Kass: Madoff Mess Is Widespread

The improbability of achieving smooth and high-risk adjusted returns with a split-strike conversion strategy while not charging management and incentive fees but only charging commissions, an unknown and inaccessible accountant, the lack of evidence of a sizeable research and trading staff to complement a large investment management effort and the general lack of transparency were among my concerns.

I live in Palm Beach, Fla., the epicenter of the alleged Madoff fraud, and I can tell you firsthand that the effects here have already been felt:

• On Thursday night, I attended a black-tie gala party for a charity that has a large percentage of its endowment with Madoff. Unfortunately, this is more typical than not with the many organizations around the country impacted by Madoff. I also know people who work at charities in New England that had all of their endowments with Madoff; some are being laid off now.
• During the weekend, I received calls from a number of acquaintances who had all their money invested with Madoff; some were crying. Their lives will never be the same.
• At a private club in Palm Beach on Saturday night, I sat next to someone who was purported to have lost as much as $400 million in the alleged scam.
• It is already apparent that the high-priced luxury market will be impacted by the alleged fraud. On Sunday, a real estate friend reported to me that already a number of high-priced Palm Beach homes were put on the market over the weekend by victims who have been nearly wiped out financially.

It is not only the wealthiest that got duped, however, many smaller investors, who worked hard all their lives, invested their life savings with an alleged crook.

There are many questions that remain unanswered today regarding Madoff, but one of the biggest to me is why the authorities allowed him to be released on only a $10 million bond when the possibilities exist that he is either going to kill himself or attempt to flee the country.

Stated simply, I can't see how anyone could live with themselves after doing such a thing; the burden of guilt would just be too much for any human being with a half-developed conscience to bear.

For more on my take on the Madoff mess, here is what I had to say about the subject on CNBC's 'Kudlow & Company' on Friday night.

Doug Kass writes daily for RealMoney Silver, a premium bundle service from TheStreet.com. For a free trial to RealMoney Silver and exclusive access to Mr. Kass' daily trading diary, please click here.

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