[Foghatlive]

From reading your posts, I'd say you should go w/ #3. Put the bulk of the money in a Vanguard Index Fund, and stick a few grand in an on-line brokerage account. This will allow you to get your feet in the stock market without putting a large percentage of your roll at risk, and, if you lose the money in your brokerage account, consider it "Tuition."

My guess is that you'll eventually move most of the money into the brokerage account. Most poker players would rather make their own bets.