The Original Value Investor.....500 year old advice
"Divide your fortune into four equal parts : stocks, real estate, bonds, and gold. Be prepared to lose on one of them most of the time. During inflation, you will lose on bonds and win on gold and real estate : during deflation, you lose on real estate and win on bonds, while your stocks see you through both periods, though in a mixed fashion. Whenever performance differences cause a major imbalance, rebalance your fortunes back to the four equal parts." Jacor Fugger the Rich 1459-1525
Not sure how Fugger played the currency risk though
As for Buffett his rate of return over the past year has been 3.86% and he is winding down.
http://www.gurufocus.com/score_board.php You can use the link to see his portfolio (heavily weighted in US consumption stocks) and also to note that he isn't even in the top quartile of his peer group. He is quick to talk his book any chance he gets and when he started taking out newspaper ads etc. I think his credibility slipped. He was much more intriguing when he didn't let everyone know what he was up to...America can really use his voice now though and maybe this will be part of his legacy....