Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast

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  Private Credit in Ireland: Can You Actually Get Your Money Out? 03.08.2026 25хв

  There is a pitch doing the rounds in Irish advice circles at the moment: private markets have finally been democratised, and private credit and private equity are now open to anyone with a decent pension pot. But is it really like that? In this episode, Paddy looks at what is actually being sold, and at the one feature that matters more than anything else in the brochure, because liquidity here is offered, not guaranteed. Have a listen, if you'd like to get an idea of what these 'zombie funds' in the private markets sector are all about, what your ARF has to do with them, and what considerations there are regarding private loans and equity investments when it comes to your retirement planning.  What you'll learn: What an evergreen or semi-liquid fund actually is, and why a redemption window is nothing like selling a share Why the value on your statement can lag what is really happening in the underlying businesses by months What a zombie fund is, and why roughly 48% of the institutional investors surveyed by Coller Capital already hold one Why illiquid assets collide badly with ARF drawdown, where Revenue requires you to draw at least 4% a year from age 61 The four questions to ask before you sign anything and what a vague answer actually tells you   None of this means private markets are wicked, or that nobody should ever own them. It means a bit of healthy scepticism is no bad thing. If you are approaching or already in retirement and someone has put one of these opportunities in front of you, this episode is for you.   🎙️ Full podcast episode and 📖 Blog: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/zombie-funds-private-markets-ireland 📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 5-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator  📅 Find out how we work: https://www.informeddecisions.ie    DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different — always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Bucket vs. Total Return - Retirement Withdrawal Strategies for Investors in Ireland 27.07.2026 28хв

  If you've built a pension pot of €1m or more, you've almost certainly thought about how you'll invest it in retirement. What a bunch of people haven't thought through properly is how they'll actually take the money out: that decision, not the fund selection, is often what determines whether your ARF supports you comfortably for thirty years, or gives you a fright in year eight. After his well deserved holiday, in this episode Paddy talks about retirement withdrawal strategies for an Irish ARF: the bucket strategy versus the total return strategy, and why the choice works differently here than in the US or UK research you'll have read. If you're approaching, or already in, retirement with €1m+ in an ARF, and you're not sure whether you have a withdrawal plan or just a fund value, this one is for you. What you'll learn: • How the bucket strategy and the total return (guardrails) strategy actually work inside an ARF • Why Revenue's imputed distribution welds a hard 4% floor under your withdrawals from age 61 (ARF under €2m) • What a 20% down year does to a €1.2m ARF under each approach and why a hybrid often captures the best of both • The three most common drawdown mistakes and how to avoid them If you're approaching retirement with a significant pension pot and want genuine clarity on turning it into a sustainable, tax-aware income, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Full podcast episode and 📖 Blog: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/post/retirement-withdrawal-strategies-drawdown-risk  Check out our new category on YouTube: Paddy's Pension Pieces. Smaller, condensed content of our topics, where Paddy condenses longer topics into shorter clips, covers topics that are hot off the press or shares timeless classics that are always relevant to pension planning. 📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 5-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator  📅 Find out how we work: https://www.informeddecisions.ie  DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different — always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Strategic Giving - Philanthropy in Ireland: A Conversation With Community Foundation CEO, Denise Charlton 20.07.2026 35хв

  Most people spend decades building wealth and never quite get to the second question: not how do I protect this, but what do I actually want it to do? On this episode, Paddy Delaney talks to Denise Charlton, CEO of Community Foundation Ireland, about strategic philanthropy in Ireland. How it actually works, and where to start. What you'll learn: How a Donor Advised Fund works in Ireland, and why the entry point is lower than most assume (€25,000–€50,000) The difference between ad-hoc giving and strategic philanthropy How tax relief and Capital Acquisitions Tax exemptions apply to charitable giving in Ireland How families bring the next generation into a giving conversation, and how endowments work in perpetuity If you've built significant wealth and you're starting to ask what it's actually for, this conversation is worth your time. About the Guest Denise Charlton is Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland, the country's leading philanthropic foundation. Her career spans senior leadership at the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Women's Aid; she was a founder of Marriage Equality, and she currently sits on the board of Cuan, the State's statutory agency for sexual and gender-based violence. You can find Community Foundation Ireland at communityfoundation.ie. 🎙️ Full podcast episode and 📖 Blog:  www.informeddecisions.ie/post/strategic-philanthropy-ireland 📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 5-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator  📅 Find out how we work: https://www.informeddecisions.ie  DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different — always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Simplicity Is The Ultimate Sophistication (Replay) 13.07.2026 14хв

