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The week's question
In December 2024, in the thread "Re: BRK: Why Not XOM?", BreckHutHigh asked the members: "What about the long road trips with kids?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: Seabourne   😊 😞
Number: of 21944 
Subject: Re: Succession comment-SA
Date: 03/31/23 12:31 PM
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No. of Recommendations: 8
While I think that there is a lot of value in considering that their record of building and operating the business deserves to garner a great deal of trust, one of the more common ways very smart people get into trouble is by believing that expertise in one field translates into another. They have certainly hired a number of excellent people over the years, and have had a few who did not work out (e.g. Sokol).

I'm certainly willing to entertain a high level or trust in the decision makers at Berk, but hiring someone with a long track record of excellence is different than projecting future success on someone who has not already done so. Predictions about the future are even harder without evidence from the past. I think that being uncomfortable about the appearance of nepotism where there has not been public demonstration of exceptional competence is a valid reason to be concerned. There is certainly some scope to extend trust in their decisions, but that doesn't mean that we should give over any concerns at all - but perhaps keep and eye on it and see how it looks as it plays out, and be ready to speak up if problems arise.
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This community has written 21,448 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
Second quarter comments · 60 recs · 2023
Berkshire's Profit Contributors · 57 recs · 2023
Summary of 2Q 2026 · 54 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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