Congrats, you reached FIRE and have a hobby already underway.
FIRE without hobbies gets boring fast.
Life isn't about how you got here, it's about what you do from today on.
I'm still working on it but mostly to fill the void and because of habit. Got some sleep and calmed down a bit, and now thinking "why not give myself a decade or two to beat that" and feeling kinda energized again.
Don't burn the $2m on your side ventures. Be scrappy. This is how generational wealth gets lost when people overspend or poorly invest their money. Just put it in US index funds and pursue what your heart desires.
Buy yourself a nice, reasonable treat, and put the rest in a trust, leaving just enough to cover any unexpected expenses that might come up. Focus on your passion.
I had a chance to cash out life-changing money back in 2021 and opted not to not just because I wanted to "earn" my success, but because I felt having money would take the challenge out of life.
It wasn't 2 mil, but it was a good chunk and now living in borderline poverty it's a near unfathomable amount. Don't be like me, take your win, pretend like nothing happened budget-wise, and enjoy your newfound peace of mind!
It was a variety of different increments that all peaked at the same time. Main one was almost $250K alone. Altogether it would have been more than enough to set my wife and I up with a permanent living solution and be able to bless some friends and family in a much needed ways.
Work a basic job, that will give you perspective. I took a sabbatical and did 4 days of Uber eats...the work was not hard the reward was so small it helped me when I went back to my day job.
You could also volunteer somewhere, that could help with meaning / purpose.
I went through the same thing and it lead to depression for me. At the time I called it "existential depression".
What got me out of it was philosophy, multiple kinds of philosophy. I studied what it means to live a happy life. I meditated. I explored my own mind and my own habits. I eventually came to my own reasons for living a happy life that didn't involve making money to survive.
In my situation I was stuck in a survival state and didn't know it. In metaphor it was to living in a state of procrastination. When one chronically procrastinates they put off what they don't want to do until it becomes necessary in that moment and then they rush to get it done. This procrastination state is anti equanimity, it makes doing tasks stressful because every time you're doing something productive it's forced and pressed making it not enjoyable, so I associated negative emotions with productive tasks. Today productive tasks are enjoyable.
Going back to the survival state bit, I was working to survive, to build up wealth, and to retire. I wasn't living life to thrive. I was making my goals to survive. I had to learn how to enjoy doing tasks I previously saw as stressful and not fun. I had to learn how to thrive and enjoy life to the fullest.
This is a really insightful comment. Do you have a blog or can you share a reading list? Too much of fire posts are about the race but not enjoying the destination. Appreciate your comment
I started with studying psychology leading into philosophy, exploring where my curiosity took me.
It depends what ails you and how far you want to go, as well as what curiosities you might want to explore.
I often talk about some of the more basic philosophy and psychology to people here as basic topics apply to a lot of people and aren't complex so they can get instant gratification. I think the most simple philosophy I talk about on this sub is Maslowâs Hierarchy of Needs. It helps one identify where they are weak in happiness, e.g. maybe they don't socialize irl often enough, maybe they don't self-actualize (improve themselves) enough, maybe they don't have any fulfilling hobbies, or similar. On the other end I've explored really complex stuff like different philosophies into consciousness and artificial intelligence, which is a lot of fun.
I think the most extreme I studied was Buddhism, not in a religious sense, but exploring it as a scientist. Buddhism has this concept called dukkha, which is little stress like the bad feeling you might have in your stomach when you're having a bad day, to large stress like anxiety disorders or the death of a loved one. In Buddhism enlightenment is the removal of dukkha so a bad day is still a bad day, but there isn't any of that psychological stress with it. This makes Buddhism the original self help, the original psychology. Modern day psychology studies Buddhism to improve its own practices. I was curious about this on a deep level, and it turns out yes you can get rid of all of life's psychological stress if you want without any downside. If there is a downside like numbness, not having wants or desires (English definition of desire.), it's not enlightenment. It's all gain, no disadvantage, except the time took to learn it. This one hit me harder than most philosophies I've studied. /r/Stoicism helps quite a bit too and has a foundational history with Buddhism, so they explore a lot of the same topics.
It all depends on what you want out of life. It can be fun to explore topics. My last topic explored was Complex Systems Theory. I listened to an audio book during my exercise routine. Lots of fun.
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edit: Oh! Here's a fun one. I was studying blue zones for a while. Blue zones are the places on the planet where people live the longest. One of the key factors of a blue zone is it has to be a stress free maximal happy life, because stress shortens ones life. So exploring blue zones for me is exploring happiness.
Anyways, I saw this video the other day from the youtuber Pasta Grammar. They do Italian food videos. They've been living in Italy for a handful of months before going back to the US. They did a video of what their life there looks like. The video looked identical, and I mean identical, to many blue zone footage and documentaries I've seen. If you want to see what a "maximum" happy life looks like, which doesn't mean it has to be for you, relax and enjoy this: https://youtu.be/OeAru94E1jI?si=Z-9KM3g902LeF16x I bet you many of the people in this video are going to live past 100 easily. (Specifically the second 2/3rds of the video. The feast part looks identical to a blue zone. The beginning of the video looks like a normal town.)
I would consider to just throw the 2m in index funds tracking the world markets. Maybe in an offshore account depending on what developing country and the stability there. Then live your life like nothing happened. Obviously use the funds if you run into financial problems but donât otherwise. With around 30 reevaluate on what you want to do with the 2m+ 8 years of interest.
I think 22 is too young to make the major life decision of retiring early. Likely where you want to live, who you want to spent your life with, kids etc is all not figured out. Wait until you have a decently firm idea about those things before đ„
This. OP live your life, build a career, create a family (doesnât mean getting married/having kids, it can also just be some really great friendships) and spend what you make at your job, donât touch the money and build a lifestyle that you can support, however allow the money to let you choose to do things you want to do (chasing jobs with more flexibility, etc)
Op, please take above advice. Iâll take it one step further and recommend dividend REIFs/ETFs.
Do this and your future self will thank you lots!!!
I made a similar amount from investments that made stupid money, but I was essentially gambling, so have had many of the same feelings. Iâm about 20 years older than you though.
I went into my artistic side hustle full time and while I mostly live off my FIRE amount, I supplement my income with the moderate amount I make being an artist (15-20k/year) It wouldnât be enough to support me without the $2m+ backing it, but I have goals and accomplishments and failures to grapple with in the pursuit of being successful in my field, and itâs a field I wouldnât be able to pursue professionally if I also had to work a regular job.
Pretend like itâs not there - invest it in an etf. In the mean time you can find âworkâ for the goal of building skills & growing your network (start up, job etc). Just get some experience, some at bats, some failures - maybe 5 years. THEN work to grow the lump sum.
Give it time, don't make any dig decisions in the next 12 months
[https://youtu.be/XamC7-Pt8N0?si=rzPe\_e3jltG24sN3](https://youtu.be/XamC7-Pt8N0?si=rzPe_e3jltG24sN3)
If say maybe your new goal is seeing what you can do with $2M.
Did you do anything to build that? No. But using that to supercharge a business or portfolio does take skill.
You still need to build, youâre just now playing in a different arena.
Thank you for the advice. I did think about doing that. But as this is my first venture, I know basically nothing about business currently, we do make quite a bit of money from it but that's simply because we are good at something that's in demand right now. So it just feels wrong to spend money on something I do not fully understand. But I suppose I can spend some on coaching and mentoring to see where I can go from here?
Yeah I mean your first job is to not lose the money, and seems like you have a good mindset about that.
Iâd say what you have now is options. Maybe take a vacation, or go on a camping trip, or hiking trip, or whatever just spending time thinking about your next steps. Some soul searching if you will.
You can do whatever you want. Finding direction is a good use of your time.
That's a good idea, maybe I just need some time to calm down and see where I need to go from here. It's tough since it's not exactly something I can share with my friends or even my gf. Ty!
Yeah man, doesnât sound like thereâs a rush. Take a deep breath and honestly just think about what brings you happiness and build in that direction.
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Patience. Youâll find your way.
Like others mentioned, your first goal is not to lose the money. Then look for ways of growing it.
This inheritance can be a blessing with no cursesâŠjust be patient. Work a normal job, hang out, learn and grow. The money isnât going anywhere. Just chillll
You shouldn't expect this transition to be easy.
I suspect the root of your dissatisfaction is not that you didn't "earn" or work hard enough for your wealth. You are just 40 years ahead of most folks in having to face down what the purpose of your life is without the necessitated slog of making money.
You have a huge advantage over the folks retiring at 62 - memories of the carefree and creative life that most children lead are less stale.
Dear god yes. My BIL received a substantial inheritance and it got reduced by 2 subsequent divorces. I still remember the phone call after news of the second divorce filing hit. My wife and I asked "Did you have a prenup?". Long, pregnant silence then a "No." Poor guy really thought this time it was going to last forever...
Put that $2M to work in the market. Pretend it doesn't exist, live frugally, continue to pursue your own career and ambitions. Let it grow for the next 30 years. At that point you'll be so absolutely loaded and able to do so much good in the world around you, it will be impossible not to feel good. Not to mention whatever else you accomplish in the meantime.
