Most people who call "The Ramsey Show" are drowning in debt and desperate for help. Corey had the opposite problem. The 32-year-old single mom had just learned she was inheriting $1.25 million from her late boss, and she had no idea what to do with it.

Dave Ramsey's immediate reaction? "That's an unusual arrangement."

Corey had spent eight years working as a personal assistant to a wealthy contractor. She managed his schedule, handled his properties, and even traveled with him and his family—wife included—on vacations. When he passed away, it was his wife who called with the stunning news: Corey was named in his will for $1.25 million.

Now suddenly unemployed and raising four kids alone—ages 15, 4, 3, and under one—Corey wasn't calling to celebrate. She was calling because she was terrified. "I couldn't believe it," she said. She'd been earning $65,000 a year and living paycheck to paycheck. This kind of money felt unreal.

Ramsey didn't sugarcoat it. "This is not a 'woo-hoo, I hit the lottery' moment," he told her bluntly. "And I don't hear that in your voice. I hear a little bit of fear, a little bit of grief still from your friend passing away, and a little bit of shock and awe."

Then he got to the point: "Someone just handed you $1.25 million to manage. That's your new job. And you don't know how to do it."

So he laid out exactly how she should handle it.

Step One: Don't Rush Into Anything

Ramsey's first rule was simple—move slowly. No big purchases, no hasty decisions, no sense of urgency whatsoever. "Where people make mistakes when they don't know what they're doing," he explained, "is they go too fast."

This wasn't about being cautious for caution's sake. It was about recognizing that sudden wealth is a responsibility, not a free pass. One wrong move and the money could evaporate.

Step Two: Build Your Own Board of Advisers

Ramsey told Corey to assemble a team—not to control her decisions, but to educate her. She needed a tax adviser, a real estate professional, and a seasoned investment adviser who could teach her how to live off the returns without touching the principal.

His advice was practical: buy a modest home in cash, keep expenses low, and learn to budget with intention. "You're not going to live paycheck to paycheck anymore," he said. "You're going to tell every dollar what to do."

The goal wasn't just to preserve the inheritance—it was to make it last and work for her family over the long term.

The Lesson Applies to Everyone

Corey's situation was unusual, sure. But the principles Ramsey laid out apply to anyone who comes into sudden money, whether through inheritance, a business exit, or years of disciplined saving. Be intentional. Get professional advice. And whatever you do, don't rush.

Even for people without a windfall, the same strategies can build wealth over time. Real estate investing through fractional platforms or REITs can generate passive income. But like Corey, it all starts with a solid plan. And consulting a financial adviser before making major financial moves can mean the difference between building lasting wealth or watching it slip away.

"You've got to get up on top of this thing," Ramsey warned her, "or you're going to live with that horrible taste on the back of your tongue called regret."

Corey didn't call in with a shopping list or dreams of luxury vacations. She called in scared, serious, and ready to do the right thing. Which is probably exactly why her boss trusted her with that money in the first place.