Marvin Blum, a real estate planning attorney at Bloom’s office in Fort Worth, had the unique opportunity to ask the first question at the 2023 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. This was the third time in ten years that Blum has been able to ask questions at the event, also known as “Woodstock for Capitalists.” The annual meeting is a celebration as much as it is a business meeting, with participants camping out overnight to secure good seats. Up to 50,000 people flock to Omaha, Nebraska, to hear from 99-year-old Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett, the younger CEO and Chairman of the holding company which owns well-known brands such as GEICO, Duracell, Fruit of the Loom and Dairy Queen.
Blum loves attending the annual meeting because Berkshire Hathaway has a lot of interest in Fort Worth, where the conglomerate owns several companies. Blum’s first question at the event years ago was about his estate plans and Buffett’s famous thesis that children were “enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing.” This year, Blum asked Buffett’s thoughts on how many parents are not preparing the next generation for inheritances, especially those that may involve family businesses. Buffett had advice for parents, encouraging them to ensure their children read and understand their wills before signing them. Buffett also stressed the importance of teaching children values that matter to them from a young age.
In addition to attending the annual meeting, Blum discussed the revitalization of the Fort Worth Public Market. The long-empty building is being renovated by Wilkes Development, with a groundbreaking ceremony for the senior housing and office space project scheduled for June 20, 2023, which marks the 93rd anniversary of the building’s original opening.