Written by Alex Seleznev, MBA, CFP®, CFA and Alyssa Neece | Feb 26, 2026
When it comes to investing, there is constant noise designed to capture your attention.
We don’t have to go far. I have a feeling many of you have been following the latest tariff-related updates.
Since this newsletter is not meant to be a market update, I will simply say that the tariff debate is far from over. So brace yourself.
That said, some investing principles are timeless and serve as a timely reminder today.
When markets are turbulent and uncertainty rises (what’s new!), I find it helpful to remind myself that we’ve been here before.
Markets do work in the long run, but the short term can be challenging, especially without a solid understanding of market dynamics.
Without further ado, here are my top five investment quotes or ideas that I hope you will find useful in today’s market environment.
Sir John Templeton: This Time It’s Different
For those of you who come to our quarterly market update webinars, I hope you have noticed that I use this quote frequently.
To be clear, the full quote is: “The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘This time it’s different.’”
When new information sounds dramatic, like recent news about AI and its impact on the economy, we tend to quickly change our assumptions.
But we have to be careful here. The investment public is known for overestimating the impacts in the short term.
Market sentiment tends to shift rather quickly and the narrative of just three months ago may be the opposite today.
The bottom line is, if you have a strong plan in place, be very careful about deciding to update it just based on recent trends.
Charlie Munger: Success Is Found in Waiting
The late Charlie Munger believed that someone’s psychology was more useful than their intelligence when it comes to money.
He often said: “The big money is not in the buying and the selling, but in the waiting.”
Most investors fail because they feel the need to act constantly.
I underlined the previous sentence to emphasize the need for patience.
When all of us are bombarded by a myriad of investment updates on a daily basis, it can be rather challenging to do nothing.
This is not to say that forgetting about your portfolio is a good strategy.
Rather, reacting to daily market turbulence is not likely to maximize your returns.
Warren Buffett: Master Your Circle of Competence
Warren Buffett often says: “I don't look to jump over seven-foot bars. I look around for one-foot bars that I can step over.”
This means you do not need to be an expert on every industry to succeed.
In fact, that would be impossible!
Instead, he suggests focusing on investing in areas that you understand.
If you cannot explain how a company makes money, it does not belong in your portfolio.
Focusing on what you know helps you avoid the most expensive mistakes.
Benjamin Graham: Seek a Margin of Safety
The mentor to Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, taught that the most important words in investing are “margin of safety.”
He believed that “the purpose of the margin of safety is to render the forecast unnecessary.”
By buying an asset for much less than it is worth, you create a buffer against bad luck or errors in judgment.
This gap protects your capital when the future does not go according to plan.
In other words, he suggests avoiding paying the full price for what a stock is worth.
Leave room for the market to be wrong about the future.
Now, in practice, it can be rather challenging to determine the true value of any company.
But this is where market sell-offs can be helpful as they tend to provide opportunities to buy stocks with at least some “margin of safety.”
Peter Lynch: Know What You Own
Peter Lynch managed one of the most successful funds in history by following a simple rule: “Know what you own and know why you own it.”
Lynch believes everyday investors actually have an advantage.
We see great products in daily life first.
Maybe you love a new store or a specific tool.
This is the beginning of your investment research.
However, a good product is only the start.
You must be able to explain your investment logic to a ten-year-old in two minutes.
If you cannot do that, you are gambling rather than investing.
What does this mean for you?
Applying these lessons requires discipline and a focus on the long term.
Focus on investments that you can explain to others with ease.
Always leave a buffer in your financial plan for unexpected market shifts.
Measure your success in years (or even decades) rather than days or months.
Tune out the daily news and stick to your established goals.
Easier said than done, right?