WHAT would you do if you won the Lotto? £45 million is more than enough to give you and your family a great lifestyle forever if you invest it wisely after buying that Porsche or Aston Martin, a large house and second home. Even a yacht.

1. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Think very carefully about what you want from your money and build a portfolio that works for you.

Spread your investments to give the best chance of making a return, no matter what happens in the economy.

Select the right mixture of long and short term, higher and lower risk assets to meet your goals for the rest of your life. Don't just focus on what you want to do today.

Consider putting some money in trust for other family members to keep their fortunes safe, enabling them to /create a financial plan that works for them.

2. Choose good quality, well-diversified funds run by credible managers who hold investments for the long term.

3. Don't follow the herd. Every year has its fashionable investments. Do your homework and invest in solid, long-term funds.

If you enjoy following your instincts, keep a separate pot of "fun money" that you don't need to rely on.

4. Don't invest in something that looks too good to be true: When news of your win gets out, you are sure to be approached by people with get-rich-quick schemes – but as the saying goes beware of strangers bearing gifts. With interest rates low and markets volatile, investments providing returns out of the ordinary are likely to carry an element of risk. Never invest in what you don't understand.

5. Don't forget to leave yourself with a contingency fund: it is important to leave enough cash that can be easily accessed to cover short-term spending – generally no less than six months' total outgoings.

6. Don't put the tax tail before the investment dog: some investments offer attractive tax reliefs or rebates but many of these require long-term investments in risky ventures. No amount of tax relief can compensate for a poor investment so choose carefully.

7. Don't leave your statements in the bottom drawer: many investors confuse a "buy and hold" strategy with a "file and forget" one. Even long-term investments should be regularly reviewed.

8. Don't be a big fish in a small pond: never find yourself a substantial shareholder in any particular fund or stock. If you need to access your money for any reason, you need a large pool of potential purchasers for your investments.

9. Don't panic: suddenly finding yourself with £45 million to invest can seem a daunting prospect. Work with an investment adviser you trust to build a portfolio.

10. Don't invest without a financial plan: don't be tempted to buy into the latest "hot fund" if it doesn't fit your financial strategy.