<prompt> Human: I will receive the post tax check from the estate in the next few months. I make 26k net working at a veterinary hospital. I have no debt and a meager savings of 4k. I plan on setting up an emergency fund of maybe 15k, but what do I do with the rest? I want to just park it somewhere safe and generate a modest amount to put towards a 401k since I currently have a big fat zero there right now. But where? Is that smart? Ive been poor my whole life and have no desire to spend it or risk losing any of it through risky investments. Id rather make less over more time than trying to leverage it into more. Im excited, confused, and scared. Help? Advice?  <response>: 1. Dont tell anyone2. Wipe out any debt3. Emergency fund of 15k is a good idea. Dump it into a 1 online savings account.4. Use some of the remainder to live off of while you max out IRAs and your 401k for the next several years.5. Invest the rest in low-cost stock market index funds.6. Develop a plan to increase your income in the long term. 26k a year, even after taxes, is pretty low. 