Like many others, you’ll probably be glued to the TV on Saturday night waiting to see if you’ve won the lottery – and if your numbers come up you’d probably start planning a holiday, new car and house and an entirely new luxury lifestyle (after picking yourself up from the shock, of course).

But if you really do land a windfall from your lucky ticket – or you come into money from another source such as a relative’s estate – you actually need help!Few think of requiring help spending money – there will be dozens of family members and friends queuing up to do that. But managing a windfall really does need professional advice and wealth management services are available for just that purpose.

While the millionaire style windfall is just that – a one in a million chance – many of us receive large one-off payments at some time in our life from an inheritance, divorce settlement, insurance pay-out, house sale or lump sum payment on retirement.

Effective wealth management means you are more likely than most to keep hold of the money for a significant period of time rather than squandering it on an ill-conceived lifestyle overhaul.

Surveys suggest that without professional intervention, more than 50 per cent of windfalls are lost in a very short time.

So, my top tips are:

• Seek professional wealth management advice
• Don’t rush to spend
• Pay off any debts
• Leave the money in an account earning interest while you decide your next moves
• Look forward to having fun!