Brian Baker

East Lansing

Senior Writer at Bankrate

Senior Investing Writer @Bankrate | Previously @mlexclusive & @MedillSchool | [email protected]

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Articles

10 Richest People In The World Outside Of The U.S.

6 days ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

The United States is home to nine of the top 10 richest people in the world, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t significant wealth outside the U.S. In fact, the top three richest people outside the U.S. are all worth more than $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Most of the wealthiest people achieve their status through their investments and holdings, often in just one or two key businesses.
Berkshire After Buffett: What To Know About Incoming CEO Greg Abel

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett stunned shareholders at the company’s annual meeting on Saturday when he announced his plan to step down as CEO at the end of 2025. A day later, the company’s board of directors, at Buffett’s recommendation, unanimously voted to appoint Greg Abel as Berkshire’s new CEO effective Jan. 1, 2026. The transition marks the end of an era for Berkshire, where Buffett spent the past 60 years writing one of the best business success stories in history.
2025 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting preview: What to expect in Omaha

1 week ago | nbcmontana.com | Brian Baker

2025 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting preview: What to expect in Omahaby Brian Baker, CFAFri, May 2nd 2025 at 6:00 AMDaniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
2025 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting Preview: What To Expect In Omaha

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Erin Kennedy

Tens of thousands of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) shareholders will head to Omaha this weekend, where they’ll hear from 94-year-old CEO Warren Buffett on a variety of topics such as the current state of the economy, his plans for Berkshire’s massive cash pile, and how its diverse collection of businesses is performing. Berkshire shareholders should be in a good mood, with the stock up about 17.5 percent so far in 2025, compared to a 4.5 percent decline for the S&P 500.
Meta, Microsoft Results Show AI Boom Is Far From Over

2 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

Shares of Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) jumped by more than 6 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in early trading Thursday after both companies reported strong quarterly results that showed the artificial intelligence spending boom is far from over.
If You'd Invested In Home Depot's IPO Instead Of A Lawnmower, Here's How Much You'd Have

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Erin Kennedy

Home Depot has revolutionized the home improvement industry over the past 45 years, growing from its first stores in Atlanta in 1979 to more than 2,300 locations at the end of 2024. Along the way, its stock became one of the best performers over the past four decades, consistently rewarding shareholders with strong earnings growth and regular dividends.
5 Strategies To Build Confidence Investing In The Stock Market

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Johna Strickland

Many Americans are intimidated by the stock market, Bankrate surveys have found. Learning about stocks and how they fit into your overall financial plan can help you gain confidence as an investor. Stock market volatility is to be expected, so prepare yourself for it before you start investing. The stock market is one of the best places to invest for the long term, but many people are intimidated to start investing.
What Is A Value Trap And How Do I Avoid It?

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

Every investor loves to find an undervalued stock. In fact, the value investing strategy has been touted by some of the greatest investors of all time, including Warren Buffett. Value investments can provide the rare combination of low risk and high returns, but there are some pitfalls to watch out for in your search for undervalued stocks. Value traps are stocks that can appear undervalued, but ultimately end up disappointing investors.
3 moves to protect your 401(k) from a market crash

1 month ago | actionnews5.com | Brian Baker

You’ve spent much of your working life building up your 401(k) and then along comes a market downturn to threaten your retirement plans. What can you do to ensure your portfolio stays protected? “We believe the key thing to do is to keep your 401(k) funds invested. If you take them out of the market, you may lock in losses and could miss out on opportunities for market rebounds,” says Eric Phillips, CFA, former senior director at Human Interest.
Crypto during a recession: Here’s what to expect

1 month ago | weau.com | Brian Baker

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been extremely volatile over the past 15 years since being introduced. These digital assets are often touted for their protection against inflation and potential for long-term stability, but the reality is they’ve behaved more like risky assets during periods of market upheaval.