The Education of a Value Investor

Publication Date: September 9, 2014

The Education of a Value Investor

Guy Spier

Publication Date: September 9, 2014

Former Wall Street investment banker and philanthropist Guy Spier reveals how meeting Warren Buffett changed his career—and his life—in The Education of a Value Investor: My Transformative Quest for Wealth, Wisdom, and Enlightenment.

A Harvard MBA graduate and a successful hedge fund manager, Guy Spier pursued an opportunity to meet one of America’s wealthiest businessmen—bidding $650,100 with Mohnish Pabrai for the privilege to do so—at a charity lunch. What Warren Buffett shared was more important than market share strategies. He learned principles that put him on the path to becoming a real value investor.

In this fascinating inside story, Spier reveals his transformation from a Gordon Gekko wannabe, driven by greed, to a sophisticated investor who enjoys success without selling his soul to the highest bidder. His journey is similar to the thousands that flock to New York’s Financial District every year with their shiny new diplomas, aiming to be King of Wall Street, realizing just in the nick of time that the true King lived 1,500 miles away in Omaha, Nebraska.

Inspired by Warren’s activist values, Spier altered his career trajectory, learning some powerful lessons along the way including: why the right mentors and partners are critical to long term success on Wall Street; why a topnotch education can sometimes get in the way of your success; that real learning doesn’t begin until you are on your own; and how the best lessons from Warren Buffett have less to do with investing and more to do with being true to yourself. Spier also reveals some of his own winning investment strategies, detailing deals that were winners but also what he learned from deals that went south.

Part memoir, part financial investing advisory, and part how-to guide, Guy Spier takes readers on a ride through Wall Street but more importantly provides those that want to take a different path with the insight, guidance, and inspiration they need to carve out their own definition of success.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Guy Spier has run the Aquamarine Fund for 17 years, achieving an impressive record of market-beating returns. An ardent disciple of Warren Buffett, Guy launched the fund with $15 million in assets, closely replicating the approach of Buffett's original partnerships. Guy was educated at Oxford University, where he was a tutorial partner of the current British Prime Minister David Cameron and came top of his class in economics. After a stint in management consulting, he attended Harvard Business School, then worked as an investment banker before starting his own fund. He is a regular commentator in the media, having appeared on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg Television, and Fox Business News.