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' (b...

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 i...

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 p...

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 li...

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...

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? Wh...

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 fu...

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 li...

In this week's podcast, we dive into why so many investors underperform the very funds they invest in. Drawing on Morningstar's Mind the Gap 2025 research, we explore how "magpie behaviour" — chasing shiny new investments, panicking in downturns, or tinkering too much — quietly erodes long-term wealth. The evidence is clear: bad behaviour can cost over 1% per year, compounding into massive losses...

Would you rather build a financial future lined with velvet cushions, or one pieced together with spud bags??   Too many households in Ireland—and globally—are entering retirement without the savings needed to sustain their lifestyle. In this episode, I explore the uncomfortable truth behind retirement readiness, from the dominance of State Pensions to the worrying lack of planning, and why delaye...

In this week's episode, I chat with Dan Haylett, Director of TFP Financial Planning in the UK, author of The Retirement You Didn't See Coming , and host of the Humans vs Retirement  podcast. Dan has built his career around helping people prepare for retirement in a way that goes far beyond the numbers, focusing on the human side of life after work.   Together, we explore: Why retirement is less a...

In our last podcast, we celebrated Fran's incredible achievement of amassing a €2 million pension pot through decades of disciplined saving and investing. Some who read it were inspired, some were envious, and others said "I don't bloody need €2m pension pot"! Today, we're asking a different question entirely: Do I actually need a €2 million pension pot to retire comfortably? And you'll see why I ...

  Today, we're diving into the real-life(ish) story of Fran – a regular guy who built a €2 million+ pension pot and retired at 55. No big lotto win. No magic investment hacks. Just smart use of Ireland's pension system, discipline, and a few skipped car upgrades! Fran started young, contributed consistently, and maximised every bit of tax relief and employer matching he could get his hands on. He...

Welcome to Informed Decisions Podcast, where we bring you expert insights for Irish investors and retirees. Today, we have a rip-roaring guest joining us - Bill Bengen, the financial planner who literally wrote the book on retirement withdrawals. Back in 1994, Bill's groundbreaking research established what became known worldwide as the "4% rule". This was the cornerstone of retirement planning, t...

In this episode of the Informed Decisions podcast, I chat with Rob Halligan and Scott Ashmore, co-founders of Shuttle, a platform aiming to democratise access to private equity and venture capital investments.   The conversation dives into the fundamentals of private markets, how they differ from public equity investing, and why early-stage companies often turn to private capital over traditional...

If you've ever looked at your pension statement and thought, "What does this actually mean?" You're not alone. In this episode, #338, we're cutting through the jargon and making sense of Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, especially for Irish employees and retirees. These schemes can offer incredible long-term value, but many people don't fully understand how they work, what they're worth, or w...

For the past 8 years, I've been making the case that most investors, particularly those who can tolerate volatility, should avoid Lifestyle investment strategies in pensions. It's been a lonely stance, with little to no mainstream coverage, even though investor feedback on my analysis was consistently positive. Back in early 2024, I shared updated research on Lifestyle and Default Investment strat...

This week I flashback to a podcast from 2021! While it is a few years old its a common and important question. Key takeaways How big your pension should be when you start drawing down income How big your pension should be at various stages of your life What you can do if it's not as big as you would like it to be! How to live 14.9% longer! I hope it helps! Disclaimer

In this week's podcast I chat with Dr. Daniel Crosby. He discusses the evolution of behavioral finance over the past eight years, reflecting on the growing acceptance and understanding of the field. He shares insights from his latest book, 'The Soul of Wealth,' emphasising the importance of health, happiness, and meaningful spending. The discussion also covers the role of community in financial be...

In this week's podcast #334 I take a look ARFs If you google 'best ARF Fund in Ireland' today, you will get many results. The first few are of course paid-for, sponsored adverts from firms who want your clicks (and are paying handsomely for them!). There are then quite a few other firms who have written about this 'best ARF fund in Ireland' topic. This week I share a very short piece which shows t...

In 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 essentia...

In  episode 332 of the Informed Decisions Podcast, Paddy speaks with Glen Gaughran, Director and Head of Business Development at Independent Trustee Company (ITC). With nearly two decades of experience overseeing thousands of self-administered pension schemes, Glen offers insight into how the pension environment in Ireland is evolving and what individuals and business owners need to know.   We exp...

Informed Decisions Podcast | Episode 331 In this insightful episode, Paddy engages with Dr. Gregg Lunceford - retirement researcher, Certified Financial Planner®, and author of Exit from Work: What Will the New You Look Like? - to explore the evolving concept of retirement. Gregg discusses the emotional and psychological aspects of transitioning from traditional employment, emphasising the importa...

In this week's podcast, 330, I take a look at Gillen Markets. Gillen Markets have built a solid reputation as investment managers and advisors over the past decade and a half, led by founder Rory Gillen. They reportedly manage and advise on over €600m for c.500 families. They made the headlines last week, having announced that they were selling their business to Quilter Cheviot, a UK and Irish bas...

In this week's podcast I talk about what's on a lot of people's minds - the markets.    As many expected, the media ran amock with the 'Liberation Day' announcements, and the resultant panicked actions of some investors led to the markets falling (as they do, a lot, temporarily!).    Last Friday it seemed that every post I saw on Linkedin was by an advisor saying something to the effect of 'Don't...