Compounding wealth isn't just financial -- Buffett seemed to imply that the best defense against inflation on the personal level is to make lifelong contributions to the world. When asked about his succession, Buffett didn't focus on the inner workings of the board of directors, or the voting power of the shareholders, or even the strategy of the investment team. For that reason, Buffett seems less concerned with the performance of Berkshire versus the S&P 500 into the future, and much more focused on ensuring his company culture remains intact.