My mom passed away and I was shocked to learn she left me 10 times as much money as I expected in her will. It’s a nice problem to have, but I’m a little lost on how to handle all this cash

This problem stems from a lack of communication around estate planning. A 2024 Edward Jones report found that more than one in three Americans have no plans to talk about their estate with their families, even though 48% plan to leave an inheritance.

You were unprepared for this windfall, but it’s good to be thoughtful about how you're going to manage the money going forward so you don’t waste this opportunity to improve your life now and in the future.

Here are some options to explore.

Invest in your retirement

If you’ve inherited a large sum of money, one thing you could do is to put it into an investment portfolio that’s earmarked for retirement.

A 2024 CNBC survey found that 40% of Americans are behind on retirement planning and savings, while 21% of current retirees have no savings at all to live on.

You don’t want to rely on Social Security in retirement, because those benefits only replace 40% of your paycheck if you’re an average earner. Plus there’s a possibility of Social Security cuts in the not-so-distant future.

Investing your inheritance now could give you greater retirement security, and help you build a legacy for future generations.

It’s important to maintain a diverse mix of assets in your portfolio. If you’re years away from retirement, you might keep the bulk of your portfolio in stocks, with a smaller portion in bonds.

For instant diversification, consider investing in S&P 500 index funds, giving you exposure to the 500 largest publicly traded companies. For the bond portion of your portfolio, consider a mix of corporate bonds, Treasuries, and municipal bonds for tax diversification.

Address your family's most pressing needs

There’s nothing wrong with using proceeds from an inheritance to improve your life and that of your family — right now. So think about your most pressing needs.