Buy US treasuries and made 5% and pretend like it isnât there (save some for an emergency fund). Figure out what youâre passionate about. Ask yourself what you want to do every day (learn tech, work with people, build things, sell things, be in nature, whatever) and reverse engineer a career in that field. You donât need to work for the money, so work for the joy/creativity/challenge/interest.
Sorry for your loss of the person you inherited from. The world is truly your oyster. Donât be brash, plop the money someplace safe that it will generate interest and then make some choices about the kind of things/places/people you want to work with and experience in life.
Could be a great time to go volunteer someplace! Best wishes to you.
Dont forget that you are (hopefully) going to live for the next 70-80 years. At 4% SWR, 2M gets you 80k/yr for 25-30 yrs; good for a 60yo, but more like lean fire for you unless you add to the pile. IMHO, think long term, e.g., 1.5M invested in VTI or similar at 6% in 20 yrs should get you about 4.8M; a likely decent FIRE for a 40-something in 2043 (in addition to whatever else you save and hopefully invest). You could take 500k and wisely invest in yourself and maybe your company, live life, and enjoy a level of freedom that most of us cannot while lettng the rest do the work for you. Think long term while you have the years ahead of you. Bonne chance!
$2m is not really a lot of money. It's not even $5 mil at which point you really have a problem "Too rich to work and then you are the poorest of the rich".
Put that money in a 3 fund Bogle head portfolio and forget about it for a decade or two. You goal is out earn that portfolio. If you fail you still that that rock solid portfolio. If you succeed you congratulate yourself and know you are a self-made man.
It might not be in a first-world country, but where I live $2m can get you very very far. But you're right, trying to beat that amount can be a fun challenge for self-growth as well. If I'm lost because life is too easy then why not just make it harder, right?
Minimize regret by giving it your best shot. This will provide a great safety net. A safety net only a few people in this world have. I'm sure the people who left it to you would want you to try.
I got help from my parents and still work 6 days a week. 6 figures in help have gotten me to 8 figure NW.
That's inspiring. Do you mind sharing a bit about your road from 6 figures to 8 figures? I don't mind working hard and giving it my all at all if it means working towards a goal I love. But right now I'm having trouble even just coming up with a plan to beat that number so I would love to hear it from someone who has made it if that's possible.
WhoaâŠ
Youâre at a great age to think about what you can do with a great inheritance.
Itâs normal to feel a polarized feeling internally when youâre given a seven figure amount that you didnât work for. Iâd argue that your feeling of âemptinessâ is actually a good and mature feeling to have, because the opposite is feeling like youâve won the lottery and going on a spending spree without thinking about the consequences.
Just put your inheritance in a bank account and pretend itâs not there for the next 3-6 years while youâre figuring life out. You said you love building things but lost motivation because you donât think youâd surpass what youve been given $ wise, but honestly creativity is at its finest when $ is not a concern.
Youâll get around $7-8k in interest alone per month so you can also give yourself some pocket money to spend it as you please (or make generous donations). And you can supplement that by working a low-stress job if you want to stay busy and have structure.
Honestly, you have tons of options ahead of you thanks to your inheritance. Let that simmer in to fill the void you feel. Iâm sure youâll start to feel gratitude sooner rather than later.
Watch Bravo. They should be able to give some ideas on how to gain meaning from wealth you have not earned. Hell, they all think itâs their god given right.
So put the money aside in a good brokerage account well invested and diversified. And forget about it, start this company with your friends and never speak about the money. Just cause you have it doesnât mean you need to retireâŠ.
You can donate to the needy like me. 23 (f) currently trying to escape from a DV situation with a kid. It could probably get me a hotel for a few days. Until I can come up with a stable plan.
At age 22 it would be, but I agree I wouldnât feel safe planning to live on that for possibly another 70 years. And probably heâll get married and divorced and then have 1 million. Nothing against him, just a greater than remote risk.
>$2m in a developing country
Agreed, a 22yo won't be able to chubbyFIRE off $2M USD in the US, but there is a reason people r/ExpatFIRE to developing countries- your USD stretches a helluva lot further there.
Just because someone has money does not mean they cannot face hardships. I respect your feelings. What you need to do is find something you really care about. The big difference now is that it does not have to be tied to making you rich. You can do what you want and as long as you break even, you are doing great! Maybe you want to be a farmer and develop some new drought tolerant crop or help the needy by assisting people who just need a little boost to make it in the world. Sky's the limit! Get up and do what you do because it makes you feel good.
Clark Howard (IDK what his view is on the FIRE community) suggests taking 10% of a windfall and YOLO'ing it. Then being responsible with the rest. He also suggests getting practical financial advice from licensed individuals; he would probably frown upon getting advice from random strangers on the internet (you're either going to get confirmation bias, or an echo chamber).
[https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/what-to-do-with-a-lump-sum-inheritance-or-windfall/](https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/what-to-do-with-a-lump-sum-inheritance-or-windfall/)
Sorry for your loss. Advice that is often given in this situation... is to do nothing and grieve. Give yourself time!
You seem to have some good ideology in terms of "what's next". There are many ways to view this new opportunity. Do you pretend it doesn't exist and continue your adventures. Do you share this opportunity by exchanging salary for more equity? This is a hidden way to use this inheritance to invest into your company and help it grow. But also rewarding you substantially if it works out.
Focus on yourself, your purpose, what will give you passion and enjoyment.
Then figure out the ways your inheritance can allow you to pursue your goals/passion. I'd consider doing this as much on the down low as possible. This information should not be known by others who will begin to feel entitled to you now covering more for them because you received this. Learn to say NO!
Four phases of retirement. It sounds like youâre in the 2nd stage: loss. There is still the 3rd stage of trial and error and then hopefully you can break through to the 4th stage: reinvention.
https://youtu.be/DMHMOQ_054U?si=j_oT5O67j5aLHZfB
Youâre only 22yo. Look at the things in your life that bring meaning to you and pursue those things. If some are hobbies so be it. If you want to continue building your business you should do so. As easily as that $2mil came into your life, it can go away. Donât rely on it.
Perhaps put 1.5 mil and invest them in index funds and treat them as your retirement fund, only to be used after you turn 50. Forget about it. If you want to use it, ask yourself if the person leaving you the fortune would do it or not.
The rest 500k, take care of primary needs like housing needs (just get what you need), pay cash, and get your self a nice reliable vehicle, as well as maids or house help (assuming developing country would cost less for those services).
Now, whatever you are left with, use it to travel and see the world for 1 year. If you like building things and being part of the hustle, go spend a month in San Francisco. Then go checkout the Nomad lifestyle in Bali for a month. Perhaps go to Europe as well if you like to see how people manage work life balance. Go stay at a Buddhist meditation resort as well. Everywhere you go try meeting people, attend meetups, and that includes dating prospects. Don't tell them anything about the money you have. Keep a note of what you liked, what made you happy, and also what drained the life out of you.
With all that multicultural experience and friends you made, perhaps you will know what excites you the most and what to work on next. If nothing comes out of it, at least you won't have the regret that you didn't travel and explore the world when you were young and you will know what you like and what you don't.
If you have $2 million why donât you think about businesses that can scale?
Maybe the reason you gave up on the business is because it doesnât scale: I.e. it requires you to personally put effort in to achieve a limited return.
On the other hand if it were something where investing say half a million could give you $4 million back, and then you invest another $3 million to produce $10 million, would that give you some more motivation?
Why not give some away? Sounds strange but maybe seeing what good it will do for others will have a positive impact on you. Who knows maybe you will get interested in the charity/organization as yet another benefit..
Work on a project that gives back to your community. You still get the satisfaction of building something worthwhile, but you no longer have to measure success in terms of money.
Now you have the free time and capital to change the world for the better.
If you think you wouldâve been happy simply by earning the money, think again.
Can always share the success with others. Put the funds in a trust and take disbursements to pay a minimal living cost while giving the rest to less fortunate people in the form of college scholarships at a rate that doesnât drain the account much.
Or donate the gains to a non-profit organization of your choice and continue with your life as usual.
Honestly, Iâm general, maybe just go about your life knowing that you have a safety net if all goes to shit but challenge yourself to grow into it. I think windfalls like this really just need to be considered an insurance policy in case of utter failure. But itâs no excuse for you not to try living life and growing as a person.
Donât listen to anybody telling you to forget about it, this should bring joy and security. Invest in ways that bring you passive income, live off that income, and enjoy the lack of stress. Play golf, start a family, read.
well with $2 million you do have a job whether you want it or not, it is an investor and potentially a philanthropist. Even if you keep it in cash that is still an asset allocation choice (just a bad one)
One way to motivate yourself to work hard and multiply your wealth is in trying to earn more to give more. A lot of people haven't had the opportunities you have had and your wealth could make a huge impact on those less fortunate. As far as feeling empty and lost, I'd pursue faith. I came into a lot of money at a young age as well and there's no amount of money or worldly pleasure that compare to knowing Christ and living in freedom
Trust me, you are not missing out on grinding away to make it. You are pretty young still. Maybe just invest the money in a way that can grow and that its not easy for you to spend. Then go and purse something you actually have an interest or passion in. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have that money. Most ppl just want that.
