Saving & Gifting to Kids in Ireland? Doing it Wrong Costs Thousands in Tax
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
Release Date: 06/09/2025
The Silent Thief: What Inflation Is Doing to Your Cash Savings in Ireland
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
In this week's episode, I welcome Aaron to the podcast before diving into a timely topic for Irish savers and investors: how inflation quietly erodes cash savings over time. I look at why holding too much cash can damage long term purchasing power, why fear often keeps people on the sidelines, and why a diversified, low cost investment approach has historically offered a stronger path for long term wealth. Key points: • Inflation reduces the real value of cash, even when your account balance stays the same • Too much money on deposit can weaken long term wealth and legacy outcomes • A...
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Financial Independence, Property, and the Reality of Retirement with Michael Houghton
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
Michael Houghton returns to the Informed Decisions Podcast seven years after his first appearance to share how his thinking on money, work and property has evolved. Michael is a personal finance writer, former software developer, FIRE advocate, Irish Independent columnist, and now an active property investor building income and wealth through rental property in Ireland. In this conversation, Michael explains why financial independence is really about choice, not simply giving up work. He shares how he and his family went from extreme saving and FIRE to a more flexible life built...
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Who Looks After Them When You Can't? Trusts & Wills with Elaine Byrne
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
In this week's podcast, Paddy is joined by specialist solicitor Elaine Byrne to demystify trusts and explain why they're one of the most powerful — and underused — tools in Irish estate planning. From discretionary trusts for young children to protecting a family member with additional needs, Elaine covers the types of trusts, the tax implications, how to update your will, and what it actually costs to get it done right. If you've been putting off your will or wondering whether a trust is relevant to your family — this one's for you. I hope it helps.
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Do I need an Enduring Power of Attorney in Ireland?
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
We can spend decades building our wealth, protecting our families, and planning for retirement. But there's one question most people avoid until it's too late: what happens if you can't make decisions for yourself? In this week's podcast I look at Enduring Power of Attorney. I hope it helps
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Irish Landlord Tax & Tenancy Changes 2026: Expert Guide for Property Investors
Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast
In this week's podcast, Paddy sits down with guest Brendan Allen to unpack the rental market right now, and it is messy. They get into why so many landlords feel stuck between shifting government rules and real world supply shortages, and how that tension can push rents higher even when the aim is tenant security. Brendan also breaks down the practical business case for staying invested long term, why commercial property can suit some investors better than residential, and what you need to check before you jump in. If you have ever thought, surely it cannot be this complicated, bad news: it...
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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...
info_outlineIn this week's episode, I explore crucial financial planning lessons for Irish families, highlighting examples where small oversights led to significant tax bills.
Discover how one family's misunderstanding of Ireland's Dwelling House Exemption resulted in an unexpected €77,000 tax liability, and how another family's mismanagement of the Small Gift Exemption cost them over €65,000.
Learn essential strategies for gifting, saving, and inheritance planning, and understand why precise adherence to tax regulations, supported by expert advice, is key to safeguarding your family's financial legacy.
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Good intentions aren’t enough - strict compliance with Irish tax law is essential.
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Document and complete transactions properly - incomplete paperwork can lead to significant taxes.
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The Small Gift Exemption (€3,000 annually) must involve actual yearly transfers - accumulating gifts without documentation won't satisfy Revenue.
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Seek professional financial and legal advice early to avoid costly errors in wealth transfer and inheritance planning.
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Understand clearly defined tax exemptions like the Dwelling House Exemption - missing even one condition can result in major unexpected taxes.
Hope it helps!