With the help of Indy Bal, BS Accounting and Finance ‘14, a group of Costello College of Business finance students attended the 2025 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders meeting on May 3. Witnessing the final meeting before Warren Buffett’s retirement was a remarkable experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.
It was a late Wednesday evening when we packed our bags and checked out of our dorms. The hum of the rental car echoed in the background as we began our 20-hour drive to Omaha. We weaved through long, winding roads dotted with armadillos, stopping occasionally to switch drivers or grab a bite. After many stops at the gas station, the sun finally rose and revealed farmlands stretched endlessly on both sides. We had finally made it just outside of Omaha, home of the legendary oracle, Warren Buffett.
Our Friday was spent exploring the various Berkshire Hathaway subsidiaries at the convention center, with occasional purchases here and there. Even though the day was well spent at the shopping event, we knew that the next day’s main attraction would be the highlight of our trip. The following morning at 4:00 a.m., we stepped out of our Uber and rushed to join the growing line for the annual shareholder meeting. The chilly morning breeze only seemed to heighten the anticipation. Around us stood people of all ages and backgrounds—financial professionals, executives, tourists, and students like us—each drawn here by a shared reverence for Buffett’s wisdom. The gathering felt less like a corporate event and more like a pilgrimage. For many, Buffett’s influence went beyond spreadsheets and shareholder returns—it was personal, almost emotional.
The day before the meeting, while waiting in line at Bookworm to purchase Berkshire Hathaway’s 60th anniversary book, we struck up a conversation with David and Isabella, a retired couple from London and Paris. David, the founder and CEO of an asset management firm, told us he’s been following Buffett since the billionaire was 60. He had a good laugh recalling how he once thought Buffett would retire soon and Berkshire’s strong returns would decline. Now, at 96, Buffett is finally stepping down, while David is the one long retired and still investing his income in Berkshire. During the meeting’s recess, we spoke with another shareholder, this time from Boston, working in an insurance investment firm. He mentioned that he has been invested in Berkshire for over six years now and plans to stay invested for life. He is drawn by the unique community and long-term vision of Berkshire.
After the meeting concluded, we ran into a group of class A shareholders who flew directly from China to attend the meeting for the first time. Like us, their timing was impeccable as they were able to catch Buffett before he retired, and they were captivated by Buffett’s remarks and, though saddened by his retirement, understood the timing. Moreover, we had a great conversation about the state of global trade and economic climate. One of the people we spoke with worked in semiconductor acquisitions, and the other was a CFO, so one can imagine how interesting the conversation was when discussing the current global macroeconomic scenario with all the cross-border taxation and industry dynamics.
As college students studying finance, this experience was nothing short of transformative. For those of us still early in our journey, attending the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting isn't just an event—it's an awakening. While seasoned professionals and retirees bring years of industry insight, students bring curiosity, hunger, and openness. In that room, surrounded by the legacy of Buffett and Munger, we felt a rare clarity about the kind of investor—and person—we aspire to be. Where else can you stand in line at 4 a.m. with people from every walk of life—from Uber drivers to billionaires—and find common ground over a shared belief in long-term thinking and integrity? Conversations that began in a crowded Starbucks line or at a nearby café blossomed into lasting connections. There was a certain magic in being there, a mix of humility, optimism, and intellectual electricity that filled the air.
This wasn’t just about stock picking or investment metrics—it was about philosophy, character, and values. We left Omaha with more than insights. We left with a renewed sense of purpose, energy, and global perspective. To witness Warren Buffett's final meeting as CEO and to be part of that history is a gift we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Someday, we’ll tell our children not just about Buffett’s wisdom, but how we had the privilege to be there, live, for the closing of a legendary chapter in financial history.
Warren Buffett alongside Charlie Munger shaped the investment world with their unconventional, brilliant philosophy: focus on the long term and invest in businesses, not just stocks. The echo of Buffett’s famous quote, “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price,” is generational. This timeless principle continues to guide value investing. After sixty years of taking control of the then-textile manufacturer Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett is now set to retire.
We have no words to fully capture what it meant to witness this historic moment. Of course, like everyone at the meeting, we were saddened by Buffett’s retirement. We left with a deep gratitude for having learned in person from such a wise and humble man, in addition to immense respect for his legacy, and a quiet understanding that, with Munger gone and Buffett stepping down, we witnessed the close of one of the most iconic partnerships and cycles in investment history.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Indy Bal and his firm, JIAN Group, for their generous support and for making this unforgettable experience possible. As Mr. Bal said weeks before the event, this was a life-changing experience. We all agreed—there was who we were before the shareholder meeting, and who we were after!
If you’re interested in learning more about Berkshire or Buffett and Charlie’s legacy, we highly recommend the Berkshire Hathaway 60th Anniversary Book, the Letters to Shareholders, Poor Charlie’s Almanack, and The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America. You won’t regret it!