Many people fantasize about what they would do if they won the lottery.  Pay off mortgages, buy fancy cars, take exotic vacations, gift money to family or friends, or a variety of other things.  What about just looking at a smaller amount of money.  What would you do with $100,000?  Would you work with a financial professional?  What types of investments would you select?  Would you invest the money at all?

Those questions were proposed by Spectrem Group recently.  Forty-seven percent of wealthy investors would invest the money, while 39 percent would save the money.  Eleven percent would pay off some existing debt.  Republicans are more likely to invest at 53 percent, while only 41 percent of Democrats would invest the money.  Retirees would also be more likely to invest the money than those investors who are still working.  Men are also more likely to invest the money, while women are more likely to save the money.

For those who would invest the money, they would invest 27 percent of their $100,000 into stock mutual funds and 25 percent into cash investments.  Just under 20 percent would be invested in individual stocks, while 12 percent would be invested in individual bonds or bond mutual funds.  Seven percent would be invested in real estate, while 4 percent would be invested into annuities or cash value life insurance.  Retirees would invest more into cash vehicles and bond mutual funds, while working investors would invest more into individual stocks.

With many platforms and services being available for wealthy investors to manage their own investments, how likely is it that they will be utilizing a financial advisor to assist them in making investment decisions with the $100,000?  Just over a quarter (28%) would have an advisor make the investment decisions for them.  Thirty-seven percent would consult with an advisor but ultimately make their own decision, while 35 percent would make a decision on their own without consulting with an advisor.

The utilization of a financial professional increases as wealth increases.  Over half of investors at the highest levels of wealth would have an advisor making the best investment decision for them.  Younger investors would be more likely to consult with an advisor yet make their own decisions, while older investors would be more likely to make a decision on their own without consulting with an advisor.

Hypothesizing what one would do with unexpected money can be fun, while also providing interesting insights regarding an investors overall attitude towards the stock market and working with a financial professional.  What would you do with $100,000?