  This one was recorded a while back (in 2024), but the argument hasn't dated a day, if anything, it holds up better now than when we first put it out. A of complexity in Irish pension and investment advice isn't there to help you. It's there to help the person selling it. In this episode, Paddy explains why simplicity almost always beats sophistication when it comes to your pension and investment planning, and what a genuinely simple structure actually looks like. What you'll learn: ● Why financial firms are often incentivised to make your pension and investments more complicated than they need to be ● The real-world cost of sophisticated, structured investment products that underperform ● What a simple, transparent pension and investment structure actually looks like in practice ● The questions worth asking any advisor before trusting them with your retirement assets If you've ever had a feeling that your own pension or investment structure is more complicated than it needs to be, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Full podcast episode and 📖 Blog: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/simplicity-over-sophistication-pension-planning And a quick word on something new: alongside the podcast, I've started putting together shorter pieces for YouTube: Paddy's Pension Pieces. Each one built around a single question from a fuller episode or a specific topic I'd like to discuss in shorter time . The first is up now, on what a €1 million pension pot in Ireland actually leaves you with after tax: check out our YT Channel to discover :) More to follow. 📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 5-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator 📅 Find out how we work: https://www.informeddecisions.ie DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different — always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Sequence of Returns Risk: Same ARF. Same Return. Totally Different Outcome 06.07.2026 32хв

  Two people can retire with the same ARF, the same average return, and the same withdrawal rate and still end up in completely different places. One leaves over €1m to his family. The other runs out of money before he turns 88. The only difference is the order in which the returns arrived. In this episode, Paddy breaks down sequence of returns risk in Ireland. The risk that gets far less attention than fund performance or pot size, but can matter more than either. What you'll learn: • Why sequence of returns doesn't matter at all while you're still accumulating • Why the first ten years of drawdown can account for roughly 77% of your final outcome • How Revenue's 4%/5%/6% imputed distribution rules interact with this risk in an Irish ARF • Four practical ways to protect your ARF: cash buffers, dynamic withdrawal, portfolio   construction, and timing flexibility If you're within a decade of retirement, or already drawing an income from your ARF, this is worth half an hour of your time. Enjoy! 🎙️ Find all the full podcast episode and 📖 Blog here: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/sequence-of-returns-risk-ireland  📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 5-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator  📅 Find out how we work: www.informeddecisions.ie  DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different. Always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Enduring Power of Attorney in Ireland With Áine Flynn: Who Can Act If You Can't? 29.06.2026 31хв

  An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is the planning step most Irish adults never get to. Only around 8% have one, against roughly a third who've made a will. Yet if you lost capacity tomorrow, it's the document that decides whether the people you trust can actually act for you, or whether your family ends up in front of the Circuit Court. Paddy Delaney is joined by Áine Flynn, Director of Ireland's Decision Support Service, for a clear, practical conversation about planning ahead. If you're approaching retirement with assets to protect, this one matters. For more information about Áine Flynn and the work of Ireland's Decision Support Service: https://www.decisionsupportservice.ie In this episode: Why your next of kin can't automatically step in. And what an EPA changes The joint-account trap most couples assume protects them What it costs (€30 to register, €90 to activate) and how the DSS process works The "holy trinity": Will, EPA and Advance Healthcare Directive, and what each one covers If you want genuine clarity on protecting yourself and the people you love, whatever happens, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Full episode (video) and 📖 Blog: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/enduring-power-of-attorney-ireland 📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 5-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator 📅 Find out how we work: https://www.informeddecisions.ie DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial or legal advice. Everyone's situation is different — always speak to a qualified, independent advisor (and a solicitor for legal documents) before making pension, investment or estate-planning decisions. Rules and figures change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Should You Reduce Investment Risk Before Retirement? 22.06.2026 32хв

