1. Secure financial foundation
  • Pay off debts and set aside an emergency fund (6–12 months expenses).
  • Hire a fee-only financial planner and estate attorney to create a diversified investment plan and estate documents.
  1. Invest for long-term stability
  • Allocate broadly: e.g., 40–60% diversified global equities (index funds/ETFs), 20–40% fixed income/bonds, 5–10% real assets (real estate/REITs), 5–10% alternatives (private equity, hedge funds) — tailored to risk tolerance.
  • Keep a tax-efficient structure (IRAs, 529s, trusts, tax-loss harvesting).
  1. Personal priorities
  • Purchase or upgrade a primary residence sensibly (no more than ~5–10% of net worth if prioritizing growth).
  • Set aside travel, education, and lifestyle funds in a separately managed bucket to avoid overspending.
  1. Give back
  • Create a donor-advised fund or charitable foundation for sustainable philanthropic impact; focus on causes aligned with values (education, health, climate).
  1. Invest in people and projects
  • Seed education funds for family, mentor startups or social enterprises, and support local community initiatives.
  1. Protect and preserve
  • Buy appropriate insurance (umbrella, property, health), and implement estate planning to preserve wealth across generations.

Reference: Basic wealth-management principles — Bogle on low-cost index investing; standard estate/financial planning practices (see CFP Board resources).

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