Welcome to Kiplinger’s My First $1 Million series, in which we hear from people who have made $1 million. They’re sharing how they did it and what they’re doing with it. This time, we hear from a 68-year-old woman who worked for The Coca-Cola Company as an international finance director.

See our earlier profiles, including a writer in New England , a literacy interventionist in Colorado , a semiretired entrepreneur in Nashville and an events industry CEO in Northern New Jersey .

Each profile features one person or couple, who will always be completely anonymous to readers, answering questions to help our readers learn from their experience.

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These features are intended to provide a window into how different people build their savings — they’re not intended to provide financial advice.

THE BASICS

How did you make your first $1 million?

I saved in a 401(k) and received a pension. It took my entire career.

What are you doing with the money?

Various things: I’ve invested it, paid off debt, made donations, traveled — I still have the majority of it.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

THE FUN STUFF

Did you do anything to celebrate?

No. I didn’t really think about it and didn’t realize when it happened.

What is the best part of making $1 million? Did your life change?

Yes, I had financial security.

Did you retire early?

I was forced out at 62.

LOOKING BACK

Anything you would do differently?

I might have invested differently, but that’s always after the fact.

Did you work with a financial adviser?

I have had many — some who ripped me off and others who didn’t. I like my current guy. I’ve mostly done it myself, but he manages certain things.

Did anyone help you early on?

I’ve had a different outlook on investing, so most people didn’t understand what I was trying to do.

LOOKING AHEAD

Plans for your next $1 million?

Paying for health care for my husband and me and traveling.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Any advice for others trying to make their first $1 million?

Concentrate on living, not making $1 million. You don’t know how long you’ll live. Taking things slow and steady and having a good life is best. Also, get a good tax person and a good estate attorney. You need a team, not just one professional.

What do you wish you’d known …

When you first started saving? I saved as much as I could all my professional life.

When you first started investing? I wish I had taken advantage of more professional expertise that focused on long-term returns vs short-term returns, including long-term tax implications.

Before you retired? The future, but of course that’s not possible. And that I would make investing mistakes, so be well diversified.

When you first started working with a financial professional? That (you can be) taken advantage of if you aren’t savvy.

If you have made $1 million or more and would like to be anonymously featured in a future My First $1 Million profile, please fill out and submit this Google Form or send an email to MyFirstMillion@futurenet.com to receive the questions. We welcome all stories that add up to $1 million or more in your accounts, although we will use discretion in which stories we choose to publish, to ensure we share a diversity of experiences. We’ll also want to verify that you really do have $1 million. Your answers may be edited for clarity.