Sarah had built a comfortable life of her own—she and her husband had saved diligently, were nearly empty nesters, and were starting to think about retirement in the next 10–15 years. But when her parents passed within a few years of each other, she inherited a large sum she hadn’t planned on.

What should have felt like a blessing quickly turned into a source of stress. She worried about:

• Making a costly mistake
  
• Tax consequences she didn’t understand
  
• How to honor her parents' legacy without overreacting emotionally
  

Sarah needed guidance on what to do with the money—and how to fold it into her long-term plan without jeopardizing her own future.

Our Approach

We started by helping Sarah pause.

Before making any big decisions, we mapped out:

• The tax characteristics of each account she inherited
  
• The impact the inheritance could have on her retirement timeline
  
• Options to pay off her mortgage, boost retirement savings, and set aside funds for legacy or giving
  
• A plan to invest the assets intentionally, not reactively
  
• A way to honor her parents' values while staying grounded in her own goals
  

The Result

Sarah now feels calm and in control. Her inheritance isn’t something that’s sitting in cash or causing anxiety—it’s a part of a thoughtful, long-term strategy. She knows how the money is working for her family and where it fits into her future.

Note: This case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual Demars Financial client. No portion of this content should be interpreted as a guarantee of specific outcomes.