Certificate of Deposit

There are plenty of places to shop for the best C.D. rates, including Bankrate.com and MoneyAisle.

According to an article published by the NYT, as long as you don't invest more than the F.D.I.C. limits, you don't need to worry about loosing your money. The F.D.I.C. currently offers insurance of up to $250,000 per person per bank but that figure will fall to $100,000 for some types of accounts at the end of the year. Also, some off-shore C.D.s are not covered by the F.D.I.C.

Unexpected Wealth

The prospect of a new, expanded generation of unprepared heirs has spawned an entire industry of financial advisors and estate planners:

- Sudden Money Institute, who counsels those who stumbled abruptly into vast sums of money

- Family Wealth Alliance, which helps ultra-high-net-worth families find the right kinds of staffing;

- Relative Solutions, which helps heirs make sure their relationships don't destroy family-run businesses; and 

- Wealthbridge Partners for families whose net worths exceed $200 million

Lost Federal Savings Bonds

If you have misplaced afederal saving bond, you can go to the U.S. Treasury's website at treasurydirect.gov to search for missing bonds all the way back to 1935. You will most likely have to fill out Form 1048, and the cost is free.