[TheMetetron]

PM/AIM me if you want about anything specific.

1. Definitely file as a pro and max out your SEP IRA (or Individual 401k depending on what is best for you). This is $45k that goes in before taxes and grows tax free. You can withdraw at 59 1/2 and pay normal income tax on the money.

2. Create an emergency fund and keep it invested in something fairly stable. Vanguard Tax-Exempt Money Market or Vanguard Tax-Exempt Intermediate Term Bond Index if your state is included and you will be making a lot in future years. If not, use the taxable equivalents.

3. Invest the rest in Vanguard Tax-Managed Index Funds if you don't think you will need the money within 5 years. If so, look for more stable investments (bonds, money market, etc).

4. All of these people telling you to immediately buy a house have close to know idea what they are talking about. Look in BF&I for recent talks about housing as an investment. While most people are blinded by the last 15 years or so, historically housing isn't returning much, if anything, after being adjusted for inflation. That doesn't mean there aren't benefits and it isn't right for some, but it isn't very cut and dry and will require you to do some research and number crunching.

5. A lot of financial advisors are borderline worthless and definitely don't give your money to someone to manage at some ridiculous 1% fee or whatever. Do it yourself with Vanguard or other low-cost index funds and educating yourself.