If you're saving for retirement or nearing the end of your career, or eyeing retirement or a 'handier' role :) a significant change is on the horizon that could meaningfully affect how much tax you'll pay on your pension. From 2026, the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT), the maximum value you can accumu

If you are thinking about retiring in 2026, or even easing back from full time work, this is the year where small decisions start to matter a lot. In this week's episode, I look at how to check if retirement is actually realistic, which pension moves still make sense, and how to think about income r

If you have an Executive Pension/SSAS or are a member of an Occupational Pension Scheme approaching retirement, you might want to know about these big changes coming your way! Two major pension updates are colliding; - One from European regulation relating to 'Exec Pensions' and 'Small Self Administ

Welcome to the very last, and shortest, Informed Decisions Blog of 2025! We've had a very interesting investment year so far, and I want to share some brief investment observations and comparisons of the year. Also, I'll share a few acknowledgements of those that helped me and Informed Decisions dur

In this week's podcast - Your Essential Pre-Retirement Checklist Retirement starts long before you hand back the laptop or walk out of the office for the last time! The real work happens in the final decade, when you bring everything together; pensions, savings, tax, debts, lifestyle, and the practi

In this week's podcast - The Income Investor's Dilemma in Ireland Many investors in their 50's and 60's want dependable and sustainable incomes from their investment assets, fair enough! You may be wondering should you invest in Dividend Stocks or Distributing Funds in order to generate income - and

This episode looks at practical ways to pull income from pensions without handing more to Revenue than you need to. You hear how rental income fits into the picture, how a non-earning partner's tax band can save you money, and why timing matters when you've no salary coming in. The chat keeps circli

Is now the right time to move a chunk of your investment or pension assets out of equities, and into Bonds, Money Market Funds or Cash? It's a question that you may be asking because of a headline you read, an online commentator with a scary statistic, or someone you chatted with spoke of impending

Many Irish parents in their fifties are still financially supporting adult children—and it's quietly delaying their retirement goals. Key takeaways: • Each adult child can cost around €15k–€20k per year in ongoing support—rent, car, health cover, and general expenses. • Those costs directly reduce p

You've probably wondered: what does financial advice actually cost in Ireland, and is it worth it? Indeed, many people are also probably wondering if they are actually paying for advice, who may or may not be getting any!? ‍ Many professionals in their 50s ask that question when they start thinking

If you're retiring in Ireland with around €1 million in pension savings, one of the biggest questions you'll face is whether to take income from an ARF (Approved Retirement Fund) or to buy an annuity. In this episode, I break down both options in plain English — what they mean, how they work under I

In this week's podcast, I talk about investing your pension at 50. Turning 50 is a wake-up call for your pension. It's not about panic - it's about planning smart. Here's what matters most: Key Points: • At 50, your goals shift — you're closer to retirement, but growth still counts. • Review your pe

In this week's podcast, I unpack the growing issue of unregulated investments in Ireland — from headline-grabbing collapses to the hidden risks facing everyday investors. Discover why so many well-intentioned savers were caught out, what to watch for, and how to protect yourself from high-risk "oppo

In this week's podcast, we dive into why so many investors underperform the very funds they invest in. Drawing on Morningstar's Mind the Gap 2025 research, we explore how "magpie behaviour" — chasing shiny new investments, panicking in downturns, or tinkering too much — quietly erodes long-term weal

Would you rather build a financial future lined with velvet cushions, or one pieced together with spud bags?? Too many households in Ireland—and globally—are entering retirement without the savings needed to sustain their lifestyle. In this episode, I explore the uncomfortable truth behind retiremen

In this week's episode, I chat with Dan Haylett, Director of TFP Financial Planning in the UK, author of The Retirement You Didn't See Coming, and host of the Humans vs Retirement podcast. Dan has built his career around helping people prepare for retirement in a way that goes far beyond the numbers

In our last podcast, we celebrated Fran's incredible achievement of amassing a €2 million pension pot through decades of disciplined saving and investing. Some who read it were inspired, some were envious, and others said "I don't bloody need €2m pension pot"! Today, we're asking a different questio

Today, we're diving into the real-life(ish) story of Fran – a regular guy who built a €2 million+ pension pot and retired at 55. No big lotto win. No magic investment hacks. Just smart use of Ireland's pension system, discipline, and a few skipped car upgrades! Fran started young, contributed cons

Welcome to Informed Decisions Podcast, where we bring you expert insights for Irish investors and retirees. Today, we have a rip-roaring guest joining us - Bill Bengen, the financial planner who literally wrote the book on retirement withdrawals. Back in 1994, Bill's groundbreaking research establis

In this episode of the Informed Decisions podcast, I chat with Rob Halligan and Scott Ashmore, co-founders of Shuttle, a platform aiming to democratise access to private equity and venture capital investments. The conversation dives into the fundamentals of private markets, how they differ from publ

If you've ever looked at your pension statement and thought, "What does this actually mean?" You're not alone. In this episode, #338, we're cutting through the jargon and making sense of Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, especially for Irish employees and retirees. These schemes can offer incred

For the past 8 years, I've been making the case that most investors, particularly those who can tolerate volatility, should avoid Lifestyle investment strategies in pensions. It's been a lonely stance, with little to no mainstream coverage, even though investor feedback on my analysis was consistent

This week I flashback to a podcast from 2021! While it is a few years old its a common and important question. Key takeaways How big your pension should be when you start drawing down income How big your pension should be at various stages of your life What you can do if it's not as big as you woul

In this week's podcast I chat with Dr. Daniel Crosby. He discusses the evolution of behavioral finance over the past eight years, reflecting on the growing acceptance and understanding of the field. He shares insights from his latest book, 'The Soul of Wealth,' emphasising the importance of health,