Podcast125: Why Most Pensions Are A Waste Of Time, Unfortunately
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
Release Date: 02/18/2019
Investments in 2025 & 'It Takes A Village'
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 during the year. Thanks, Paddy.
info_outline
Pre Retirement Checklist Christmas Edition
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 practical bits that make life run smoothly. This pre-retirement checklist Ireland will hopefully give you a clear, practical path that helps you can step into the next stage with clarity and confidence (not a big ask is it!?). What we'll explore in this week: • How to calculate your retirement number...
info_outline
Should I Invest In Dividend Stocks To Generate Income?
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 it is a fair question. The choice often falls between 'Dividend Stocks' and 'Distributing Funds' (both pay dividend income) or 'Total Return Stocks' and 'Accumulating Funds' (don't pay dividends, instead accumulate profits in the business or fund). Key points (I hope!) you’ll take...
info_outline
Drawing Tax Efficient Income From PRSA or ARF In Your 50's
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 circling back to one point. Your own setup dictates the smartest drawdown plan. Takeaways • You can pull income from pensions in a planned, tax-efficient way. • Your personal position drives every decision. No two households look the same. • Rental income changes the order in which you tap...
info_outline
Markets Are High...Should I Jump To Cash, Out Of Equities?
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 doom! I'll not tell you here whether you should or you should not, but I will briefly share actual potential outcomes for you to consider, before you give it another seconds' thought! I hope it helps! This podcast is guidance only. Always seek qualified financial advice for your own situation
info_outline
The Financial Freedom of Getting Kids Off The Books!
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 pension contributions and long-term savings, sometimes delaying retirement by years. • Using tools like the McClements Scale shows how each extra person in the home adds significant cost pressure. • Setting clear timelines, gradually stepping back support, and redirecting funds...
info_outline
The Real Cost & Value of Financial Advice in Ireland
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 about retiring, reducing hours, or simply getting their finances in order. They may have accumulated assets through their careers, may or may not have had an advisor during that time, but are now considering the need as they plan their next chapter. At , we believe clarity beats guesswork. So...
info_outline
Annuity vs ARF: What’s Best for a €1 Million Pension Pot in Ireland?
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 Irish tax rules, and which might suit your lifestyle and risk appetite. Key Points: What’s an ARF? What’s an Annuity? Typical Income from a €1m Pension Taxation Pros and Cons I hope it helps
info_outline
How To Invest Your Pension at 50 (Make €1m extra in 10 years!?)
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 pension funds now: what’s in equities, bonds, or cash? • Rebalance gradually. • Diversify — global funds, low costs, and no guesswork. • Check old company pensions. Consolidate only if it saves on fees or boosts control. • Understand your tax position — up to 25%...
info_outline
Unregulated Investments in Ireland: Fees, Lessons & What to Avoid
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 “opportunities” that promise too much. Key points: The rise and fall of high-profile unregulated firms like Arena Capital, BlackBee, and Custom House Capital Why ordinary savers — not just speculators — were drawn into risky investments How commissions and incentives can cloud financial...
info_outlineThe title of this piece may seem overly alarmist, however it is my firm belief that most pensions that people here in Ireland have are really ineffective and the investors would quite possibly be better off doing something else with their funds. Are pensions useful? Absolutely they can be hugely useful (read here for 1 example!) however if they are entered into in a half-baked way they can be pretty useless, and unfortunately I have seen it far too many times.
We all see lots of articles and blogs and media mentions of not enough people having pensions etc etc, however it is also true that getting a pension just for the sake of it is not necessarily the right solution. In this article I hope to share insights which will potentially help you avoid getting into something that is of no value nor use to you, and give you a good chance of getting into something that stands a strong probability of being of real value to you.
What Is The Average Pension or Retirement Income In Ireland?
It really depends on what survey or research you are relying on but I have seen various figures quoted. Some say that the average pension pot for those retiring is €60,000 and other 'research' that puts that figure at €90,000. Either way I am not sure how those figures are arrived at, but my experience would suggest that for those that have pensions it may indeed be an average of that sort of level. Some have pension pots of €20,000 and others have pension pots of €1m or more, so it varies greatly! Depending on the size of the pot, the level of volatility you are exposed to and the number of years over which you intend to draw that income, you'll have a varied retirement income available to you.
Paddy Delaney.