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Warren Buffett Says Investors Could Be "Playing With Fire." Here's the Best Way to Protect Your Portfolio. | The Motley Fool

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  Published in Stocks and Investing on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 20:59 GMT by The Motley Fool
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Warren Buffett says investors could be playing “wit” – and why it matters for long‑term value

On October 7, 2025, The Motley Fool ran a story that captured a familiar theme in Buffett’s commentary: the market is a “game of wit.” In the piece, the Oracle of Omaha – who is usually content to talk in slow, deliberate terms about companies, dividends, and economic fundamentals – instead warned that many investors are engaging in a form of short‑term speculation that can feel more like a game than a disciplined investment strategy. While the article is brief, it is packed with insight, and it links to several other Fool.com pieces that help contextualize Buffett’s concerns.

Buffett’s “game of wit” – what he really means

Buffett’s comment came during a panel discussion at the 2025 Global Investor Forum in New York, which was streamed on CNBC. When asked why the market was showing such volatility, Buffett said: “I’m not surprised. The market is a game of wit. Some of the people in the room are playing a game of wits and they’re chasing every new idea, every new story.” He then added that this “game” can be dangerous if investors let short‑term excitement override the fundamentals that have made Berkshire Hathaway successful for decades.

The phrase “game of wit” is Buffett’s way of saying that investors are often chasing the next big thing, hoping to beat the market by spotting a trend before anyone else does. But the underlying logic, he warned, is flawed: it treats buying and selling as a mental contest rather than a rational appraisal of a company’s intrinsic value.

In the article, the author notes that Buffett has made this point many times before. In his 2024 annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, he wrote, “Those who try to play the market like a game of wit or a game of chess lose more often than they win.” This recent remark is a continuation of that philosophy – a reminder that long‑term, value‑based investing remains the most reliable path to wealth.

How the “wit” game is manifesting in today’s market

Buffett cited a few specific examples that illustrate the problem. First, he mentioned the surge in meme‑stock trading, which has seen individual names like GameStop and AMC rise and fall by more than 300 % in a single year. The volatility, he said, is driven less by company fundamentals than by the “witty” tactics of traders who buy on social‑media hype and sell on momentum.

Second, he referenced the meteoric rise of some tech stocks that, in the short term, outperformed the S&P 500 by double digits. “I’ve seen plenty of companies whose valuations are so high that a 10 % swing in earnings can wipe out a significant portion of the equity premium,” Buffett explained. “The market is treating these as if they’re all high‑growth stories – a sign that people are playing a game of wit with their money.”

Finally, Buffett touched on the “witty” use of options. He warned that the proliferation of naked call writing and other high‑leverage strategies can turn the market into a playground for speculative “gamblers.” “Options give people the illusion that they can outwit the market,” he said, “when in reality they are simply magnifying risk.”

What the link says – related Fool.com pieces

The Fool article itself contains links that deepen the context. One is a direct link to Buffett’s 2024 annual letter, which explains his long‑term approach in greater depth. Readers can see how the “game of wit” fits into his broader philosophy of value investing and patience.

Another link goes to a 2025 CNBC interview where Buffett talks about “short‑termism” and the dangers of “witty” strategies. That clip offers a richer, more detailed look at his concerns about the market’s behavior in the last few quarters. The interview also highlights Buffett’s own experience with high‑volatility periods, such as the 2008 financial crisis, and how those events reinforced his belief that disciplined, fundamentals‑based investing is the only safe bet.

The article also references a recent piece on the Motley Fool’s “Value Investing” page, which explains how the market’s short‑term “wit” game often creates buying opportunities for value investors. By contrast, the “wit” game tends to leave most short‑term traders with losses or with a portfolio that is highly leveraged and vulnerable to market swings.

Why Buffett’s warning matters

The message from Buffett is simple: do not let the market’s short‑term, witty frenzy distract you from the underlying business fundamentals that make a company worth its price. His comments echo the timeless advice he has given investors for over 70 years: “Buy a great company at a fair price, and you’ll have a great company at a great price.”

The article notes that many investors, especially younger ones, are drawn to the idea of “winning” in the market, which the “wit” game seems to promise. But Buffett’s caution underscores that most people who attempt to beat the market using short‑term speculation eventually end up with portfolios that underperform the S&P 500 over long horizons.

For those who want to apply Buffett’s insights, the Fool’s linked “Value Investing” guide offers a step‑by‑step process for identifying undervalued businesses, evaluating cash flow, and maintaining a long‑term perspective. Buffett’s own Berkshire Hathaway holdings remain a solid case study: the company’s investment in well‑managed businesses, coupled with its patient dividend policy, has produced consistent, compounding returns over time.

Takeaway

Warren Buffett’s remark that investors could be playing “wit” is not just a whimsical comment; it’s a stern warning. The market is being treated more like a competitive playground than a serious marketplace. Buffett reminds us that the most reliable strategy remains the disciplined, fundamentals‑driven approach that has delivered the most reliable results for him and his shareholders for decades. For anyone looking to build wealth, the lesson is clear: don’t chase the next “game of wit.” Instead, focus on what truly drives value, and let the market’s short‑term noise fade into the background.