  As you get closer to retirement, move your money to safer investments. It sounds reasonable. But what if that one piece of conventional wisdom could cost you €80,000 or more? In this episode, Paddy unpacks one of the most consequential (and most overlooked) investment decisions you'll make: whether to reduce investment risk before you retire. For a lot of Irish pension holders, this decision has already been made for them automatically, through something called lifestyling often without their knowledge or consent. Paddy works through the two opposing risks at the heart of the decision: de-risking too early and leaving significant growth on the table in your final accumulation years and sequence-of-returns risk, the single most underappreciated danger in early retirement. Using two scenarios he shows how a default setting can quietly create an €85,000–€100,000 gap, and why the order in which your returns arrive matters more than the average. You'll come away with a simple three-question framework to bring deliberate, personalised thinking to your own pension, instead of leaving it to a system designed for an average that doesn't exist. What this Episode covers: •  The two real risks and why most people only know one •  Lifestyling: what your provider may be doing without telling you •  The €85k–€100k cost of de-risking too early •  Sequence-of-returns risk and the retirement 'red zone' •  The bucket strategy as a simple income buffer •  A three-question framework for the ten years before retirement And if you like to read this episode again, read the full blog post here: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/reduce-investment-risk-before-retirement-ireland  Chapters: 00:00 - The €80,000 question 01:30 - The two real risks 04:00 - Lifestyling explained 07:00 - The real numbers 12:00 - Sequence-of-returns risk 17:00 - The decision framework 21:00 - Mistakes to avoid + ARF considerations 24:30 - Summary & key takeaways   📊 Check out our new Retirement Readiness Scorecard: www.informeddecisions.ie/retirement-readiness-scorecard 📖 Find out how we work at www.informeddecisions.ie    ABOUT THE SHOW The Informed Decisions podcast is hosted by Paddy Delaney, QFA RPA APA, independent, fee-only retirement planner in Ireland. The podcast and the blog at informeddecisions.ie are educational resources for Irish professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals navigating retirement, tax efficiency, and investment strategy. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalised financial advice. Figures and rules referenced reflect the position as at May 2026 and are subject to change. Always speak to a qualified, independent financial advisor about your specific situation.
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  Pension Drawdown Above €2M: The €243,000 Timing Decision (SFT Ireland) 15.06.2026 41хв

  If your pension is approaching or has passed €2 million, the question is no longer just how to grow it, it's how to generate income without handing a significant portion to Revenue unnecessarily. The Standard Fund Threshold in Ireland rose to €2.2 million in January 2026, and the decisions you make in the next few years will determine how much of that headroom you actually use. In this episode, Paddy covers the income strategies that matter most at the SFT level. If your pension is approaching €1.5 million or more, this episode is for you. • Why timing your Benefit Crystallisation Events can shelter up to €500,000 from Chargeable Excess Tax • How the lump sum offset mechanism reduces your CET exposure — and what the effective SFT really is in 2026 • What the imputed distribution rules mean when your ARF exceeds €2 million • How to manage income through the standard rate tax band efficiently • Why spousal pension planning is one of the most underused strategies at this level   📊 Find out how we work and have a look at our Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie 📖 Read the full blog: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/generating-income-standard-fund-threshold-ireland ABOUT THE SHOW The Informed Decisions podcast is hosted by Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA — independent, fee-only retirement planner in Ireland. The podcast and the blog at informeddecisions.ie are educational resources for Irish professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals navigating retirement, tax efficiency, and investment strategy. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalised financial advice. Figures and rules referenced reflect the position as at May 2026 and are subject to change. Always speak to a qualified, independent financial advisor about your specific situation.
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  Bonds Aren't Broken. What the 1970s Tell Irish Retirees About Bonds Today 08.06.2026 27хв

