<p>Thank you NewHope. </p>
<p>Before the financial crisis struck and esp. Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme came to light, we were starting to take baby steps to “simplify” our assets. We were going to liquidate properties which are cumbersome in favor of portfolio managers and such. The plan was to eventually move more and more of our nest egg into various kinds of financial instruments. The effect of Madoff’s crime was to make us think perhaps our own varied mix was not so bad after all. I would hate to be 80 years old, and lost my life savings like so many of Madoff’s investors. I bet those investors thought they were simplifying their lives, receiving an steady income/growth from Madoff.</p>