We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.
A former owner of a pet shop and mahjong parlors in Japan has invested his way to eight figures — and earned the nickname Japan’s Warren Buffett.
At 88, Shigeru Fujimoto of Kobe, often seen in simple pullovers before three monitors, has quietly amassed a $14 million fortune. Investing since 19, according to The Asahi Shimbun, he became a full-time investor in 1986 and took up day trading in 2015.
In a country where over half of household assets are in cash, Fujimoto urges boldness. “Age doesn’t matter when you are making a new effort,” he once said.
He refuses to retire
In declining health, Shigeru Fujimoto’s wisdom is in demand, with his teachings hitting bestseller status on Amazon Japan. Still eager to trade, he told The Asahi Shimbun: “I will be retiring when I die.”
With enough wealth to spend $3,800 daily for a decade, Fujimoto rates his life a “75 out of 100,” focused on perfecting spirit, technique, and fitness—a stark contrast to the anxiety of U.S. retirees, whose median savings at ages 55–64 is just $204,000. With the guidance of a professional like those available through WiserAdvisor, planning your ideal retirement — when, where, and how —becomes much easier.
WiserAdvisor is a free matching service that helps you find a financial advisor who can help you reach your financial goals by matching you with a pre-screened financial advisor from their database of thousands.
All it takes is a few minutes to answer some questions about yourself, and WiserAdvisor will provide you with a personalized match of two to three advisors. From there, you can book a free, no-obligation consultation to confirm if your match is right for you.
Fujimoto built his wealth as a day trader, which means he invests in the market with an iron stomach. You don’t necessarily need his resolve to make safe returns for your retirement, however. You might consider backing your retirement with a traditionally stable asset like gold.
With a self-directed gold IRA, you can invest directly in physical precious metals, offering both portfolio diversification and a hedge against market instability.
Thor Metals is an industry leader in precious metals and authorized dealer for the U.S. Mint and they can help you seamlessly manage the complexities of setting up and managing your gold IRA. They also partner with the top IRS-approved depositors to make sure your metals are stored safely.
You can fill out your name and email to get a free 2024 Wealth Protection Guide to help you determine if this investment is right for you and your retirement.
Two investing pathways to abundance
You can avoid brooding and embrace prosperity if you follow Fujimoto’s precepts — which bear a strong Buffett influence. Put these three lessons into action now.
1. Purchase quality stocks at cheap prices:
Buffett famously said investors should be “fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” After Japan’s Nikkei market tanked 12.4% on Aug. 5, Fujimoto remained calm, telling Bloomberg: “When the stock price gets low, then it’s time for me to buy stocks.”
But waiting for companies to have a bad day before buying isn’t the right strategy for everyone. To take the guesswork out of which of those stocks to pick, you could consider trying out Moby.
The team of former hedge fund analysts and experts at Moby spend hundreds of hours each week sifting through financial news and data to provide superior stock and ETF research to keep you up-to-date on what’s moving the markets.
In four years, across almost 400 stock picks, Moby’s recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12%, on average. With their easy-to-understand formats, you can become a wiser investor in just five minutes, backed by a 30-day money back guarantee.
Once you’ve got the names picked, you’ll need the right account where you can park and grow your cash. Social investing platform Public is a commission-free, self-directed investing platform that empowers users to manage diverse assets —including stocks, ETFs, crypto, treasuries, and alternatives—while learning from a community of fellow investors.
With real-time insights, social features, and no "payment for order flow" model, Public prioritizes transparency and user trust. It’s ideal for both beginner and experienced investors seeking to build wealth, invest fractionally, and stay informed on market trends without hidden fees.
2. Buy and hold:
In a 1988 letter to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett declared, “Our favorite holding period is forever.” Fujimoto may practice day trading, but his advice is to secure good stocks for the long term. “It’s important to hold good stocks for the long term,” he said. “Don’t buy or sell immediately like a day trader. If you hold such stocks for a while, they will surely bear fruit.”
You can’t go wrong with holding long, but you can also open accounts with Acorns that allow you to save and invest while you’re spending.
With Acorns, every purchase on your credit or debit card is rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the spare change invested into a diversified portfolio for long-term savings. Plus, Acorns lets you customize how you save. With an Acorns Silver plan, you get access to Acorns Later, a retirement investment account with a 1% IRA match on new contributions. With Acorns Gold, you get a 3% IRA match on new contributions, an investment account for your kids, and the ability to customize your portfolio by selecting your own stocks.
If you sign up now, you can get a $20 bonus investment.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