  A lot of investors have written off bonds after 2022. In this episode, Paddy Delaney explains why that conclusion is based on a misreading of how bonds work — and what the historical data actually shows. The 10-year US Treasury yield went from under 6% to over 11% during the 1970s. Bonds still returned 5.4% per year. The worst single year was a loss of less than 1%. If bonds survived that rate environment, what does it mean for the environment we are in today? In this episode: - How bond returns are calculated (starting yield and duration) - Why rising interest rates improve your future bond returns, not reduce them - What the 1970s data shows, using Damodaran historical records - What this means practically for anyone with bonds in an ARF or occupational pension - A short note on lifestyling: being moved into bonds automatically is very different from choosing to hold them This episode is relevant if you are approaching retirement, already in retirement, or reviewing an ARF or pension that includes a bond allocation. If you would like to talk through your own situation, book a Clarity Call at www.informeddecisions.ie Full blog post: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/bonds-arf-retirement-ireland  • All Informed Decisions podcast episodes: www.informeddecisions.ie/podcast/   ABOUT THE SHOW The Informed Decisions podcast is hosted by Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA — independent, fee-only retirement planner in Ireland. The podcast and the blog at informeddecisions.ie are educational resources for Irish professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals navigating retirement, tax efficiency, and investment strategy. Find Paddy at www.informeddecisions.ie   TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Bonds and Market Perceptions 02:43 Understanding Bonds: Their Role and Functionality 05:20 The Impact of Interest Rates on Bond Investments 08:20 Predictability of Bond Returns and Historical Context 11:11 The Mechanics of Bond Funds and Their Advantages 14:01 Current Bond Market Landscape and Future Outlook 17:03 Strategic Considerations for Investors and Pension Holders 19:46 Common Misconceptions and Mistakes in Bond Investing 22:25 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts   DISCLAIMER This podcast is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalised financial advice. Figures and rules referenced reflect the position as at May 2026 and are subject to change. Always speak to a qualified, independent financial advisor about your specific situation.
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  Pension When You Change Jobs in Ireland: The 4 Most Important Decisions for Professionals 01.06.2026 36хв

  "There's a pension somewhere in your name that you haven't looked at in five years." That's a sentence Paddy finds himself saying in client meetings more often than you'd expect. Across a 25-year career, the typical Irish professional works for three or four different employers — and the result, by the time someone reaches their mid-fifties, is often €100,000 to €500,000 spread across multiple dormant pensions that haven't been reviewed in years. In this episode, Paddy walks through what he calls the forgotten pension problem: the structural feature of Irish pension administration that means employer-funded pensions don't follow you when you change jobs. He explains the 2-year vesting rule, what it means to be a "deferred member" of a scheme, and the four decisions every senior professional faces when leaving a role with a pension: leave it where it is, transfer to your new employer's scheme, transfer to a Personal Retirement Bond, or transfer to a PRSA. He also covers two structural changes that took effect at the start of 2026. The first is auto-enrolment "My Future Fund", which launched on 1 January 2026 and now automatically enrols workers earning over €20,000 who aren't already in a workplace pension. The second is a new restriction: transfers from group occupational schemes to personal pension structures (PRSA or PRB) are now only permitted before Normal Retirement Age — a planning point for anyone approaching a late-career exit. The episode closes with the annual pension audit — three questions Paddy walks through with clients each year to address the forgotten pension problem deliberately rather than letting inertia decide. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction to Forgotten Pensions (01:53) Understanding the Forgotten Pension Problem (07:32) Options for Managing Your Pension (18:26) Recent Changes in Pension Regulations (27:12) Key Considerations for Senior Professionals (31:15) Strategies to Address the Forgotten Pension Problem RESOURCES MENTIONED •  Full blog post (with the four-options framework, 2026 rule changes, and audit checklist):     https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-when-you-change-jobs-ireland/ •  Companion episode — PRSA vs Company Pension / Master Trust:     https://www.informeddecisions.ie/prsa-vs-company-pension-ireland/ •  All Informed Decisions podcast episodes:     https://www.informeddecisions.ie/podcast/ ABOUT THE SHOW The Informed Decisions podcast is hosted by Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA — independent, fee-only retirement planner in Ireland. The podcast and the blog at informeddecisions.ie are educational resources for Irish professionals, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals navigating retirement, tax efficiency, and investment strategy. Find Paddy at https://informeddecisions.ie DISCLAIMER This podcast is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalised financial advice. Figures and rules referenced reflect the position as at May 2026 and are subject to change. Always speak to a qualified, independent financial advisor about your specific situation.
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  PRSA vs Company Pension in Ireland: Which Is Right for You? 25.05.2026 26хв

