When/if the market hits my trigger points I will buy a Vanguard S and P 500 index fund. The easiest, quickest, and cheapest way to get domestic market exposure.

Leave in cash and go visit some chartered financial advisors. Go to some of those seminars are just call them up and meet with them. Michael Whitaker and associates have seminars at Legacy Restaurant go and feel them out. Look up others but since you do not need the funds take your time and meet with advisors and insurance agents but advisor.

Meet with someone at the Fidelity office in Sumter. They've given me great advice over the years and we made some shifts out of equities in January, weeks before this recent crash. I trust them. Just my 2 cents!

Gold
 

I would recommend gold coins or gold. Gold is rising right now when all else is failing. We just had cashed some in and was worth $2000 more per coin than what we aquired for. Long term you can always go gold certificates. Very safe and probably best bet right now with unsure markets.

Let me recommend this: VTSAX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. It provides exposure to the entire U.S. equity market, including small-, mid-, and large-cap growth and value stocks.

I completely agree with "Stan the Man" and other similar posts. With that level of resources, why would you accept advice from someone(s) about whom you know nothing ; zilch, nada? You might want to reconsider your approach towards acquiring investment advice.
jus' sayin'

That is an excellent fund and I used to own shares in it. But, the Vanguard S&P 500 Index fund has actually had a slightly higher average annual return during the last 10 year period, 13.52 percent vs 13.42 percent. Both funds have the same expense ratio. Personally, I have been more comfortable using the S&P 500 Index Fund because all the companies in the fund are large companies. The concept of including some smaller companies may sound good, but it doesn't seem to deliver higher long term returns.

This neighbor has 32 years experience on wall street...…………. Sectors / industries are the way to go.

Just remember a financial advisor with a 2.5% annual fee is 25 % after 10 years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One interesting point with Vanguard
 

swap s

Vanguard has applied for a patent about the way that their taxable account funds don't have any Capital Gains at the end of the year. There was a Barrons/Wall St journal article about that within the last year.

What they do is swap losers for gainers in certain ways, and there is a higher average price / return due to zero tax payments by you, withdrawing funds to pay. That will show up when you sell the shares as you will have a higher gain upon sale than paying capital gains taxes along the way.

Just something to think about.

sportsguy

Fixed indexed annuities have been a blessing to us. Suggest contacting Parady Financial for detailed info.

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I would suggest that anyone who is considering buying an annuity to read the following articles by Clark Howard.

Ask Clark: Is it still a bad idea to buy annuities? - Clark Howard

Thinking about an annuity? Here's why they stink! - Clark Howard

There is also other good advice about annuities on Clark's website at clark.com.

buy .........VYM
.........use the dividends or reinvest.

There are tax consequences to giving that much money to your kids all at once. Talk to an expert before doing that!

Based on my experience in the financial management business, we had a client who had an inherited account with TIAA/CREF and wanted to move it to our Schwab platform. The TIAA representative gave our client no end of trouble about redeeming her funds. It took about four months of procrastination and calls for excessive documentation by TIAA before our client finally got her money. TIAA was a wealth of wrong information. I agree with others to take your time, find an advisor who will provide an investment plan, and help you put your funds in Vanguard, T Rowe Price, Schwab or some other reputable firm. Go to the SEC Broker Check website and check out any advisor or broker you are considering doing business with. This site will provide the qualifications of the advisor, any disciplinary actions, and a form called the ADV that spells out how the advisor does business. Also available is a Brochure that discussed in plain English how the business is conducted, as well as the fees charged. If nothing more, stick the funds in a money market fund until you have a good investment plan.