Month: August 2025

Categories
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

BHSI Enters Canadian Programs Market, Appoints David Tran as Head of Programs

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has expanded into the Programs market in Canada, naming David Tran as Head of Programs, Canada.

“BHSI continues to grow steadily across Canada, expanding our team, our geographic reach, and our product lines,” said Andrew Knight, Country Manager, Canada. “Our move into the Programs space is a natural evolution of our strategy to ‘go wide and go deep.’ I’m thrilled to welcome David, whose extensive expertise will be instrumental in driving this strategic initiative.”

Tran brings over 20 years of experience in underwriting and strategic relationship management, most recently serving as Vice President, National Strategic Relationships at another insurer. In his new role, he will lead program strategies and oversee the launch of a national platform delivering insurance solutions through partnerships with program administrators, MGAs, and brokers. He will be based in Toronto.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: The Amazing Power of Share Buybacks

Warren Buffett has long championed simple, long-term investing strategies—and one of the simplest, in his view, is benefiting from share buybacks.

At the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, Buffett explained how Berkshire’s stake in American Express grew dramatically over time without the company purchasing more shares. “We owned 150 million shares… and we then owned 11.2% of the American Express Company,” Buffett said. “And now we own 20%.” The reason? American Express has steadily repurchased its own shares, effectively increasing Berkshire’s ownership percentage—without Berkshire spending another dollar.

Buffett likened it to owning a farm that magically expands over time: “Imagine if you had 640 acres and, twenty years later, it had turned into 1,100 or 1,200 acres—without buying more land. That’s essentially what happens when a company buys back its own shares wisely.”

For investors, this means enjoying an ever-larger piece of a growing business, tax-free, and with no effort. Buffett calls it “the easiest investing there is.” His message: when done at the right price, share repurchases are one of the most powerful, yet misunderstood, tools for wealth creation.

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
BNSF Uncategorized

BNSF Opens New Intermodal Facility in Salt Lake City, Boosting Regional and National Supply Chains

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BNSF Railway, in collaboration with Patriot Rail and the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA), has officially opened a new intermodal facility in Salt Lake City. The milestone was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Utah Governor Spencer Cox, state leaders, and industry partners.

The 43-acre facility, located just five miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, will support BNSF’s newly launched intermodal service between California and Salt Lake City. Patriot Rail will manage terminal operations and infrastructure at the site.

“This new facility is an exciting opportunity to improve our capacity and efficiency,” said Tom Williams, BNSF’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “It strengthens supply chains from the West Coast to Utah and beyond.”

Patriot Rail CEO Brandy Christian highlighted the partnership’s focus on “smart, scalable infrastructure,” while UIPA board chair Abby Osborne called the project a “game changer” for Utah’s economy, enhancing competition and expanding opportunities for local manufacturers and shippers.

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Why Reading Is the Ultimate Investment Tool

If there’s one piece of advice Warren Buffett consistently shares for those who want to become better investors, it’s this: read constantly.

At the 2005 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, Buffett reflected on how reading shaped his early investing journey. “I just read a lot,” he said. “I probably took every book in the Omaha Public Library, every book they had on investing or the stock market, basically.”

That passion for reading started young. By age 11, he had read enough to feel ready to buy his first stock. When his father was elected to Congress, Buffett gained access to even more books through the libraries in Washington, D.C.—and he took full advantage.

He dived into charts, studied market history, and explored every investing resource he could find. The turning point came at age 19 when he discovered The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham while attending the University of Nebraska. “That just changed my whole framework,” Buffett said.

His enduring advice for anyone looking to improve their investment knowledge? “Read everything in sight.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation


See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2025 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.