Warren Buffett just published what might be his most personal shareholder letter yet. In his final annual address as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK), the Oracle of Omaha spent less time talking about investment returns and more time dispensing life wisdom to the company's "unusually generous" shareholders.

His central message? In an increasingly greedy world, kindness matters more than your bank account.

The Wisdom of the Oracle

"Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money, great amounts of publicity or great power in government," Buffett wrote.

"When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world," he continued. "Kindness is costless but also priceless. Whether you are religious or not, it's hard to beat The Golden Rule as a guide to behavior."

For decades, Buffett has turned his shareholder letters into something more than corporate communication. They've become philosophical treatises that established him not just as an accomplished businessman, but as someone who figured out how to live well while getting wealthy.

Learning From Mistakes

Buffett was quick to acknowledge that these insights didn't come naturally. Like everyone else, he's stumbled plenty along the way.

"I write this as one who has been thoughtless countless times and made many mistakes but also became very lucky in learning from some wonderful friends how to behave better (still a long way from perfect, however)," he admitted.

But here's the thing about mistakes: they don't have to define you.

"My advice: Don't beat yourself up over past mistakes — learn at least a little from them and move on," Buffett wrote. "It is never too late to improve. Get the right heroes and copy them. You can start with Tom Murphy; he was the best."

Murphy spent decades running Capital Cities Communications and masterminded the broadcaster's merger with ABC and eventually Disney (DIS). He was a close friend of Buffett's and served on Berkshire's board until 2022, when he resigned following a battle with COVID. He died later that year.

A New Chapter Begins

The letter arrives at a pivotal moment. Back in May, Buffett announced he'd be stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway by year-end, naming longtime lieutenant Greg Abel as his successor.

"As the British would say, I'm 'going quiet.' Sort of," Buffett wrote at the start of this year's letter.

"I will continue talking to you and my children about Berkshire via my annual Thanksgiving message," he explained. "Berkshire's individual shareholders are a very special group who are unusually generous in sharing their gains with others less fortunate. I enjoy the chance to keep in touch with you."

Father Time Pays a Visit

At 95, Buffett has blown past traditional retirement age by a couple of decades. While he wrote that he "generally feel[s] good," he acknowledged that physical decline has pushed him toward this transition.

"When balance, sight, hearing and memory are all on a persistently downward slope, you know Father Time is in the neighborhood," he wrote.

But here's the silver lining: age may have slowed him down physically, but it's sharpened his wisdom.

"Choose your heroes very carefully and then emulate them. You will never be perfect, but you can always be better," was his closing advice.

Not a bad way to sign off from one of the most storied CEO tenures in corporate history. The investment tips were legendary, but maybe the life lessons will prove even more valuable.