Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast

Robin Powell is a force within the investing world - on a mission to inform the public and financial advice firms of the facts of investing. I was thrilled to have him back on the podcast, having spoken to him in Episode 76 a life-time ago! In this episode, we discuss: - His progress in dispelling investment myths & educating investors - The role of regulators in making it better for retail invest...

As with most things in Financial Services in Ireland, (Environmental, Social & Governance) ESG Investing in Ireland is one that takes a bit of figuring-out, if you want to do it right that is! In the hope that it will help you build and protect your own wealth, I share the following in this short piece: The theory of ESG investing in Ireland, and why it is to be applauded The practical application...

This week I share some interesting research and insights on how to prepare for the biggest surprises in Retirement, both financial and non-financial. We will mostly all agree that 'Life' is not about reaching some destination in a particular state. The same can be said of our financial lives, but yet a large focus for most of us is to reach a point in the future where we have amassed sufficient fi...

Thanks for coming back to us in this Episode 201! This week I tell you about bad investment funds in Ireland, it promises to be a doozy! I hope it is actionable and impactful for you in your own wealth creation and preservation. This week I'll share some insights on the following: Another specific example of the ridiculousness that is Investment Funds in Ireland charging silly fees for delivering...

It's not ever day that you get to launch your 200th episode - so who better to help us mark this event than Pete Matthew! Pete has been at the vanguard of personal finance podcasting and sharing of deep insights for many years now - and was an inspiration to Informed Decisions.  We trusted Pete to take over the show - and it'll be fairly obvious to you dear listener that we should probably ask him...

Dr. Sarah Fallaw shares her insights on the following: - Her research of wealth builders all across the US - What works and what doesn't work - How our behaviours and personalities impact on our wealth creation - Her latest book, a combination of her and her late father's research I hope you enjoy, Paddy Delaney Informed Decisions Resources: - The Next Millionaire Next Door - Datapoints - The Mill...

Investment Trusts have been in vogue for a little while - in no small small part due to the tax treatment of any realised gains. Many investors are hell-bent on finding an option that might allow them to invest in a diversified and low-cost way, and try to invest via Capital Gains Tax regime as opposed to Exit Tax regime. Some believe Investment Trusts in Ireland allow you to do that, but like man...

Hey! Financial Service firms love their acronyms, as in they love them! Maybe it's an insecurity thing, or maybe it's an attempt to hold onto some semblance of power. To help you develop the knowledge and to prepare you for a conversation with even the worst acronym offenders (AO!), I'm covering each of the main investment and financial acronyms related to financial services in Ireland. Plus, I'll...

Tax on investments in Ireland is a doozy! There is a warning often quoted in investment articles that suggest "you shouldn't let the tax tail wag the investment dog". Based on a recent conversation I had with a prospective client and from many emails that I get from investors, it seems that people aren't even aware that there is a tail! This is an important part of investing and is a significant i...

This week we chat with Todd Tresidder, financial coach and educator at FinancialMentor.com . He's also the author of five financial planning books. You'll learn about: - How to build wealth - What stops us reaching Financial Independence - Using leverage to help you get there Todd built his own wealth as a hedge fund investment manager before "retiring" at 35 to teach others. Today, he provides ad...

Something a little different this week - give it a go! If your life was one week long what day of the week would you be on, and what would you do about the rest of the week!? We explore this, and aspects of our financial lives that will hopefully help you to avoid mistakes and achieve your priorities. Hope it helps, Paddy Delaney Informed Decisions

In this episode we share: - Why I get stick about our cars - What Opportunity Cost is & why it matters - How to go after what is really important to you & stop wasting money on the unimportant I hope it is helpful. Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA     Paddy Delaney Informed Decisions

What's Love Got To Do With It, Baby They suggested that we hate losing something about twice as much as we enjoy gaining something! Think about it - in all walks of life it holds water. Take 'love' for example. I remember vividly when I was unceremoniously dumped by my first girlfriend! I was about 15 at the time - and 'devastated' was not the word for how I felt! Despite my father telling me; 'Ch...

Actively Managed Funds under-perform Passive Index Funds in the majority of cases. Managed funds usually exist in order to beat the market. They generally don't succeed. This is not an opinion or a prediction, it is a fact which you will see full evidence of in a moment. I will start however by reminding you of another fact. Your behaviour as an investor will have potentially far more of an impact...

This week we share a short piece from the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. We learn about 'Gotrocks Family', how they had it all, and how they managed to throw it away, or more accurately, to have had it taken away from them! I consider if this 'informed turkey' is actually voting for Christmas?! We also share our view on how Irish investors might avoid such disasters, and to keep more of the retu...

What is the Standard Fund Threshold in Ireland? This week, in what is a short 4 day work week, we share a short 4 minute read that will give you most of what you might need to know about the Standard Fund Threshold, for now! You'll learn the history, the current threshold, the REAL threshold, and a little-known nugget that can help you squeeze the max value and tax efficiency out of your pension p...

This week we share an investing concept that applies to investments and pensions equally. If I successfully and coherently share here what is in my head, it will hopefully help remove stress for investors as they begin, continue or end their investment journey. Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA

If you are lucky, every now and again you will get introduced to someone that opens your eyes, that adds real value to you. I've been fortunate, partly due to my general curiosity and partly because I've been blessed to just encounter some really interesting people, to have met several such influences recently. This week, in a very short piece I'm aiming to share the love a little! Paddy.

Will 2020 Be The Best Year Ever For Irish Investors? We take a look at some of the headline facts of recent performance, to shed some light. We also share a few concise truths that Irish investors (as distinct from speculators) might benefit from being reminded of. Hope it helps. Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA

When Chip offered to appear on the Informed Decisions podcast we jumped at the chance to speak with him.  Chip Munn is a senior financial advisor and CEO of Signature Wealth Strategies in South Carolina in the US. He is the author of The Retirement Remix: A Modern Solution to an Old School Problem, and host of The Retirement Remix and Maximum Advisor podcasts.  Chip shares his ideas on: - building...

Patricia Rickard Clarke has unique experience in preparation for, and planning for future life. Patricia shares her insights on: - Preparing for our financial future - Preparing for care and health wishes - Preventing and avoiding abuse issues of ourselves or loved-ones. Patricia has, and continues to work across many organisations and groups who are focused on the promotion and development of rig...

Hi, If you are wondering 'how does an ARF work', may I suggest we consider instead the question; 'how should an ARF work'!? Given that your draw-down strategy in retirement will be one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your mature life, this really is a topic worth doing some homework on. Unfortunately, ARFs are generally managed in a pretty laissez-faire manner by most providers...

This week I share with you 5 instances where you should seriously question the advice you get from your financial advisor, and some questions to ask to help explore the suggestions! Now, if you've got a good one whom you trust, your Financial Advisor can be the difference between you having a successful financial life, and not. But if your advisor gives you a bum steer that you act on, the impact...

Dr. Thomas Gilovic has conducted several studies, some spanning decades, which measured the level of satisfaction and joy that people get from experiences versus material purchases. Here is a link to one particular study he was involved in, the insight of which is really quite fascinating. There appears to be three core reasons that experiential purchases give us more long term satisfaction. Hopef...

What happens my pension when I, you know!? I'm never one to shirk the hard questions, but it seems crass to talk of 'you know' while all of 'this' is going on! If you are any of the following, you really ought to know about this: A director of your own company with pension benefits An employee and an active member of the 'Company Pension Scheme' A former employee of a company, with benefits still...