Get help

Real help, real resources.

Sudden money can arrive tangled up with grief, temptation, and people who want to take advantage of you. If you need support, please reach out. The resources below are real, free or non-commercial, and run by governments, professional bodies, or established nonprofits.

If you are in crisis right now.

If you are thinking about harming yourself, please reach out immediately. In the United States you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, at any hour. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

Crisis and mental health

If your windfall came through a loss

An inheritance means someone died. Grief is a terrible state in which to make large, irreversible decisions, and you are under no obligation to make them quickly. Go gently, lean on professionals for the paperwork, and give yourself time.

If you feel a pull toward gambling

Sudden money and an urge to gamble are a dangerous combination. There is no shame in getting help.

Fraud, scams, and identity theft

People who hunt the newly wealthy are real and skilled. If you have been targeted or defrauded, report it and get guidance here.

Before you hire a financial professional

You want someone who is a fiduciary, legally obligated to act in your best interest, and paid transparently rather than by commissions. Check anyone's background here, for free, before you trust them with anything.

Windfall Survival is not affiliated with any of the organizations above and provides these links for information only. We are not a crisis service. This page is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice.