We protect ourselves while we holiday, we protect our pets and we even protect our smartphones. Yet we sometimes forget to protect what’s most important. Our ability to earn an income is often our most important asset yet something some of us take for granted. Paying your mortgage, childcare, groceries or even the insurance policies
Why Income Protection is the gold standard of insurance policies Read More »
The key differences between an ARF and an annuity are flexibility and risk. An annuity converts the money in your retirement fund into a guaranteed taxable income payable for your lifetime, fixed on the date you buy the annuity. However on death, there may be little or no return for your dependants. An ARF allows
What are the main differences between an ARF and an Annuity? Read More »
Planning for retirement involves carefully balancing all key financial components. Reviewing and considering existing pension funds, state pension entitlement, outstanding debts, and other income and assets are crucial to achieving the retirement lifestyle you’ve always imagined. As retirement approaches, you’ll have multiple pension options to consider, which can be both complex and confusing. It’s wise
Be ready for retirement Read More »
One of the foremost writers in the personal finance space today is Morgan Housel, author of the bestselling book The Psychology of Money and many essays under The Collaborative Fund blogs. He has also contributed widely to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. We like his writing because his advice is usually
12 great quotes about money and personal finances Read More »
Every year, the Budget brings a mix of progress and frustration for Irish savers, investors and business owners. Budget 2026 was no different, delivering some small steps forward, but also many issues still left unaddressed. As your financial adviser, part of our job is to help you make the most of the rules that exist
What we’ll keep pushing for after Budget 2026 Read More »
Retirement is one of life’s biggest transitions. After decades of working, saving, and building towards this milestone, many people focus on the financial aspects – pensions, tax efficiency, and investment strategy. While these are essential, true retirement planning goes beyond money. It’s about preparing for how you’ll live, not just how you’ll fund it. As
3 Questions to ask yourself before retirement Read More »
For many people in Ireland, the 31st of October looms each year as the critical self-assessment tax deadline. Whether you’re a PAYE worker with additional income or self-employed, it’s the date by which you must file your tax return and pay any balance owed. But while most associate this date purely with taxes, it’s also
Does the tax deadline still matter for pensions? Read More »
We were asked recently by a client about how best to introduce financial planning to their adult children in their 20’s, as they didn’t really “get” what it was all about. So here are our thoughts… Why bother with a plan at all? This is often the first question they will ask! So we say,
Personal Financial Planning for Newbies Read More »
It is probably fair to say that we know instinctively that consumers achieve better outcomes when they get financial advice. But maybe it’s also fair to say that sometimes we can be remiss in placing hard numbers on this. Our goal is to change this today. But as a broader introduction, HAN University of Applied
What is the Financial Value of Financial Advice? Read More »
We thought it might be useful to step back a little bit and review the value that we bring to our clients, in order to make sure we’re meeting your needs as much as we possibly can. We identified ways in which we enrich the lives of our clients and ended up with quite a
10 ways we help to improve your financial life Read More »
On Tuesday 1st October, the Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, delivered his first budget speech and the last of the current government. In that speech, he announced a welcome change to all the thresholds relating to Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) and what can be received as a gift or inheritance tax free. Successive Irish governments have
Good news on Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) thresholds Read More »
The Finance Bill, published in October 2024, brings some important changes to how pensions and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) will work in Ireland. These changes will have a big impact on retirement savings for company directors. Here is a summary of the key changes from Jan 2025. Employer Contributions to PRSAs will be limited
Big changes to PRSAs and Pensions from January 2025 Read More »
The Fair Deal Scheme (also known as the Nursing Home Support Scheme) was introduced in 2009 to provide financial support for people that require long term care in a nursing home. The general rule is simple: the more assets and income you have, the more you will pay toward your care. The process consists of
Fair Deal Scheme Simplified Read More »
Jack Chambers, Minister for Finance, announced a number of positive pension related changes this week. These changes follow the publication of a review of the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT). The key changes announced by Minister Chambers are outlined below. Standard Fund Threshold The maximum tax-efficient pension fund in Ireland, known as the Standard Fund Threshold
Phased increase to the Standard Fund Threshold announced Read More »
The key differences between an ARF and an annuity are flexibility and risk. An annuity converts the money in your retirement fund into a guaranteed taxable income payable for your lifetime, fixed on the date you buy the annuity. However, on death, there may be little or no return for your dependants. An ARF allows
What are the main differences between an ARF and an annuity? Read More »
