The Oracle of Omaha's retirement at the end of this year isn't the biggest concern for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.

Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway cash pile has soared to a record $381.7 billion, the largest in U.S. corporate history. The company added nearly $30 billion in one quarter, with most parked in 5.4% yielding Treasuries,

Legendary investor Warren Buffett has a way of explaining big ideas in simple terms. And when it comes to insurance, he makes it sound almost too easy. Insurance Looks Simple, But It Isn’t At last year’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK,

Warren Buffett is still Berkshire’s CEO for two more months. The company’s stock is trading as though he has already retired.

Insurance has always been the core of Berkshire Hathaway’s success. The premiums collected by its subsidiaries — from GEICO to its global reinsurance group — form the “float” that powers Mr. Buffett’s investments across stocks and businesses. That float totaled roughly US$171 billion last year, generating US$11 billion in underwriting profit.

The Direxion ETFs: Still, the market is full of diverse voices, and not everyone agrees with the Oracle of Omaha. For those who want to place trades on either side of the conglomerate, financial services provider Direxion provides two countervailing products.

Berkshire Hathaway has a record-high cash reserve of $381.7 billion after increasing its third-quarter earnings by 34% from a year ago, the firm reported.