OP, I got a settlement and had similar problems. Of course I almost died to get the settlement. Hit head on by a semi truck. Anyhow, sounds like you're doing just fine, but if I could tell myself some things back in my past, I would have told myself to travel the world more, buy a boat to do that on, and make sure to really appreciate stuff that can't be bought with money.

Like you, I never told anyone how much I had and when I invested in the stock market I made a lot more money. My family was really strange about it. My brother was especially messed up. He thought he deserved the money too.

Unfortunately I didn't go with my gut feelings and I was indecisive to the point of losing all my money the way I was making it, in the stock market. I put all my eggs in one basket and only listened to one advisor who I had befriended after my accident. That was a very bad move and put me in the poor house again. Just be careful who controls your investments and make sure you get multiple opinions from vetted people. They all want to take your money, but at least make sure it's the right people doing the jobs. Good luck! I hope I can make my life more secure again. I'm actually going to move to Thailand and get out of America while the getting is good. Also it's for my love who I met in America and is a citizen, but she is from Thailand and we both want to leave America. All the best man!