investing has never been a zero-sum game. When you stretch the timeline, the ups and downs you see now are just tiny ripples—not worth obsessing over. Find good companies, hold them for the long term, and use the rest of your energy to enjoy life—that’s more important than anything else. These three pieces of advice don’t teach you how to predict the market, nor do they require any special talent. All they ask for is this: slow down, stay steady, and hold on for the long haul. In the end, investing isn’t about who’s the smartest—it’s about who’s still in the game. #InvestingWisdom #DuanYongping #WarrenBuffett #LongTermThinking #FinancialFreedom #StockMarket #InvestingTips