Find an ACTEC estate planner who will help you with putting the money in a revocable trust, depending on your state, which may shield it from estate tax for gen

Find an ACTEC estate planner who will help you with putting the money in a revocable trust, depending on your state, which may shield it from estate tax for generations to come. So long as you're the only trustee, it's like you holding the money personally. You're married, so you're a safe distance from the lifetime exemption for now, but laws may change. Find a tax attorney who understands estate issues. Sign up at Vanguard and you'll get preferred treatment and access to advisors of many kinds free just because of the amount you hold. Now for the controversial advice. As far as lifestyle, stick with what you care about. The things available to buy now for the wealthy are not particularly interesting unless you're vacuous and vulgar or your time is extremely valuable. Fractional jet ownership that gets you where you want to go a few hours faster? A huge house that you can fill up with stuff you don't use or care about? A car that speeds up a little faster or looks a little nicer? There’s nothing available now qualitatively inaccessible to someone middle class. That won’t always be the case. Invest with a strategy that’s been successful if back-tested for 100 years, like total market index, and in 20 or 30 years, there will be extremely interesting things worth buying. Life-extending treatments, trips to space, Chappie-style robots as bodyguards (or dishwashers), brain implants, organ replacements, brain backup services. Things we can’t even imagine. Hold onto your money until there’s something worth buying.