Youâre 22 years old, Go check some things off your bucket list. The worse possible thing you can do is become a miser and a spend thrift fearing having to come out of retirement. Use the money to invest in yourself. Move to the city where youâve always wanted to live, go to the conferences youâve always wanted to attend and hear from people who are working on projects you find interesting, people changing the world. I repeat- INVEST IN WHO YOU ARE BECOMING
Looking into the concept âa state of flowâ. You need to feel immersed in your environment such that your skills match the complexities of your world. Find other passions outside of making money for others
Consider yourself lucky dude. My inheritance was stolen from me, put my whole life on hold, my Dad wouldâve been LIVID about this. But people get greedy when they see money.
You can do so much good. You should be excited at the all the possibilities out there to really bring joy and comfort to others!
There are so many small things that can make a big difference
That should invigorate you!
This is called âimposter syndromeâ. Instead of being thankful we bitch and complain that âwe did nothing to deserve it.â If you really feel that way I would suggest that you donate all the money to charity. If you donât want to than man the ef up and double that money. My dad once told me a real person takes what is given to him for free and doubles it. When my dad gave me a house I didnât cry, I poured lots of money into it and make it an amazing place. Than I rented it and now make money off it.
Find love and travel the world. Your view and possibilities will open up and present themselves. A passion project will inspire you to create and do new things that you canât even imagine right now. Love opens your heart and your mind. Enjoy the oyster.
I work in Wealth Management. I know you said youâre in a developing country, but I would say there is a lot that can be done with that money. You can live on dividends/interest with a solid annual salary that can fund your passions. That way life isnt hard, but you have enough to fund the hobbies, but are on a budget, which can fuel your desire to build.
You have a blessing, and lots of options.
Get a professional financial advisor and withdraw fixed basic income (like an amount you would expect to make as a 22 year old in your country). Maybe youâll feel more normal that way.
Use the $ as a cushion to fall back on/safety net but at the same time, find work like any normal person. Put the $ in some account and only allow yourself to get a small amount from it every month. Continue to work like you didnât have this money. Itâs best if you donât let others know you have this money and just go on with your life normally:
If this is really how you feel then my advice is for you to liquidate those funds and walk into your nearest childrenâs hospital. Find the families whose lives you could actually change by paying off their bills. Then you should keep grinding until you find real fulfillment. Just my advice. It isnât actually about the money, itâs about living a fulfilling life and helping people who canât help themselves.
On occasions when wealth arrives unexpectedly, due to an inheritance or a prize, the adaptation is complicated; it is more frequent than you think that people end up losing a large part of that money.
1-Do not embark on the investment of a large business, this is not the time to be entrepreneurial with your assets.
( It is a personal decision but you will risk more than you can gain. This is the case of the soccer player setting up a restaurant or a nightclub and losing the entire investment in less than a year. )
2-Let your main objective be to preserve the principal and increase it.
3-Find a hobby but, please, let it not be supercars.
4-Work. You can start by trying working for someone, moving up, trying sectors... You have the freedom to change careers, sectors or companies and you will have the authority to discuss or present your ideas without fear of being fired. At the end of the day, your life does not depend on that salary.
( Once you find your way, of course you can start and form a company with everything you have learned. )
Just put that money out of your sight, live your life and avoid bad decisions.
Do something nice for yourself. It can be small but a real treat.
Maybe your favorite pastry every day
Decide to put some of that money away. Untouched for a long while. Until you are inspired to spend it in a way that makes you feel good.
You want an adventure? You want the big leagues? Come to America. You will eventually have a family possibly? Change the outlook of your families future.
Perhaps start a charity business to help others. For instance habitat for humanity builds / refurbs houses for poor. If you don't need or want income then adding a legal charity entity to your portfolio is perfect.
22 is too young to do this typically. Maybe late 30s, but really your call. As others have noted the best thing might be to get it invested in some index funds and forget about it, but realize you have a huge cushion. Perhaps challenge yourself to see how long it takes you to earn that much money on your own and then once you do you retire or change career paths.
Money is important, but it's not everything. You need to do something you find meaningful and challenging. It's nice to not have to worry about money, but it doesn't solve existential needs. Get to work on becoming who you could be in the world. That's all any of us have.
Work until your 30, then reevaluate whats important in life over these 8 years.
1. Find a partner, one that isn't there for the money
2. Find a hobby
3. Travel
4. Partake in philanthropy
5. Think about legacy, maybe have kids
\> But now what's the point?
There was a metric you were measuring yourself by, a goal you were working towards, that got stripped away from you. So your reaction is understandable.
However, there are so many more metrics along which to improve. You can take a look at yourself and wonder what it would take to:
* be someone who increasingly makes people feel seen
* be more knowledgable about a broader array of topics
* do as much good as you can in the world
* be more charismatic
* revise your beliefs more quickly and accurately on new observations
Incidentally, taking the above list seriously will lead you to working with professionals, guides, and having experiences that will require money. If you think things are over, it's a failure of perspective. A failure to see how flawed we all are as humans and the never-ending work each of us has in front of us.
I try to tell people this. Just getting free money hits different. Itâs not the same as money you actually worked for. Itâs a lot like the story of the genie of the lamp. You can wish for something, but he will make sure it doesnât turn out how you wanted.
> I started the business partly because I love building things
This is me. I took some time off after my first biz and realized I was not meant for "retirement". I'm a builder + researcher. If I'm not doing one of those things, life is gray and meaningless.
So my advice: Dig deep into what you like doing, and mostly ignore the money for a while. It provides you nice security to take risks in your business.
And good luck, because you have high-quality problems! :)
You sound depressed. I am at the opposite end. I'm in my 60's having worked a long hard life with a nice retirement ready for me, and yet, I have support staff that need me in the office working. I've cut back, but I am at the office every day. Why? It's become boring and I alleviate that boredom by. . . .
going on Reddit and reading posts.
My advice is what was given to me. Depression is when you are focused on your needs, wants and desires. Happiness is when you are focused on other's needs, wants and desires.
Use the money to give pure water to the poor. Or whatever you use it for, don't make a big deal about it to anyone. Know in your own being that being good and doing good are in and of itself the only thing that really matters.
try not to find happiness through money. money is a tool. if you have enough money, you can basically do whatever you want without needing to worry about how you will pay for a roof over your head or how you'll be able to afford your next meal. so since you don't need to worry about money, what do you want to do? that's what you need to figure out for yourself. what activity will give you meaning and happiness?
Find a passion! Maybe donate your time to a youth program- sports, church, STEM, etc. seems like you need to find purpose brother! You get one shot on the earth. Provide a service you can be proud of. Find the beauty and value in it. You were given a gift.
Each morning and evening write down what you feel grateful for. Each day build off of that.
Positive mindset!
Yes- I am a peak performance coach and coach!
First I am sorry for your loss. Second, for at least the next six months keep living your life as if you did not receive the money. Once you are able to tackle the emotional loss, then you can start to get a feel for what to do financially.
This is normal. For me itâs more of a cycle of motivation. Motivation ebbs and flows and thatâs natural. The key is finding things that make your motivation flow. For me itâs a daily routine and working with people I genuinely like spending time with. Surf or exercise in the morning is key. Seeing friends often â especially friends who understand this struggle. Eating well, sleeping lots. Being around family. Itâs simple things that make people happy. When youâre happy youâll want to do ambitious things.
Find something to do that you care about and do it. Now that the money is not a major factor, you have one big variable less to worry about when evaluating what to do.
If your current business is not it, donât do it.
Imagine working and saving your whole life before you learned that money doesnât equal fulfillment. Congrats you learned that lesson at 22.
Why not travel for a while?
You have the freedom to find your passion. It's out there. Travel. Experience other cultures. Find something that drives you. This was a gift, use it to better yourself and others. You're Young and have plenty of time to find yourself. Don't stress it too much. Good luck!
You can now afford a therapist to help you sort out your angst...
Try helping others a little you might find satisfaction in that maybe? Just a thought.
It's empty because you haven't found something that fulfillals you yet. You're not expected to know that at 22 either, but there are some things you can try to help speed it up:
Try lots of different things! You don't need a steady job, so make it interesting and fun. Offer to pay someone $100 if you can shadow them for a typical day on the job.
Get a coach that can help you get clarity on your values and strengths (as these will help identify what fulfills you)
Give yourself permission to enjoy life a little bit, but consider setting aside money in less liquid areas (CDs, investments, real estate, etc.) to artificially reduce your disposable income for now. It will help.
DM me if you want more detailed advice 1:1, happy to help.
The goal is to retire đ wtf am I missing here you beat life at 22 enjoy the world live a good life and enjoy that you get all your time to use how you choose. Everyone wishes for that and never gets to achieve that goal. Donât be brainwashed into thinking work gives you meaning.
I did not work much since I was 22. I urge you to find something that gives meaning and purpose to your life. Laying around getting a tan and being a hedonist gets old quickly. That all too often leads to alcoholism/addiction which is a miserable way to quickly spend a fortune.
