I would be afraid, very afraid

Bruce Williams is the author of a popular syndicated financial advice column entitled Smart Money.

In his March 21, 2006 column, Mr. Williams reprinted a letter from an Idaho reader who wrote:

This summer, I will be inheriting approximately $100,000.  My current mortgage balance is $40,000.  Should I use this money to pay off my mortgage or invest the entire amount?

The answer addressed the financial question but begged the question that first came to my mind, “How does the reader know he is going to inherit 100Gs?”  If were related to this reader, did not have a will, and had sufficient funds that under intestacy someone would inherit about $100,000, I would not be sleeping very well —-