  After the 22 April IORP II deadline, thousands of Irish directors are now in a pension structure they didn't deliberately choose. Most transitioned from an executive pension to a Master Trust or a PRSA under time pressure. Few sat down to ask whether the resulting structure is actually the one that serves them best. In this episode, Paddy walks through the PRSA versus Executive Pension / Master Trust decision in detail: Funding mechanics, lump sum comparison, death benefit treatment, and the second decision most people never review: the investment mandate inside the structure. The episode is anchored to an anonymised client story: a company director in his mid-60s who came to Informed Decisions in early 2023 with a €1.4m pension and one question. Less than three years later, with a different structure and a different investment mandate, that pension is worth over €2m. The estimated cost of taking the "safe" advice he was offered elsewhere: approximately €500,000 of growth.   WHAT'S COVERED Why the IORP II deadline forced a structural decision under time pressure How PRSA contribution rules changed in 2023 and 2025 When the Master Trust's salary-and-service formula beats the PRSA's 100 % cap How the 1.5× salary lump sum compares to the PRSA's 25 % rule Why the PRSA's uncapped death benefit can change estate planning How the Standard Fund Threshold (€2.2m → €2.8m by 2029) affects strategy Why de-risking at 65 doesn't fit modern Irish retirement timelines Full written breakdown with comparison table, IORP II timeline, and FAQs: www.informeddecisions.ie/post/prsa-vs-company-pension-ireland If this episode raised questions about your current contribution strategy is going to get you where you want to go, that's exactly what we work through with clients. Find out more at https://www.informeddecisions.ie    ABOUT Informed Decisions is an independent, fee-only financial advisory firm in Ireland. Paddy Delaney works with a small number of clients each year, typically business owners and senior professionals approaching retirement, to plan and protect retirement decisions in coordinated, tax-efficient ways. If today's episode raised questions about your own pension: whether the structure is right, whether the investment mandate has been reviewed, or how to think about both together: visit https://www.informeddecisions.ie to see how we work. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different. Always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording.
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  Risk and Reward in Retirement: What Ben Carlson's Research Means for Irish Investors - Interview 18.05.2026 43хв

  Most people approaching retirement believe their job is to reduce risk. Get out of equities. Move into something safe. Ben Carlson disagrees — and he has the research to back it up. Ben is Director at Ritholtz Wealth Management in the US, author of Risk and Reward (Harriman House, May 2026), and one of the most widely read financial writers working today. He's spent his career studying every major market crash in modern history: the Great Depression, Japan's lost decades, the dot-com bust, 2008 and what they actually mean for long-term investors. In this episode, Paddy and Ben talk about Ben's new Book: They cover the yin and yang of Risk and Reward Why globally diversified investors still came out ahead from financial crises The three dimensions of risk tolerance (willingness, need, and ability) How to think about drawdown and bucketing, inflation psychology, and the only benchmark that actually matters for someone approaching retirement. Ben's new book Risk and Reward is available now in Kindle, paperback, and audiobook (read by Ben himself) from Harriman House. There's a full written article about this Interview with Ben on the blog at http://www.informeddecisions.ie/post/retirement-risk-and-reward-ireland  If this episode raised questions about where you sit on the age-related table or whether your current contribution strategy is going to get you where you want to go, that's exactly what we work through with clients. Find out more at https://www.informeddecisions.ie  DISCLAIMER: This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Always speak to a qualified, independent advisor about your own situation.
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  The Most Consistently Underclaimed Tax Break for Irish High Earners - Pension Tax Relief Explained 11.05.2026 31хв