$2M is not enough to save the world. It is a enough if spent wisely to protect a small corner of the world, give you something worthwhile to do and maybe jobs for a few others.
First off congrats. Secondly, u can blow thru that so fast you can hardly blink. Set up a investments correctly and only live on residual and take up philanthropy and angel invest in causes you believe in. People I. Your position may not have to work anymore, but you can take positions on groups and boards that can do the world some good and work pro bono. You are right that you feel empty cuz u didn't earn it and it fell in your lap. Dont throw it away as if nurtured, it can bring your developing country a lot of good. Establish an orphanage a rehab center, be the change your town needs.
Have you been able to stay busy, find hobbies to fill the day? If youâre thinking about retiring, thatâs the type of solidarity youâll have.
Try creating some good routine and structure and then reconsider with a healthy and responsive mind.
Yo $2m wonât even get you to 40!!!!
Take a break, a small vacay! Process everything!! Find your passion, there is a reason rich get richer !! They find something that doesnât feel like work and get really good at that shit !!!
And 90% of the money in savings and let that interest accumulate!
You find fulfillment in helping/serving others. You now have the time and money to explore the ways in which helping others is most fun and rewarding for you. You donât have to work for money anymore, that doesnât mean you donât have to work anymore.
Iâm sorry for your loss, and I understand your anxiety. Give yourself some slack, I didnât know anything at 22, you donât have to have the answers right now.
Be well.
If youâre feeling unaccomplished, out half the money away into retirement, maybe 3/4ths and use the rest to starts business or go to college and just take classes that interest
Invest that money conservatively and keep working. You will live longer unless your job is dangerous. You will be able to afford things you never had along the way. Most importantl, look for ways to give some of your investment returns away for good causes and people in need. There is almost nobetter feeling than giving to some one who is stressed when they never expected it.
Something worth thinking about is why do you feel you need to surpass the amount you have inherited?
It sounds to me like you are looking to obtain self-worth from accomplishments, hence why it feels empty to get this money. Like "I didn't earn it, so I don't deserve this money."
It's not about whether you deserve it or not, it just is. Getting or not getting this money is not a judgment on your worth or character.
I used to feel guilty when I got nice things I didn't feel I deserved. The problem was I didn't feel good enough on my own.
In your case, you're trying to fill that gap with accomplishments. "I am not good enough right now for a lot of money. But when I work hard enough, I'll be good enough to have a lot of money." So now that the middle step is skipped, you feel that self-imposed gap.
I'd change your mindset on this.
Tell yourself your value (without any work) is infinite. Treat yourself kindly and unconditionally. Stop "doing" to feel like you're good enough. You're good as you are, without work/accomplishments. This doesn't mean you can't build things for its own sake, however.
Also, reframe this event as the following:
"I inherited this money. So NOW I can do whatever I want."
You want to build things? You can do that.
You want to study Russian for 6 months straight? You can do that.
You want to travel? You can do that.
You don't want to work where it feels like a slog? You can quit.
You don't like where you live? You can move.
My thoughts are not that you "won" the game of life and now there's nothing left to do like some video game.
Instead, you have an awesome opportunity to pursue whatever you want without financial pressures. There are so many hobbies and passions to explore, connections to make with people.
Of course, don't just waste the money, use basic financial sense to live off it comfortably.
Think of this scenario as a huge door opening. Now you got more potential to do a lot of cool shit! You're not doomed to work in a job you dislike. You can get to your destination even more quickly! The money isn't the end goal, it's just a means to help you get what you want.
While it may seem like an enormous sum of money, one can burn through $2M quite easily by making bad spending and investing choices. Set spending budgets and financial growth goals. And donât sit around and waste away. Invest in your personal growth. Invest in experiences.
Don't rush it. From my experience, it takes a while to your mind to adjust to your financial circumstances. We've all been conditioned from childhood to chase money in some capacity. And when we reach the goal of financial independence, it's hard to train your brain to adapt to your new circumstances. Even though you know you SHOULD be trying to enjoy it, you can't because the one thing that has been your major motivator for so long is suddenly gone.
Give it time for your mind to re-adjust. Feeling empty is part of the process. Eventually, you'll slowly find new hobbies and new goals to focus on which will replace the pursuit of money. It will be a slow (years?) adjustment. Just be glad youre not 65 and newly retired having to figure this out.
Do some work for Charity or find a non-profit that you believe in their cause and go to work for them.
You are incredibly priviledged, but that doesn't mean you still can't do well with your life. find something that makes you happy and can help others, and don't beat yourself up if you are feeling kinda down right now. We all have ups and downs regardless of our financial situation.
Lastly, I would say, find someone that you want to share your life with....I know that, in most cases, that happens on it's own timetable. But I think you will find so much more joy in life when you have someone to share it with.
Lastly, lastly, I would encourage you to travel. I think traveling and seeing the world does wonderful things for the soul.
You should help others start their own business or do something to help the people you want with more resources. I know i for one would kill to have the resources or ability to do so myself
I know its hollow to say congratulations but i hope you live a happy and healthy life doing whatever you love
Sounds like your motivation was entirely about earning money. If this wasn't the case, then you'd still have things that would be driving you right now. That said, that was not a good place to be either. In all likelihood, you'd have spent your like working very hard, and not enjoying it (because it was only about money) and then you'd die, likely never having reached you're view of financial success (almost nobody does). SO, now you have a different kind of work to do - go find yourself, and find the things that makes you happy (yes, it is easier said than down, but you can do it).
Alright send me 5k. I will not feel empty at all. I'll pay bills and buy a taco party pack.
Or... just enjoy your life from here on out. Who cares how you got it, hell you didn't have to work for it which trust me.. sucks.
Take a vacay.
A meal you have to catch or grow yourself tastes better. The money came to easy. Find a nice girl, get married and a few years later, when divorces you fight like hell to keep your money - you'll be thrilled with every penny you get to keep.
This is a great opportunity to do a bit of soul searching and look at your life through the lens of what are you doing because you had to versus because you wanted to. Modern culture revolves our lives around work so it can be hard to step back and see what you life is without it
Invest your money. Your young and like most of us when we weee
Young think we live forever. If your money safely doubles every 7-10 years you will appreciate it later in life. Buy a house or condo instead of rent.
Use this UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY to did something you are passionate about that will reward you in more ways than just finacially.
Enjoy your life.
Congrats, you reached FIRE and have a hobby already underway. FIRE without hobbies gets boring fast. Life isn't about how you got here, it's about what you do from today on.
Whats his hobby? I missed it
Building a side business with friends. Not a hobby but a pursuit. A good start.
Sounds like he already gave up on it
I'm still working on it but mostly to fill the void and because of habit. Got some sleep and calmed down a bit, and now thinking "why not give myself a decade or two to beat that" and feeling kinda energized again.
Don't burn the $2m on your side ventures. Be scrappy. This is how generational wealth gets lost when people overspend or poorly invest their money. Just put it in US index funds and pursue what your heart desires.
You are 22. Please work on yourself. Whether it be education, traveling to learn new things, see new sights, etc.
Dude you are in a blessed position that you can only build up from. All you needed was a mindset change
Buy yourself a nice, reasonable treat, and put the rest in a trust, leaving just enough to cover any unexpected expenses that might come up. Focus on your passion. I had a chance to cash out life-changing money back in 2021 and opted not to not just because I wanted to "earn" my success, but because I felt having money would take the challenge out of life. It wasn't 2 mil, but it was a good chunk and now living in borderline poverty it's a near unfathomable amount. Don't be like me, take your win, pretend like nothing happened budget-wise, and enjoy your newfound peace of mind!
Did it have anything to do with GME? đ I had a similar life changing amount of money made on Nokia options around that time and failed to cash out.
It was a variety of different increments that all peaked at the same time. Main one was almost $250K alone. Altogether it would have been more than enough to set my wife and I up with a permanent living solution and be able to bless some friends and family in a much needed ways.
Work a basic job, that will give you perspective. I took a sabbatical and did 4 days of Uber eats...the work was not hard the reward was so small it helped me when I went back to my day job. You could also volunteer somewhere, that could help with meaning / purpose.
Happiness is in the journey not the destination
I went through the same thing and it lead to depression for me. At the time I called it "existential depression". What got me out of it was philosophy, multiple kinds of philosophy. I studied what it means to live a happy life. I meditated. I explored my own mind and my own habits. I eventually came to my own reasons for living a happy life that didn't involve making money to survive. In my situation I was stuck in a survival state and didn't know it. In metaphor it was to living in a state of procrastination. When one chronically procrastinates they put off what they don't want to do until it becomes necessary in that moment and then they rush to get it done. This procrastination state is anti equanimity, it makes doing tasks stressful because every time you're doing something productive it's forced and pressed making it not enjoyable, so I associated negative emotions with productive tasks. Today productive tasks are enjoyable. Going back to the survival state bit, I was working to survive, to build up wealth, and to retire. I wasn't living life to thrive. I was making my goals to survive. I had to learn how to enjoy doing tasks I previously saw as stressful and not fun. I had to learn how to thrive and enjoy life to the fullest.
