diff --git a/attr_dict.py b/attr_dict.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52cad55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/attr_dict.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python3
+
+class AttrDict(dict):
+    '''
+    Allow keys of a dictionary to also be called like class attributes:
+
+        >>> regions = {'Milotic': 'Hoenn'}
+        >>> regions['Milotic']
+        Hoenn
+        >>> regions.Milotic
+        AttributeError: 'dict' object has no attribute 'Milotic'
+
+        >>> regions = AttrDict({'Milotic': 'Hoenn'})
+        >>> regions['Milotic']  # standard dict behavior
+        Hoenn
+        >>> regions.Milotic  # behavior enabled by AttrDict
+        Hoenn
+
+    Also handles setting and deleting keys/attrs. Nested dicts are also
+    converted to AttrDict instances. Less-than-free-range code.
+    '''
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.update(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    # Handle setting new keys, turning any nested dicts into AttrDicts as well
+    def __setitem__(self, key, val):
+        if isinstance(val, dict) and not isinstance(val, AttrDict):
+            val = AttrDict(val)
+        super().__setitem__(key, val)
+
+    def update(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        for key, val in dict(*args, **kwargs).items():
+            self.__setitem__(key, val)
+
+    # Allow dict keys to be called, set, and deleted like class attributes
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        try:
+            return self[name]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise AttributeError(name)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, val):
+        # leave handling private variable assignment to parent dict type
+        if name.startswith('_'):
+            return super().__setattr__(name, val)
+        self.__setitem__(name, val)
+
+    def __delattr__(self, name):
+        try:
+            del self[name]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise AttributeError(name)
diff --git a/portfolio_maker.py b/portfolio_maker.py
index d8f1bb1..f4ae8e0 100755
--- a/portfolio_maker.py
+++ b/portfolio_maker.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
+from attr_dict import AttrDict
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from io import BytesIO, TextIOWrapper
 from zipfile import ZipFile
@@ -47,7 +48,8 @@ def __init__(self, sat_frac, relative_core_frac=True):
         self._valid_tix = self._fetch_ticker_info()
 
         # set up initial class attributes
-        self.assets = {}
+        self.assets = AttrDict()
+        # allows keys to be called like attrs (e.g., assets['df'] or assets.df)
         self.tick_info = pd.DataFrame()
         # will eventually contain rows of assets selected from valid_tix
 
diff --git a/simulator.py b/simulator.py
index 7a180e6..e56840a 100755
--- a/simulator.py
+++ b/simulator.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
+from attr_dict import AttrDict
 from better_abc import ABC, abstract_attribute, abstractmethod
 from datetime import timedelta
 from portfolio_maker import PortfolioMaker
@@ -120,8 +121,9 @@ def __init__(self, Portfolio, cash=1e4,
         # track the current simulation date
         self.today = self.open_date
 
-        # validate proposed asset dictionary, then add historical data to it
-        self.assets = self._validate_assets_dict(Portfolio, verbose)
+        # validate proposed asset dictionary, then add historical data to it.
+        # allow keys to be called like attrs (e.g., assets['df'] or assets.df)
+        self.assets = AttrDict(self._validate_assets_dict(Portfolio, verbose))
 
         # make arrays of all dates in set and all *active* dates
         self.all_dates, self.active_dates = self._get_date_arrays()