  Most Irish high earners are claiming roughly half the pension tax relief available to them. Not because the rules are complicated, but because the contribution percentage set years ago has simply never been revised. In this episode, Paddy walks through the age-related contribution limits (15% to 40%) the €115,000 earnings cap and what it actually means in practice and a real worked example of a director, age 56, on €180k — who could be claiming €16,100 in tax relief every year but isn't. He also covers the year-end October timing window (you can still reduce last year's tax bill with one decision), five common mistakes that quietly cost high earners thousands, and why the personal contribution question and the structural question, PRSA versus company pension, really need to be looked at together. There's a full written article with the age-related table, the worked example, and year-end timing details on the blog at www.informeddecisions.ie/post/pension-tax-relief-ireland-explained Free Webinar: Should You Sell Your RSUs? - A Practical Guide for Tech Employees in Ireland, 20th May 2026: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/webinar/webinar-should-you-sell-your-rsus If this episode raised questions about where you sit on the age-related table or whether your current contribution strategy is going to get you where you want to go, that's exactly what we work through with clients. Find out more at https://www.informeddecisions.ie  DISCLAIMER: This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Always speak to a qualified, independent advisor about your own situation.
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  Is your ARF built to last? - Safe Withdrawal Strategies 04.05.2026 23хв

  Most ARF holders know their fund value. Most know Revenue requires a minimum annual drawdown. Very few have stopped to ask whether meeting that minimum is actually a strategy, or simply the path of least resistance. In this episode, Paddy explores safe withdrawal rates in an Irish context: the research on real retiree behaviour, why the 4% rule is both useful and misunderstood, and why the sequence of returns in the first five years of retirement carries disproportionate weight on long-term outcomes. He walks through a concrete sequence-of-return scenario: same starting fund, same average annual return, same withdrawal rate, completely different outcomes and shares a real-life case study of a retired solicitor whose conservative ARF mandate was quietly eroding her fund at a 7% real rate of depletion annually. Covered in this episode: The US Health and Retirement Study findings on actual retiree withdrawals Bill Bengen's 4% rule and its Irish limitations Sequence of return risk and how a cash buffer changes the equation Three common ARF drawdown mistakes and three concrete takeaways. The imputed distribution sets the floor. It doesn't set the strategy. Read the full blog post at www.informeddecisions.ie/post/safe-withdrawal-strategy-arf-ireland DISCLAIMER: This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Always speak to a qualified, independent advisor about your own situation.  
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  €2M ARF in Ireland: What You'll Actually Keep — And How to Keep More 27.04.2026 33хв

  You've built a €2 million pension. Now here's the question nobody asked you: how much of it will you actually keep? In this episode, Paddy runs the real numbers on what a €2 million ARF looks like in Ireland in 2026: mandatory drawdowns, income tax, USC, PRSI, and the phased strategy that could save you tens of thousands every year in the early stages of retirement. What this Episode covers: Why a €2M ARF triggers a mandatory €120,000 income. Whether you need it or not The real net income after tax: €72,614 at a 39.5% effective rate How phasing your drawdown across two crystallisation events drops your annual tax bill from €47,386 to €8,088 What happens to the deferred pot if it grows at 6% for 8 years, and how that interacts with the Standard Fund Threshold The couple scenario: why joint assessment changes everything SFT mechanics at each Benefit Crystallisation Event and where the margin gets tight The numbers are stark. The structure matters. And getting this wrong (or not thinking about it at all) is one of the most expensive planning gaps we see. Discover the full blog post and show notes on informeddecisions.ie  
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  How Much Money Do You Need to Retire in Ireland? 20.04.2026 25хв