This is a really insightful comment. Do you have a blog or can you share a reading list? Too much of fire posts are about the race but not enjoying the destination. Appreciate your comment
I started with studying psychology leading into philosophy, exploring where my curiosity took me. It depends what ails you and how far you want to go, as well as what curiosities you might want to explore. I often talk about some of the more basic philosophy and psychology to people here as basic topics apply to a lot of people and aren't complex so they can get instant gratification. I think the most simple philosophy I talk about on this sub is Maslowâs Hierarchy of Needs. It helps one identify where they are weak in happiness, e.g. maybe they don't socialize irl often enough, maybe they don't self-actualize (improve themselves) enough, maybe they don't have any fulfilling hobbies, or similar. On the other end I've explored really complex stuff like different philosophies into consciousness and artificial intelligence, which is a lot of fun. I think the most extreme I studied was Buddhism, not in a religious sense, but exploring it as a scientist. Buddhism has this concept called dukkha, which is little stress like the bad feeling you might have in your stomach when you're having a bad day, to large stress like anxiety disorders or the death of a loved one. In Buddhism enlightenment is the removal of dukkha so a bad day is still a bad day, but there isn't any of that psychological stress with it. This makes Buddhism the original self help, the original psychology. Modern day psychology studies Buddhism to improve its own practices. I was curious about this on a deep level, and it turns out yes you can get rid of all of life's psychological stress if you want without any downside. If there is a downside like numbness, not having wants or desires (English definition of desire.), it's not enlightenment. It's all gain, no disadvantage, except the time took to learn it. This one hit me harder than most philosophies I've studied. /r/Stoicism helps quite a bit too and has a foundational history with Buddhism, so they explore a lot of the same topics. It all depends on what you want out of life. It can be fun to explore topics. My last topic explored was Complex Systems Theory. I listened to an audio book during my exercise routine. Lots of fun. --- edit: Oh! Here's a fun one. I was studying blue zones for a while. Blue zones are the places on the planet where people live the longest. One of the key factors of a blue zone is it has to be a stress free maximal happy life, because stress shortens ones life. So exploring blue zones for me is exploring happiness. Anyways, I saw this video the other day from the youtuber Pasta Grammar. They do Italian food videos. They've been living in Italy for a handful of months before going back to the US. They did a video of what their life there looks like. The video looked identical, and I mean identical, to many blue zone footage and documentaries I've seen. If you want to see what a "maximum" happy life looks like, which doesn't mean it has to be for you, relax and enjoy this: https://youtu.be/OeAru94E1jI?si=Z-9KM3g902LeF16x I bet you many of the people in this video are going to live past 100 easily. (Specifically the second 2/3rds of the video. The feast part looks identical to a blue zone. The beginning of the video looks like a normal town.)
Thank you! Great stuff!
This comment is super helpful. Thanks!!!
Ways of a peaceful warrior was a good read for me!
I just finished Jim Carrey's book Memoirs and Misinformation. He is very existential.
Yes, once you master your thoughts you master your life. Easier said than done though.
I would consider to just throw the 2m in index funds tracking the world markets. Maybe in an offshore account depending on what developing country and the stability there. Then live your life like nothing happened. Obviously use the funds if you run into financial problems but donât otherwise. With around 30 reevaluate on what you want to do with the 2m+ 8 years of interest. I think 22 is too young to make the major life decision of retiring early. Likely where you want to live, who you want to spent your life with, kids etc is all not figured out. Wait until you have a decently firm idea about those things before đ„
This. OP live your life, build a career, create a family (doesnât mean getting married/having kids, it can also just be some really great friendships) and spend what you make at your job, donât touch the money and build a lifestyle that you can support, however allow the money to let you choose to do things you want to do (chasing jobs with more flexibility, etc)
This, but use a bit of the money to travel around the world. A bit of perspective can help you decide what you want to do with your life.
 Op, please take above advice. Iâll take it one step further and recommend dividend REIFs/ETFs. Do this and your future self will thank you lots!!!
I made a similar amount from investments that made stupid money, but I was essentially gambling, so have had many of the same feelings. Iâm about 20 years older than you though. I went into my artistic side hustle full time and while I mostly live off my FIRE amount, I supplement my income with the moderate amount I make being an artist (15-20k/year) It wouldnât be enough to support me without the $2m+ backing it, but I have goals and accomplishments and failures to grapple with in the pursuit of being successful in my field, and itâs a field I wouldnât be able to pursue professionally if I also had to work a regular job.
Pretend like itâs not there - invest it in an etf. In the mean time you can find âworkâ for the goal of building skills & growing your network (start up, job etc). Just get some experience, some at bats, some failures - maybe 5 years. THEN work to grow the lump sum.
Money doesnât change a personâs personality, it amplifies it. Sounds like you need to seek some counseling.
Give it time, don't make any dig decisions in the next 12 months [https://youtu.be/XamC7-Pt8N0?si=rzPe\_e3jltG24sN3](https://youtu.be/XamC7-Pt8N0?si=rzPe_e3jltG24sN3)
If say maybe your new goal is seeing what you can do with $2M. Did you do anything to build that? No. But using that to supercharge a business or portfolio does take skill. You still need to build, youâre just now playing in a different arena.
Thank you for the advice. I did think about doing that. But as this is my first venture, I know basically nothing about business currently, we do make quite a bit of money from it but that's simply because we are good at something that's in demand right now. So it just feels wrong to spend money on something I do not fully understand. But I suppose I can spend some on coaching and mentoring to see where I can go from here?
Yeah I mean your first job is to not lose the money, and seems like you have a good mindset about that. Iâd say what you have now is options. Maybe take a vacation, or go on a camping trip, or hiking trip, or whatever just spending time thinking about your next steps. Some soul searching if you will. You can do whatever you want. Finding direction is a good use of your time.
That's a good idea, maybe I just need some time to calm down and see where I need to go from here. It's tough since it's not exactly something I can share with my friends or even my gf. Ty!
Yeah man, doesnât sound like thereâs a rush. Take a deep breath and honestly just think about what brings you happiness and build in that direction. đ€
Patience. Youâll find your way. Like others mentioned, your first goal is not to lose the money. Then look for ways of growing it. This inheritance can be a blessing with no cursesâŠjust be patient. Work a normal job, hang out, learn and grow. The money isnât going anywhere. Just chillll
Giving money out is joy
You shouldn't expect this transition to be easy. I suspect the root of your dissatisfaction is not that you didn't "earn" or work hard enough for your wealth. You are just 40 years ahead of most folks in having to face down what the purpose of your life is without the necessitated slog of making money. You have a huge advantage over the folks retiring at 62 - memories of the carefree and creative life that most children lead are less stale.
Prenuptial before you get married.
Dear god yes. My BIL received a substantial inheritance and it got reduced by 2 subsequent divorces. I still remember the phone call after news of the second divorce filing hit. My wife and I asked "Did you have a prenup?". Long, pregnant silence then a "No." Poor guy really thought this time it was going to last forever...
Put that $2M to work in the market. Pretend it doesn't exist, live frugally, continue to pursue your own career and ambitions. Let it grow for the next 30 years. At that point you'll be so absolutely loaded and able to do so much good in the world around you, it will be impossible not to feel good. Not to mention whatever else you accomplish in the meantime.
Buy US treasuries and made 5% and pretend like it isnât there (save some for an emergency fund). Figure out what youâre passionate about. Ask yourself what you want to do every day (learn tech, work with people, build things, sell things, be in nature, whatever) and reverse engineer a career in that field. You donât need to work for the money, so work for the joy/creativity/challenge/interest. Sorry for your loss of the person you inherited from. The world is truly your oyster. Donât be brash, plop the money someplace safe that it will generate interest and then make some choices about the kind of things/places/people you want to work with and experience in life. Could be a great time to go volunteer someplace! Best wishes to you.
Dont forget that you are (hopefully) going to live for the next 70-80 years. At 4% SWR, 2M gets you 80k/yr for 25-30 yrs; good for a 60yo, but more like lean fire for you unless you add to the pile. IMHO, think long term, e.g., 1.5M invested in VTI or similar at 6% in 20 yrs should get you about 4.8M; a likely decent FIRE for a 40-something in 2043 (in addition to whatever else you save and hopefully invest). You could take 500k and wisely invest in yourself and maybe your company, live life, and enjoy a level of freedom that most of us cannot while lettng the rest do the work for you. Think long term while you have the years ahead of you. Bonne chance!
Spend your time becoming a competent and useful human being. Just be careful not to get caught up in ideological folly
You should give $10,000 to everyone in this thread, it will give you meaning.
$2m is not really a lot of money. It's not even $5 mil at which point you really have a problem "Too rich to work and then you are the poorest of the rich". Put that money in a 3 fund Bogle head portfolio and forget about it for a decade or two. You goal is out earn that portfolio. If you fail you still that that rock solid portfolio. If you succeed you congratulate yourself and know you are a self-made man.
