re: What do I do with my money next?

I agree that a permanent insurance product serves your agent better than it serves you. You DO need insurance, but an appropriate size 20 year term policy, will protect your family until that time when you are self insured and no longer need insurance (substantial assets, no mortgage, kids grown and out of school, etc).
One exception to the insurance issue might be a maximum funded policy. Basically, it is for high income earners who have already exhausted their other tax deferred options. It allows you to create a policy with a set premium, but you can overfund that policy up to a certain amount and the cash value is invested in mutual funds and maintains it's tax deferral. Once you transition from the accumulation stage of your life to the distribution stage, you can withdraw the equivalent of your cash value without owing taxes on the withdrawals. In the meantime, the policy does have a death benefit if you pass away prematurely. You don't purchase this for the death benefit (again, that is where you buy term insurance), but the death benefit is what makes this strategy another tax deferred option. It is fairly complicated, but it works well if used appropriately and you have an advisor who is familiar with the concept.
I also totally disagree with those that say to open a Scottrade, Fidelity, etc account and buy mutual funds. You are going to be busy with life and a career, you want to hire a pro to run your money. If you want to open an account for some of your "play" money, that's perfectly acceptable.