<prompt> Human: Im 55 years old, getting divorced, havent worked in over 15 years. Is there a way to use this cash to secure my future? I can live with family for cheap for awhile. Ill probably be getting spousal support of around 3-4 thousand dollars per month for 3-5 years. Ill receive child support of 1-2 thousand monthly for 2 years. Both of those sources of income depend on a not-completely-dependable spouse thus the divorce.I have chronic health issues so medical expenses will be a factor. Luckily I have no debt outside of a very reasonable used car loan. I have no savings at all.Yes, Ill seek professional financial planning help soon. Im curious about the possibilities in the meantime though. I know absolutely nothing about investing money. Im wondering if Ill need to go back to school and try to find work. Id be nearing 60 at graduation and Im not sure what my prospects would be. Anyone mind giving me daydream fuel or a wakeup call?EDIT: The money comes from equity in a business that is being sold. The amount is 200,000, two hundred thousand dollars, that is after taxes. Sorry I dropped the last zero. This is the money I need to talk to a planner about.I have sole custody of one 16 year old. I have no income other than what Ill be receiving in spousal and child support. My state doesnt have alimony and we have almost no community property to split other than the equity payout stated above, 200,000 is my half.I wrote code, 15 years 200 years in software development.  <response>: Get a job? Going back to school given you prospective years of additional employment might cost more than youd make.I dont know if you need to pay anyone for financial planning, since you dont have any money to plan. What you need is a budget and to open up an IRA account, or get a 401k through work. Try to divert some money into a savings account for emergencies so you arent using a credit card to pay for every unexpected event that happens in your life. 