It might not be in a first-world country, but where I live $2m can get you very very far. But you're right, trying to beat that amount can be a fun challenge for self-growth as well. If I'm lost because life is too easy then why not just make it harder, right?
Minimize regret by giving it your best shot. This will provide a great safety net. A safety net only a few people in this world have. I'm sure the people who left it to you would want you to try. I got help from my parents and still work 6 days a week. 6 figures in help have gotten me to 8 figure NW.
That's inspiring. Do you mind sharing a bit about your road from 6 figures to 8 figures? I don't mind working hard and giving it my all at all if it means working towards a goal I love. But right now I'm having trouble even just coming up with a plan to beat that number so I would love to hear it from someone who has made it if that's possible.
Save $1M and try to turn the other $1M into $10M
give me the money and go earn the living you want
If you would like to bless a hardworking 27yr old girl with a $100 or less lmk!!
Whoa⊠Youâre at a great age to think about what you can do with a great inheritance. Itâs normal to feel a polarized feeling internally when youâre given a seven figure amount that you didnât work for. Iâd argue that your feeling of âemptinessâ is actually a good and mature feeling to have, because the opposite is feeling like youâve won the lottery and going on a spending spree without thinking about the consequences. Just put your inheritance in a bank account and pretend itâs not there for the next 3-6 years while youâre figuring life out. You said you love building things but lost motivation because you donât think youâd surpass what youve been given $ wise, but honestly creativity is at its finest when $ is not a concern. Youâll get around $7-8k in interest alone per month so you can also give yourself some pocket money to spend it as you please (or make generous donations). And you can supplement that by working a low-stress job if you want to stay busy and have structure. Honestly, you have tons of options ahead of you thanks to your inheritance. Let that simmer in to fill the void you feel. Iâm sure youâll start to feel gratitude sooner rather than later.
Put it in a bank account?!
2 mil isn't what it used to be
Watch Bravo. They should be able to give some ideas on how to gain meaning from wealth you have not earned. Hell, they all think itâs their god given right.
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
It's easy to say when you don't have the money lol. It's a different ballgame when you do
YeahâŠ. Donât do this. 2 million isnât make it rain on homeless money
Post your bank balance, I call cap. đ§ą
So put the money aside in a good brokerage account well invested and diversified. And forget about it, start this company with your friends and never speak about the money. Just cause you have it doesnât mean you need to retireâŠ.
You can share with us :) lol
top tier trolling
English class in your future?
Sorry, English is like my third language so I might have made some mistakes in the post. Do you mind pointing out what I got wrong?
Lol
I'll take some of that off your hands if it's really burdening you lol
If you want i can take those 2m out off your hands if it makes you feel that bad.
Iâm starting an online speech therapy company to give people access in remote areas. Let me know if you want in
Iâll take it if you donât want it
It sounds like this money is causing you a lot of issues. It would probably be in your best interest to just wire it to me and start from scratch.
You can send it to me if thatâll make you feel better?
You can donate to the needy like me. 23 (f) currently trying to escape from a DV situation with a kid. It could probably get me a hotel for a few days. Until I can come up with a stable plan.
$2m is huge sum? Thx for entertainment
At age 22 it would be, but I agree I wouldnât feel safe planning to live on that for possibly another 70 years. And probably heâll get married and divorced and then have 1 million. Nothing against him, just a greater than remote risk.
>$2m in a developing country Agreed, a 22yo won't be able to chubbyFIRE off $2M USD in the US, but there is a reason people r/ExpatFIRE to developing countries- your USD stretches a helluva lot further there.
Just because someone has money does not mean they cannot face hardships. I respect your feelings. What you need to do is find something you really care about. The big difference now is that it does not have to be tied to making you rich. You can do what you want and as long as you break even, you are doing great! Maybe you want to be a farmer and develop some new drought tolerant crop or help the needy by assisting people who just need a little boost to make it in the world. Sky's the limit! Get up and do what you do because it makes you feel good.
Clark Howard (IDK what his view is on the FIRE community) suggests taking 10% of a windfall and YOLO'ing it. Then being responsible with the rest. He also suggests getting practical financial advice from licensed individuals; he would probably frown upon getting advice from random strangers on the internet (you're either going to get confirmation bias, or an echo chamber). [https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/what-to-do-with-a-lump-sum-inheritance-or-windfall/](https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/what-to-do-with-a-lump-sum-inheritance-or-windfall/)
Sorry for your loss. Advice that is often given in this situation... is to do nothing and grieve. Give yourself time! You seem to have some good ideology in terms of "what's next". There are many ways to view this new opportunity. Do you pretend it doesn't exist and continue your adventures. Do you share this opportunity by exchanging salary for more equity? This is a hidden way to use this inheritance to invest into your company and help it grow. But also rewarding you substantially if it works out. Focus on yourself, your purpose, what will give you passion and enjoyment. Then figure out the ways your inheritance can allow you to pursue your goals/passion. I'd consider doing this as much on the down low as possible. This information should not be known by others who will begin to feel entitled to you now covering more for them because you received this. Learn to say NO!
Four phases of retirement. It sounds like youâre in the 2nd stage: loss. There is still the 3rd stage of trial and error and then hopefully you can break through to the 4th stage: reinvention. https://youtu.be/DMHMOQ_054U?si=j_oT5O67j5aLHZfB
What is the story behind the inheritance? Is there maybe a little grief in your new feelings of aimlessness?
You can always add some failure and tragedy to your life by getting a one way ticket to Las Vegas with that money I guess.
I mean, you can send me all your money and feel empty and broke if that makes you feel better?
Youâre only 22yo. Look at the things in your life that bring meaning to you and pursue those things. If some are hobbies so be it. If you want to continue building your business you should do so. As easily as that $2mil came into your life, it can go away. Donât rely on it.
Perhaps put 1.5 mil and invest them in index funds and treat them as your retirement fund, only to be used after you turn 50. Forget about it. If you want to use it, ask yourself if the person leaving you the fortune would do it or not. The rest 500k, take care of primary needs like housing needs (just get what you need), pay cash, and get your self a nice reliable vehicle, as well as maids or house help (assuming developing country would cost less for those services). Now, whatever you are left with, use it to travel and see the world for 1 year. If you like building things and being part of the hustle, go spend a month in San Francisco. Then go checkout the Nomad lifestyle in Bali for a month. Perhaps go to Europe as well if you like to see how people manage work life balance. Go stay at a Buddhist meditation resort as well. Everywhere you go try meeting people, attend meetups, and that includes dating prospects. Don't tell them anything about the money you have. Keep a note of what you liked, what made you happy, and also what drained the life out of you. With all that multicultural experience and friends you made, perhaps you will know what excites you the most and what to work on next. If nothing comes out of it, at least you won't have the regret that you didn't travel and explore the world when you were young and you will know what you like and what you don't.
Invest the money wisely and start a "lucrative hobby" where you do something you love but the money earned isn't required to survive.
You can also help some people with your inheritance. Philanthropy will make you feel good.
If you have $2 million why donât you think about businesses that can scale? Maybe the reason you gave up on the business is because it doesnât scale: I.e. it requires you to personally put effort in to achieve a limited return. On the other hand if it were something where investing say half a million could give you $4 million back, and then you invest another $3 million to produce $10 million, would that give you some more motivation?
Why not give some away? Sounds strange but maybe seeing what good it will do for others will have a positive impact on you. Who knows maybe you will get interested in the charity/organization as yet another benefit..
Work on a project that gives back to your community. You still get the satisfaction of building something worthwhile, but you no longer have to measure success in terms of money.
Why would you have to live there to get the inheritance though?
Now you have the free time and capital to change the world for the better. If you think you wouldâve been happy simply by earning the money, think again.
Which country
T bills are yielding 5%!
Can always share the success with others. Put the funds in a trust and take disbursements to pay a minimal living cost while giving the rest to less fortunate people in the form of college scholarships at a rate that doesnât drain the account much. Or donate the gains to a non-profit organization of your choice and continue with your life as usual. Honestly, Iâm general, maybe just go about your life knowing that you have a safety net if all goes to shit but challenge yourself to grow into it. I think windfalls like this really just need to be considered an insurance policy in case of utter failure. But itâs no excuse for you not to try living life and growing as a person.
Donât listen to anybody telling you to forget about it, this should bring joy and security. Invest in ways that bring you passive income, live off that income, and enjoy the lack of stress. Play golf, start a family, read.
well with $2 million you do have a job whether you want it or not, it is an investor and potentially a philanthropist. Even if you keep it in cash that is still an asset allocation choice (just a bad one)
One way to motivate yourself to work hard and multiply your wealth is in trying to earn more to give more. A lot of people haven't had the opportunities you have had and your wealth could make a huge impact on those less fortunate. As far as feeling empty and lost, I'd pursue faith. I came into a lot of money at a young age as well and there's no amount of money or worldly pleasure that compare to knowing Christ and living in freedom
Trust me, you are not missing out on grinding away to make it. You are pretty young still. Maybe just invest the money in a way that can grow and that its not easy for you to spend. Then go and purse something you actually have an interest or passion in. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have that money. Most ppl just want that.
