answer:The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (30 blue chip stocks like Ge, GM, MSFT, IBM) hit an all-time high today. DJ I would park the money in a short-term CD – you can find the higher interest rates online – for the moment. Then start getting educated. Do you have a wise family elder who can help? The sites like etrade want to make money (YOUR money). There are books, newslettters, non-credit coursers at community colleges and local high schools (adult ed.) There are also some safe value/growth stock funds at places like Vanguard, Fidelity, Putnam, etc. Do you have a job where you can start a retirement account? If so, there should be a financial advisor or two there. Remember, if you save $3000/year starting in your 20s, you will be richish in yr retirement yrs; that is better than trying and failing to get rich in middle age.