<prompt> Human: Hey rpersonalfinance,A little over a year ago my father died very suddenly and it was extremely tough on our whole family. Sparing the details we ended up filing a lawsuit and were able to get something out of it. Let me first start this off by saying Im really uncomfortable with the way I got this money and I wish I could just say I dont want it but truth be told I cant say no that much money at my age 23.Im really just looking for advice in what I can do with this money to make it not go to waste, and like I said in the title the person who I wouldve asked about this stuff was my dad, so I dont really know where to turn for help. My first plan is to pay off my car and student loans, from there Im sort of clueless. I want to invest most of it, but I dont want to take huge risks because its really more money than Ill probably ever be making theater school dropout, pretty pathetic I know. I just really have no idea where to begin, I dont want to really use any of it now, I might use some to take a trip to Europe because thats where my dad grew up and he always wanted me to go since Ive never been, but barring that I want it to help secure my future as well as possible. I have a decent job and am moving to California later in the year to pursue my dumb dreams and can sustain my current lifestyle with my current income. So I just want to know your opinion on what you would do to help yourself out 10 years from now if my grand adventure into show business is a failure.Thanks for listening and the help. If this broke the rules Im sorry, Ill post it somewhere else, just looking for some personalized advice in this unique situation.EDIT: Was suggested to add more info, I owe about 7000 on car and 4000 in student.  <response>: No advice on the practical side, but on the emotional side: Give some small, but not insignificant, percentage to a cause he cared about. Even 1 or .5 will feel good to you. Im coming into money in a similar way compensation for a crime, and Im uncomfortable about it, too. Emotionally, the only way I feel okay about taking it is to use some of it to ameliorate the impact of crimes for someone else.Then pay off the loans and park it somewhere. Index funds are great. Revisit the big decisions when you feel like youve emotionally settled down about how the money came into your life.Im sorry you lost him. 