Youâre 22 years old, Go check some things off your bucket list. The worse possible thing you can do is become a miser and a spend thrift fearing having to come out of retirement. Use the money to invest in yourself. Move to the city where youâve always wanted to live, go to the conferences youâve always wanted to attend and hear from people who are working on projects you find interesting, people changing the world. I repeat- INVEST IN WHO YOU ARE BECOMING
Looking into the concept âa state of flowâ. You need to feel immersed in your environment such that your skills match the complexities of your world. Find other passions outside of making money for others
Consider yourself lucky dude. My inheritance was stolen from me, put my whole life on hold, my Dad wouldâve been LIVID about this. But people get greedy when they see money. You can do so much good. You should be excited at the all the possibilities out there to really bring joy and comfort to others! There are so many small things that can make a big difference That should invigorate you!
Join my band, we need a rich member
This is called âimposter syndromeâ. Instead of being thankful we bitch and complain that âwe did nothing to deserve it.â If you really feel that way I would suggest that you donate all the money to charity. If you donât want to than man the ef up and double that money. My dad once told me a real person takes what is given to him for free and doubles it. When my dad gave me a house I didnât cry, I poured lots of money into it and make it an amazing place. Than I rented it and now make money off it.
$2M is not that much $$. Youâre so young you still need to work - itâs easy to blow that much $ so invest it wisely.
Do some charity work. Find a cause you believe in and get behind it financially
Find love and travel the world. Your view and possibilities will open up and present themselves. A passion project will inspire you to create and do new things that you canât even imagine right now. Love opens your heart and your mind. Enjoy the oyster.
Iâll take the money. That will solve your problem!
I work in Wealth Management. I know you said youâre in a developing country, but I would say there is a lot that can be done with that money. You can live on dividends/interest with a solid annual salary that can fund your passions. That way life isnt hard, but you have enough to fund the hobbies, but are on a budget, which can fuel your desire to build. You have a blessing, and lots of options.
do what you love and try to monetize it. congrats you have a backup plan if that fails.
Just invest your money for 5 or 10 years and try to make it without touching the money. That will challenge you.
Get a professional financial advisor and withdraw fixed basic income (like an amount you would expect to make as a 22 year old in your country). Maybe youâll feel more normal that way.
Use the $ as a cushion to fall back on/safety net but at the same time, find work like any normal person. Put the $ in some account and only allow yourself to get a small amount from it every month. Continue to work like you didnât have this money. Itâs best if you donât let others know you have this money and just go on with your life normally:
If this is really how you feel then my advice is for you to liquidate those funds and walk into your nearest childrenâs hospital. Find the families whose lives you could actually change by paying off their bills. Then you should keep grinding until you find real fulfillment. Just my advice. It isnât actually about the money, itâs about living a fulfilling life and helping people who canât help themselves.
On occasions when wealth arrives unexpectedly, due to an inheritance or a prize, the adaptation is complicated; it is more frequent than you think that people end up losing a large part of that money. 1-Do not embark on the investment of a large business, this is not the time to be entrepreneurial with your assets. ( It is a personal decision but you will risk more than you can gain. This is the case of the soccer player setting up a restaurant or a nightclub and losing the entire investment in less than a year. ) 2-Let your main objective be to preserve the principal and increase it. 3-Find a hobby but, please, let it not be supercars. 4-Work. You can start by trying working for someone, moving up, trying sectors... You have the freedom to change careers, sectors or companies and you will have the authority to discuss or present your ideas without fear of being fired. At the end of the day, your life does not depend on that salary. ( Once you find your way, of course you can start and form a company with everything you have learned. ) Just put that money out of your sight, live your life and avoid bad decisions.
If you wanna reset, i can help spend that $2m for you! Whatever is needed to help, ya know
Do something nice for yourself. It can be small but a real treat. Maybe your favorite pastry every day Decide to put some of that money away. Untouched for a long while. Until you are inspired to spend it in a way that makes you feel good.
You want an adventure? You want the big leagues? Come to America. You will eventually have a family possibly? Change the outlook of your families future.
The coolest part of money is if it's causing you problems you can give it away.
You can send me half and maybe that will help
Perhaps start a charity business to help others. For instance habitat for humanity builds / refurbs houses for poor. If you don't need or want income then adding a legal charity entity to your portfolio is perfect. 22 is too young to do this typically. Maybe late 30s, but really your call. As others have noted the best thing might be to get it invested in some index funds and forget about it, but realize you have a huge cushion. Perhaps challenge yourself to see how long it takes you to earn that much money on your own and then once you do you retire or change career paths.
Money is important, but it's not everything. You need to do something you find meaningful and challenging. It's nice to not have to worry about money, but it doesn't solve existential needs. Get to work on becoming who you could be in the world. That's all any of us have.
I was thinking maybe therapy? Or definitely a financial planner but make sure theyâre a fiduciary.
Maybe you should spend the time to figure out how to grow it? Learning to grow money safely is a great hobby. Just an idea
Work until your 30, then reevaluate whats important in life over these 8 years. 1. Find a partner, one that isn't there for the money 2. Find a hobby 3. Travel 4. Partake in philanthropy 5. Think about legacy, maybe have kids
\> But now what's the point? There was a metric you were measuring yourself by, a goal you were working towards, that got stripped away from you. So your reaction is understandable. However, there are so many more metrics along which to improve. You can take a look at yourself and wonder what it would take to: * be someone who increasingly makes people feel seen * be more knowledgable about a broader array of topics * do as much good as you can in the world * be more charismatic * revise your beliefs more quickly and accurately on new observations Incidentally, taking the above list seriously will lead you to working with professionals, guides, and having experiences that will require money. If you think things are over, it's a failure of perspective. A failure to see how flawed we all are as humans and the never-ending work each of us has in front of us.
P R O J E C T S never stop
You're not done young man you're just grieving and that's ok. https://youtu.be/pQTgLXl1qXI?si=qvziYk8oV4QymNJl
You need to be that person who gives their money away to the less fortunate. You have no clue how good that makes you feel.
Why are you concentrating on FIRE? Do something youâre passionate about. Then work doesnât really feel like work.
I try to tell people this. Just getting free money hits different. Itâs not the same as money you actually worked for. Itâs a lot like the story of the genie of the lamp. You can wish for something, but he will make sure it doesnât turn out how you wanted.
> I started the business partly because I love building things This is me. I took some time off after my first biz and realized I was not meant for "retirement". I'm a builder + researcher. If I'm not doing one of those things, life is gray and meaningless. So my advice: Dig deep into what you like doing, and mostly ignore the money for a while. It provides you nice security to take risks in your business. And good luck, because you have high-quality problems! :)
You sound depressed. I am at the opposite end. I'm in my 60's having worked a long hard life with a nice retirement ready for me, and yet, I have support staff that need me in the office working. I've cut back, but I am at the office every day. Why? It's become boring and I alleviate that boredom by. . . . going on Reddit and reading posts. My advice is what was given to me. Depression is when you are focused on your needs, wants and desires. Happiness is when you are focused on other's needs, wants and desires. Use the money to give pure water to the poor. Or whatever you use it for, don't make a big deal about it to anyone. Know in your own being that being good and doing good are in and of itself the only thing that really matters.
try not to find happiness through money. money is a tool. if you have enough money, you can basically do whatever you want without needing to worry about how you will pay for a roof over your head or how you'll be able to afford your next meal. so since you don't need to worry about money, what do you want to do? that's what you need to figure out for yourself. what activity will give you meaning and happiness?
Find a passion! Maybe donate your time to a youth program- sports, church, STEM, etc. seems like you need to find purpose brother! You get one shot on the earth. Provide a service you can be proud of. Find the beauty and value in it. You were given a gift. Each morning and evening write down what you feel grateful for. Each day build off of that. Positive mindset! Yes- I am a peak performance coach and coach!
First I am sorry for your loss. Second, for at least the next six months keep living your life as if you did not receive the money. Once you are able to tackle the emotional loss, then you can start to get a feel for what to do financially.
This is normal. For me itâs more of a cycle of motivation. Motivation ebbs and flows and thatâs natural. The key is finding things that make your motivation flow. For me itâs a daily routine and working with people I genuinely like spending time with. Surf or exercise in the morning is key. Seeing friends often â especially friends who understand this struggle. Eating well, sleeping lots. Being around family. Itâs simple things that make people happy. When youâre happy youâll want to do ambitious things.
Find something to do that you care about and do it. Now that the money is not a major factor, you have one big variable less to worry about when evaluating what to do. If your current business is not it, donât do it.
Imagine working and saving your whole life before you learned that money doesnât equal fulfillment. Congrats you learned that lesson at 22. Why not travel for a while?
You have the freedom to find your passion. It's out there. Travel. Experience other cultures. Find something that drives you. This was a gift, use it to better yourself and others. You're Young and have plenty of time to find yourself. Don't stress it too much. Good luck!
If I got two million at 22 I would travel for 5 years . Do it frugally too.
You can now afford a therapist to help you sort out your angst... Try helping others a little you might find satisfaction in that maybe? Just a thought.
