<prompt> Human: I recently came into about 250,000 after a brutal car accident last october. I am 18 with little no to knowledge of the stock marker but i know that i want to invest this money so that it grows and i have at least a little flow of income as the years pass by. My dad has suggested real estate and a vanguard account. any ideas or comments help, thank you!  <response>: Open a brokerage account with Schwab, Fidelity, or Vanguard.Put most of the money in there. I would put it in a conservative investment at first say a target date index fund with a date of 2030.Then gradually move 10 of it into more risky investments every year.I would keep some of it say 25k in a high interest savings account to use as an emergency fund.I would not put any of it into real estate until you are ready to buy a house to live in at least until you have done a lot more research and study and know what being a real estate investor involves and how to be at least semi competent at it.Good luck. 