I used an $80,000 inheritance from my uncle to start a business. Years later, we're approaching $1 million in revenue.

Steph Mahon started her business with her inheritance. Courtesy of Jonathan Grassi Steph Mahon used an inheritance to start her real estate firm after getting laid off. The money allowed her to hire and scale more quickly. Like her uncle, she's child-free and plans to leave her estate to her nieces and nephews. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Steph Mahon, founder of Dwell New Jersey, a Compass Real Estate group. It has been edited for length and clarity. When I made it...