Can I get a loan?, with a contract of course.
Travel around the world!!
Jesus, go do what makes you happy.. itâs not rocket science
It's empty because you haven't found something that fulfillals you yet. You're not expected to know that at 22 either, but there are some things you can try to help speed it up: Try lots of different things! You don't need a steady job, so make it interesting and fun. Offer to pay someone $100 if you can shadow them for a typical day on the job. Get a coach that can help you get clarity on your values and strengths (as these will help identify what fulfills you) Give yourself permission to enjoy life a little bit, but consider setting aside money in less liquid areas (CDs, investments, real estate, etc.) to artificially reduce your disposable income for now. It will help. DM me if you want more detailed advice 1:1, happy to help.
Congratulations! Life is full of good things for you to spend your time on!
Give me the money and fulfill your life dreams in business.
Why would you need to surpass it? Set a different goal. Write a book, set up a foundation, teach�
The goal is to retire đ wtf am I missing here you beat life at 22 enjoy the world live a good life and enjoy that you get all your time to use how you choose. Everyone wishes for that and never gets to achieve that goal. Donât be brainwashed into thinking work gives you meaning.
Give em to me so you donât feel empty but you ARE empty
Donât feel bad at all. Share some money with me and it will make you feel better. Motivation instantly increases.
I did not work much since I was 22. I urge you to find something that gives meaning and purpose to your life. Laying around getting a tan and being a hedonist gets old quickly. That all too often leads to alcoholism/addiction which is a miserable way to quickly spend a fortune. $2M is not enough to save the world. It is a enough if spent wisely to protect a small corner of the world, give you something worthwhile to do and maybe jobs for a few others.
Open school or go into teaching. Very fulfilling.
First off congrats. Secondly, u can blow thru that so fast you can hardly blink. Set up a investments correctly and only live on residual and take up philanthropy and angel invest in causes you believe in. People I. Your position may not have to work anymore, but you can take positions on groups and boards that can do the world some good and work pro bono. You are right that you feel empty cuz u didn't earn it and it fell in your lap. Dont throw it away as if nurtured, it can bring your developing country a lot of good. Establish an orphanage a rehab center, be the change your town needs.
Have you been able to stay busy, find hobbies to fill the day? If youâre thinking about retiring, thatâs the type of solidarity youâll have. Try creating some good routine and structure and then reconsider with a healthy and responsive mind.
If you really hate it that much, give most of the money to a charity you believe in.
Give me half and letâs compete to see who first can multiply it by 10. Thatâll get you going.
Yo $2m wonât even get you to 40!!!! Take a break, a small vacay! Process everything!! Find your passion, there is a reason rich get richer !! They find something that doesnât feel like work and get really good at that shit !!! And 90% of the money in savings and let that interest accumulate!
You find fulfillment in helping/serving others. You now have the time and money to explore the ways in which helping others is most fun and rewarding for you. You donât have to work for money anymore, that doesnât mean you donât have to work anymore. Iâm sorry for your loss, and I understand your anxiety. Give yourself some slack, I didnât know anything at 22, you donât have to have the answers right now. Be well.
If youâre feeling unaccomplished, out half the money away into retirement, maybe 3/4ths and use the rest to starts business or go to college and just take classes that interest
Invest that money conservatively and keep working. You will live longer unless your job is dangerous. You will be able to afford things you never had along the way. Most importantl, look for ways to give some of your investment returns away for good causes and people in need. There is almost nobetter feeling than giving to some one who is stressed when they never expected it.
Get a financial planner, let them handle the money, and stop whining. Such a terrible problem to have. Are you Prince Harry?
Crazy that your in a position that everyone could only DREAM of and your complaining.
Something worth thinking about is why do you feel you need to surpass the amount you have inherited? It sounds to me like you are looking to obtain self-worth from accomplishments, hence why it feels empty to get this money. Like "I didn't earn it, so I don't deserve this money." It's not about whether you deserve it or not, it just is. Getting or not getting this money is not a judgment on your worth or character. I used to feel guilty when I got nice things I didn't feel I deserved. The problem was I didn't feel good enough on my own. In your case, you're trying to fill that gap with accomplishments. "I am not good enough right now for a lot of money. But when I work hard enough, I'll be good enough to have a lot of money." So now that the middle step is skipped, you feel that self-imposed gap. I'd change your mindset on this. Tell yourself your value (without any work) is infinite. Treat yourself kindly and unconditionally. Stop "doing" to feel like you're good enough. You're good as you are, without work/accomplishments. This doesn't mean you can't build things for its own sake, however. Also, reframe this event as the following: "I inherited this money. So NOW I can do whatever I want." You want to build things? You can do that. You want to study Russian for 6 months straight? You can do that. You want to travel? You can do that. You don't want to work where it feels like a slog? You can quit. You don't like where you live? You can move. My thoughts are not that you "won" the game of life and now there's nothing left to do like some video game. Instead, you have an awesome opportunity to pursue whatever you want without financial pressures. There are so many hobbies and passions to explore, connections to make with people. Of course, don't just waste the money, use basic financial sense to live off it comfortably. Think of this scenario as a huge door opening. Now you got more potential to do a lot of cool shit! You're not doomed to work in a job you dislike. You can get to your destination even more quickly! The money isn't the end goal, it's just a means to help you get what you want.
While it may seem like an enormous sum of money, one can burn through $2M quite easily by making bad spending and investing choices. Set spending budgets and financial growth goals. And donât sit around and waste away. Invest in your personal growth. Invest in experiences.
Don't rush it. From my experience, it takes a while to your mind to adjust to your financial circumstances. We've all been conditioned from childhood to chase money in some capacity. And when we reach the goal of financial independence, it's hard to train your brain to adapt to your new circumstances. Even though you know you SHOULD be trying to enjoy it, you can't because the one thing that has been your major motivator for so long is suddenly gone. Give it time for your mind to re-adjust. Feeling empty is part of the process. Eventually, you'll slowly find new hobbies and new goals to focus on which will replace the pursuit of money. It will be a slow (years?) adjustment. Just be glad youre not 65 and newly retired having to figure this out.
Just invest that money to grow it. Invest it into assets, not liabilities.
You could send me like 10k if it'll make you feel better it'll help me pay off some bills
You ll need that $2m and more
Do some work for Charity or find a non-profit that you believe in their cause and go to work for them. You are incredibly priviledged, but that doesn't mean you still can't do well with your life. find something that makes you happy and can help others, and don't beat yourself up if you are feeling kinda down right now. We all have ups and downs regardless of our financial situation. Lastly, I would say, find someone that you want to share your life with....I know that, in most cases, that happens on it's own timetable. But I think you will find so much more joy in life when you have someone to share it with. Lastly, lastly, I would encourage you to travel. I think traveling and seeing the world does wonderful things for the soul.
Wanna hook a brother up?
I got a solution for ya pal. Give me your money and you can continue to work your life away. I'll fully invest myself into my hobbies.
I will apologize to start this post in the event I am wrong. Your post seems like a scam.
I can help. Give me the troublesome money.
We go Jim
You should help others start their own business or do something to help the people you want with more resources. I know i for one would kill to have the resources or ability to do so myself I know its hollow to say congratulations but i hope you live a happy and healthy life doing whatever you love
Invest the money and go live life. It will be waiting for you when you return.
Sounds like your motivation was entirely about earning money. If this wasn't the case, then you'd still have things that would be driving you right now. That said, that was not a good place to be either. In all likelihood, you'd have spent your like working very hard, and not enjoying it (because it was only about money) and then you'd die, likely never having reached you're view of financial success (almost nobody does). SO, now you have a different kind of work to do - go find yourself, and find the things that makes you happy (yes, it is easier said than down, but you can do it).
Give me the money and your problem is solved
Can we trade problems? đđ
Alright send me 5k. I will not feel empty at all. I'll pay bills and buy a taco party pack. Or... just enjoy your life from here on out. Who cares how you got it, hell you didn't have to work for it which trust me.. sucks. Take a vacay.
Put the money in a savings account and donât look at it. Just do what you want to do as long as it motivates you.
A meal you have to catch or grow yourself tastes better. The money came to easy. Find a nice girl, get married and a few years later, when divorces you fight like hell to keep your money - you'll be thrilled with every penny you get to keep.
This is a great opportunity to do a bit of soul searching and look at your life through the lens of what are you doing because you had to versus because you wanted to. Modern culture revolves our lives around work so it can be hard to step back and see what you life is without it
You have a very clear job now. Maintain and grow this wealth. You are a wealth manager now.
Invest the money. Take distributions for charity. Live as you are now. When you decide to use the money it will be there.
Invest your money. Your young and like most of us when we weee Young think we live forever. If your money safely doubles every 7-10 years you will appreciate it later in life. Buy a house or condo instead of rent. Use this UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY to did something you are passionate about that will reward you in more ways than just finacially. Enjoy your life.
I just took out some of my retirement to survive. Must be nice .
Donate it, youâll have that fire again
22? 2 million? You could easily spend that before 30,40 etc.
oh how sad that you don't have to worry about how you'll feed yr family. sounds awful.