I think total market returns have been more like 15% over the past 10 years, and if you were tech-heavy, than a corresponding ETF or mutual fund would have been approaching 20% returns on autopilot.

Bob sounds like he is savvier than average, not necessarily because of the recent 10 year swing, but because he wants to detach while things are still rosy.

Right now, I think he’s earned something nice, like a pair of season tickets to his favorite school’s FB or BB games (though I know that’s problematic right now). But it’s being overly generous to put together a five-digit bundle.

I could see the following being fair and reasonable:

Give Bob something nice for the past ten years that has a value between $500-1000. Tickets to ____ or a three year membership to _____. Whatever.

Then, they take a half-day sometime and Bob outlines how things developed over the course of the past decade, and how those decisions were made. He hands over the reins, and says I’ll double check things for the next little while as you learn to do them yourself. Chances are, they settle into an auto plan with a few ETFs that is simple to maintain. They’re both happier as a result.

If she wants to write a 5-10K check for the above, then can both feel good about it.