<prompt> Human: Hi rpersonalfinance, Im new here but I think Ive been pointed in the right direction. My brother and I each inherited 150k each in liquid funds pretty recently and I have been trying to find the smartest way to invest it. People I trust who I have consulted all point to real estate but I dont know enough about the market in its current state, and same with stocks. My brother may or may not want to invest his half with me depending on what kind of plan I come up with. All serious advice is welcome... I really want to take this gift Ive been given and turn it into lifelong financial security for me and my family.Some more info... my brother and I are both in our early-mid 20s. I make about 30k a year at my job and he has very little income part time job.Using a throwaway because Im a paranoid sonofabitch.  <response>: First off dont do anything major with the money initially, just put it in a savings account to get some interest while you take your time to come up with a plan. Second, dont invest with your brother. This will just complicate your relationship with him and with the money. Figure out what you are doing with your money and pass the information you learn on to him so he can make his own decision. If it were me, once Id sat on the money for a while and spent the time researching my decision, Id most likely invest long term in some mutual funds because they dont require much effort which real estate will or tie you down to one place which depending on your situation is a big plus for someone in their mid-20s. 