  In this week's episode, Paddy tackles the question he gets asked more than any other: how much do I actually need to retire in Ireland? Well, for an answer to that question, one should make a proper calculation beforehand, and Paddy is here to help you out by covering the key benchmarks from the Pensions Council report, what they mean in practice, and where they fall short. Some of the specific points covered in this episode: Why the state pension — currently €299.30 per week in 2026 — changes the calculation significantly, and what it means for couples where both partners qualify The simple framework for working out your own number: current spending, minus what disappears, plus what increases, minus state pension, divided by 0.04 Why many couples targeting a comfortable retirement need a private pension pot closer to €300,000–€400,000 than the €1 million figure people often assume The healthcare wildcard — private health insurance costs that the benchmarks don't fully capture Why the question changes completely for those with €1 million or more in pension assets: it's no longer "do I have enough?" but "how do I structure what I have?" The imputed distribution rules every ARF holder needs to understand before drawing down If you're in your 50s or 60s and haven't yet put a real number on what retirement will cost you, this episode is a practical and reassuring place to start. Enjoy listening!
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  Is One Million € Enough to Retire? - Real Income from Savings 13.04.2026 32хв

  In this week's podcast, Paddy talks about what a €1 million pension can actually generate in retirement—and why the headline number doesn't always match the reality of income. The tax-free lump sum explained You can take 25%, but only the first €200,000 is fully tax-free. The rest may be taxed, reducing what you actually receive. ARF income isn't as high as you think A €750,000 ARF might generate around €30,000 per year—but after tax, that's closer to €25,000 net. The State Pension makes a big difference Adding the State Pension can bring total income to roughly €45,000+, improving monthly income significantly. Annuities offer certainty—but at a cost They provide guaranteed income for life, but you give up control, flexibility, and access to your capital. You can take more—but it comes at a price Higher withdrawals from an ARF are possible, but they increase your tax bill and may reduce long-term sustainability. A mix of ARF and annuity may work best Combining both can give you a balance of guaranteed income and flexibility. Couples have a clear advantage With two State Pensions and wider tax bands, married couples can generate significantly higher net income. What matters isn't the €1 million It's the income it produces—and whether that income supports the life you want. What's realistic, what's sustainable, and what €1 million actually means in retirement. Enjoy listening!
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  Best Deposit Rates in Ireland What to Know in 2026 30.03.2026 26хв

  In this week's podcast, Paddy talks about why leaving your cash in a current or low-interest account is quietly costing you. Your savings could earn more Demand deposit accounts now offer around 2% and fixed-term options near 3%, so idle cash loses ground to inflation. Use the right tools The CCPC comparison tool helps Irish savers easily compare domestic and international deposit accounts. Rates vary widely Foreign platforms often offer better rates than Irish banks, but terms matter—don't just chase the headline numbers. Tax makes a difference DIRT takes 33% of your interest, so tax-free options like State Savings and some government bonds can be surprisingly competitive. Read the fine print Platforms like Raisin show strong rates, but the advertised "3%" often comes with conditions. Actual easy-access rates are closer to 2%. What's realistic, what's competitive, and how to make your cash work harder for you. Hope it helps.
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  Financial Advisor Commissions in Ireland: What Are You Actually Paying? 23.03.2026 30хв

  Most people with significant pension assets have no real idea what their financial advisor earns from their money. Not because the information is illegal to share — it isn't — but because the system is designed in a way that makes it genuinely difficult to see. In this episode, Paddy looks at how commission structures work in Irish financial advice, why the difference between a percentage and a euro figure matters enormously, and what a truly transparent client-advisor relationship should actually look like. Key points covered: How initial and trail commissions work on Irish ARFs, pensions and investment products — and what those percentages look like when converted into real euro figures Why the structure of commission-based advice creates a conflict of interest that isn't malicious, but is very real The difference between a suitability standard and a fiduciary duty — and why that distinction could be worth a significant amount of money to you A real client story: a couple who were being advised to keep working and keep contributing, when in fact they already had enough to retire comfortably What good transparency would actually look like — and the three questions every investor should be asking their advisor right now I hope it helps.
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  The Silent Thief: What Inflation Is Doing to Your Cash Savings in Ireland 18.03.2026 26хв

  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 diversified global portfolio has historically rewarded patient investors despite short term volatility   I hope it helps.