Investors like Warren Buffet, George Soros and Peter Lynch have amassed a great fortune from betting on companies, industries and even entire markets. Today, their names are synonymous with success and can be found topping the Forbes and Investopedia richest investors lists. These financial rockstars prove that you can build sustainable wealth if you make correct (and timely) decisions.

In this article, we’ll share some of the best investment quotes from 16 of the top financial juggernauts we know and admire. We hope their words guide, inspire and motivate you as you pursue your savings and investment goals on PiggyVest.

1. “The best way to measure your investing success is not by whether you’re beating the market but by whether you’ve put in place a financial plan and a behavioural discipline that are likely to get you where you want to go. In the end, what matters isn’t crossing the finish line before anybody else but just making sure that you do cross it.” — Benjamin Graham, American economist, professor and investor

Whether you’re investing in stocks, amassing crypto or buying shares on Investify, you must have a well-thought-out financial plan and maintain discipline — even when there is some turbulence in the market or economy. 

Instead of competing with others, focus on building and growing your own wealth.

2. “Patience is a key element of success.” — Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft

We’ve explained the importance of leaving your investments alone in our article on the golden rules of investing. To recap and summarise: waiting for the right opportunities is often better than acting hastily.

Always wait, think and watch before acting — whether you’re investing ₦5,000 or ₦500,000.

3. “When nobody wants something, that creates an opportunity.” — Carl Icahn, Founder and controlling shareholder of Icahn Enterprises

An undervalued or unpopular investment or asset can be an amazing opportunity for you. After all, overlooked opportunities sometimes yield significant returns when the market eventually recognises their value.

Remember how crypto assets surged in value in 2020?

4. “Those who keep their heads while others are panicking do well.” — David Tepper, Founder and president of Appaloosa Management

Your emotions are important when you’re investing. Maintaining a calm and rational mindset during market panic or turmoil can help you and your finances. Investors who can stay composed and make informed decisions when others react impulsively tend to perform better in the long run.

5. “It’s not whether you’re right or wrong, but how much money you make when you’re right and how much you lose when you’re wrong.” — George Soros, Hedge fund tycoon

Successful investing isn’t solely about being right all the time but rather about managing your investments effectively. In essence, your understanding and application of risk management principles must be high to ensure you capitalise on profitable opportunities — even if you lose some money on some assets.

6. “Past performance is the best predictor of success.” — James Simons, Founder of Renaissance Technologies

Are you new to investing or a seasoned veteran? It doesn’t matter. Like most things in life, historical performance can be a valuable indicator of possible success. You need to perform due diligence on stocks, funds or strategies to assess their potential.

7. “There is only one side of the market, and it is not the bull side or the bear side — but the right side.” — Jesse Livermore, American stock trader and pioneer of day trading

Focus on being on the side of the market that aligns with prevailing trends and opportunities rather than being overly reliant on bullish (optimistic) or bearish (pessimistic) views.

8. “The market’s going to make mistakes. Your job is to recognize when it’s doing something wrong and try to take advantage of it.” — Jim Cramer, Former hedge fund manager and host of Mad Money on CNBC

Markets and assets aren’t always efficient — even when it seems so. As an investor, your role is to identify when the market is misjudging the value of an investment and seize the opportunity to benefit from those mistakes.

9. “Shortcuts usually grease the rails to disappointing outcomes.” — John B. Neff, American investor, mutual fund manager and philanthropist

Shortcuts, like Ponzi schemes, seem inviting but can lead to disappointing and disastrous results — from losing your savings to entering crippling debt. Your best bet is to invest in tried and true platforms as well as in opportunities you understand.

This approach might take more time, but it’ll increase the likelihood of achieving better outcomes in the long run.

10. “In the long run, investing is not about markets at all. Investing is about enjoying the returns earned by businesses.” — John C. Bogle, American investor, business magnate and founder of The Vanguard Group

While the allure of markets and assets, it’s easy to lose yourself in the grind. Remember that investing is ultimately about owning a share of businesses and benefiting from the returns generated.

11. “Never invest in a company without understanding its finances.” — Peter Lynch, American investor, mutual fund manager, and author

Performing due diligence might seem like a chore, but it’s essential to being a great (and successful) investor. Before investing, read about the industry, watch YouTube videos and ask crucial questions to reduce the risk of making poor investments.

12. “Listening to uninformed people is worse than having no answers at all.” — Ray Dalio, Co-chief investment officer of Bridgewater Associates

If there’s one thing that’s true about investing, it’s that everyone will always have an opinion. However, you must ensure to only seek advice from reputable, trusted and tested sources (like PiggyVest) before making a financial decision.

It might be even better to trust your gut rather than seek advice from uninformed individuals or platforms.

13. “If a business is not ethical, it will fail, perhaps not right away but eventually.” — Sir John Templeton, Creator of the Templeton Growth Fund

While an unethical business (like investing in a piracy company) may appear to succeed temporarily, it will likely face eventual failure or significant challenges. Ethical behaviour — including honesty and fairness — is often integral to building trust with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

14. “[Most big fortunes result] from investing in a growing business and staying with it through thick and thin.” — Thomas Rowe Price Jr., Founder of T. Rowe Price Group Inc

You can build a fortune by investing in businesses experiencing growth and then holding on to these investments over time, regardless of the challenges or fluctuations they may face.

15. “Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.” — Warren Buffet, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

The primary source of risk is a lack of understanding or knowledge about the investments you’re involved in. When investors don’t fully comprehend the assets they’re putting their money into, they’re more likely to make uninformed decisions that can lead to financial losses.

16. “Finding the best person or the best organisation to invest your money is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make.” — William H. ‘Bill’ Gross, Co-founder of Pacific Investment Management Co.

The best investors (including everyone in this article) owe their successes to critical opportunities. For example, your choice of financial advisor, fund manager or investment firm can significantly impact your financial well-being.

Trusting capable people and platforms (like PiggyVest) is among the most important financial decisions you’ll make because their expertise and guidance can influence the success of your investments.