Around this time, reality is starting to sink in for the two Powerball winners who are splitting the astronomical $587 million jackpot. While they know they’ll never have to work at a job another day in their lives, the real work of managing such an enormous sum of money is just beginning.
Let’s look at what’s in store for the winners. First, we have to give nod of acknowledgement to the two. The odds of winning the jackpot were less than one in 175 million (the chance of getting hit by lighting during your lifetime is 1 in 10,000).
Now comes the tricky question–what to do with the money? Unfortunately, many lottery winners, just like large-sum settlement recipients, have little knowledge of how to invest or manage their newfound wealth.
Don McNay, author of a book on what to do with lottery winnings, says nine out of 10 winners go through their money in five years or less.
Jackpot winners and settlement recipients are faced with the same question: take a lump sum payout or spread payments over time. In both cases, it usually makes sense to receive the majority of cash in installments. It’s one way to keep long lost relatives, every friend they’ve ever known and con artists from cleaning out their bank accounts. It also gives winners and settlement recipients self-discipline at a time when they can pretty much do whatever they want with the cash. For the jackpot winners they have 60 days to make this crucial decision.
Injured parties have it a little easier. They have legal counsel they can trust to guide them through the process and financial and annuity advisors to make sure the numbers make sense.
Human nature the way it is, jackpot winners and settlement recipients will always find a way to recklessly spend their funds if they truly want to. But for most who choose the installment route, they can ensure that their families, kids, grandkids and generations to come will have a financially secure future.A
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