500,000 would go to into non-volatile securities, the other 300,000 would go to riskier investments and the other 200,000 would go to getting my parents that apartment along the river they always wanted so my dad can finally retire.
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"You don't have an inferiority complex, you're just inferior"
Personally, with £1m, I wouldn't bother with low-yield securities, gilts, etc... I would buy property.. I don't care what they say.... house price inflation + general inflation will give you at least a 7% return a year... (and don't forget rental income if you're not living there)
Although, maybe you should allow more for your dad's riverside apartment. £200k seems a bit stingy.
I'd buy real estate in the U.S. with the 1M British Pounds. The dollar is so weak versus the pound you'd get twice what you could have gotten a couple years ago.
Then I'd wait a few years 'til the dollar strengthens vs. the pound at which point I'd sell. That way I'd gain on two fronts: the real estate appreciation as well as in the strengthening of the US dollar.
480K in a no load/fee S&P500 index account
200K in a no load/fee Rus2000 index account
120K in a no load/fee international index account
200K in laddered 10 year treasury bills
All dividend reinvested and rebalanced monthly.
Other than that I'd ignore it for a decade or two.
I would buy a nice big house with a big garden, a decent car and lots of nice suff to put in my house.
I would then buy my mum a nice house. I'd buy grandmas bungalow for her so she never has to worry about rent again. I love my grandma, she is the best.
Whatever is left I'd put away and live on the interest (if thats possible)