'I tell them not to spend more than 10,000 on any given item in the next six months' - Eoin McGee shares the financial advice he gives to his Lotto-winning clients

"Don't  underestimate the fact that your life has changed now forever. And yes, it's going to be better, if you play your cards right. The life you once had has gone forever now. It's OK to feel a sadness about that, but people then get caught in the spiral of beating themselves up over feeling sad about it. 'It's a case of, 'Oh, hold on a second, I have no right to be sad', but you actually do,"

"The reality is; if you were miserable before this money, this money is not going to make you happy. In fact, it could be worse. You have that situation where all of a sudden, you don't have having no money to blame for you being unhappy and you have all the money and you're still unhappy, and there's an underlying issue there."

Winning a large lottery prize requires immediate administrative action and professional financial planning to manage sudden wealth effectively. Sudden wealth ends a previous way of life, which can create a grieving process and unexpected sadness despite improved circumstances. Financial resources will not automatically resolve pre-existing unhappiness and may intensify underlying life issues. New winners should address emotional and practical dimensions simultaneously, recognising that wealth amplifies both positives and negatives. Seeking structured guidance helps protect assets, navigate decisions, and support mental well-being during a major life transition.

Read at Irish Independent