You're at a party. Someone asks you casually, "So, what do you do?" Most people just answer the question. But you're different, both in your circumstances and in your reaction. You experience a sense of panic, "Oh, no, not again! I hate that question!" You try to think of how to make a hobby sound like a profession. Words such as nothing, parasite, fraud, and lost soul leap to mind, along with concerns over how to make yourself sound like a responsible adult.

"Oh, I do a lot of things...," you reply finally with a weak smile. You almost add resentfully, "Well, I have money. I don't have to do anything." Instead, you deflect attention from yourself by asking quickly, "And what is it you do?" suddenly feeling foolish and very self-conscious, the mood of the moment ruined.

So reads an excerpt from "Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth: A Life Guide for Inheritors" (New Concord Press, 2003), the new book by wealth counselor (and More Than Money Professional Associate Network member) Thayer Cheatham Willis. Despite the ominous title, the book is really about debunking the notion that being rich equals being happy, and validates the experience many inheritors have at situations like the party described above. If you are an inheritor, the parent of an inheritor, or someone who works with inheritors, you may want to consider checking out this book to learn more.

http://www.morethanmoney.org