re: If the average middle-class American

1) pay off house, rent it out to three individuals and make $1,650 per month on that. Move into a decent apartment until I figure things out.

2) buy Subaru.

3) Put about 300k straight into a mega cap dividend etf or fund that pays a 3% dividend.
That's $9,000 in income per year aside from regular stock appreciation.

4) I'd do a lot of reading/refreshing on real estate investing, create an llc and buy a property or two to start off.

5) Buy a modest vacation home in the Appalachians for my family/friends enjoyment only.

6) keep about 100k in an online saving that yields north of 1 percent. This is for repairs and emergencies.

7) Continue teaching and enjoy the double salary from investment properties.

8) max out HSA and Roth