The first thing we'd do if we struck it rich would be hire a financial planner. The first thing we'd buy? A condo at the beach. You?

Most people I doubt "strike it rich" like hitting the lottery or something like that.  They work along and receive raises or go to better paying jobs or promotions or start their own businesses which do well.  So then they are not just living hand to mouth but able to bank a portion of their earnings and to afford a few nice things.  And then continuing to do better they buy a home and if all goes well they might be in a position they will be able to make investments.  Which is the point when a good financial planner would become helpful.  Not a good thing to invest unless you are able to have a number of them so the chances would be better that if you lost on some you would do well enough on others to more than offset the loss.  Of course a lot of planners may well regard you as the loss in their portfolio!  So good to learn enough you are able to keep tabs on them. You just here so much from them on this or that trend and sometimes have to take it on faith because you have no idea where they are coming from. 

Once investments begin earning for you if you are financially stable the problem becomes whether to invest those earnings or take them and use them for other things you might want.  Which some people spend right and left and so they lose what they have gained so you have to be careful not to go overboard.  Beach condo could be a good investment but of course it would be subject to winds and hurricanes and flooding etc.  We know people who own waterfront property and they are very much at the mercy of the weather.  And then if you rent there is the liability. 

We went with someone who does make recommendations to us but does not charge a regular maintenance fee (as banks do) but only charges for actual transactions undertaken for us. 

When I married my husband we were doing well enough each on our own that joining forces and after purchasing a home we realized we were in a position where if we were careful we were "all set" for the remainder of out lives barring any unforeseen tragedies or shifts.  Then for us became important to use some of our resources not only for charitable giving but to directly help and encourage certain people we deemed promising in business and in the arts. he more you have the more likely you will be called upon to serve the community on committees, boards, fund raising, various issues etc. which sort of comes with the whole package.  Not necessarily being "rich" but certainly being well enough off.