Cash Is King? Podcast 269
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
Release Date: 08/14/2023
What The New Standard Fund Threshold Means for Your Retirement
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 accumulate across all retirement benefits without triggering additional tax charge, will begin to increase for the first time in over a decade. For many high earners and diligent savers, this represents a genuine opportunity to improve tax efficiency, reduce liabilities, and plan more strategically around...
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Retirement Planning Ireland: Get Ready for 2026!
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 rather than just fund size. This is about clarity, not hype. And avoiding expensive mistakes! Key talking points • Why the year before retirement is the most valuable planning window • The five numbers you must know before saying “I’m nearly there” • Why income planning...
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Two Big Pension Changes You Need To Know About For 2026
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
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 Administered' schemes (SSAS) which impacts self employed directors - One from Revenue relating to employees and losing control over their group pension schemes after 'Normal Retirement Age' (NRA) Both can change where your pension sits, how it is invested, and when you can access it. And all of it can...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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
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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...
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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_outlineToday I share some thoughts on holding cash, some saucy Central Bank of Ireland research on Irish households, and a warning about going all-in!
Irish Household Wealth
Aside from their regulatory role over financial services, Central Bank of Ireland share some really interesting research and reports. One such recent report was their 'Quarterly Financial Accounts' for Ireland.
For me, one of the greatest signals of our financial health as a nation is our 'Household Debt'. This rate hit a high in 2007 when it stood at €203BN. Working on the basis that there are c3.6m adults in Ireland this was around €60k debt for every man and woman over 18 years of age in the country!
That €203BN debt figure has fallen steadily since 2007, to €131BN in 2020, (€36k per adult) and now sits at c€120BN (€33k per adult).
Read on!
Paddy.