Last week there was extensive media coverage of a report that, at a very high level, seemed to imply that pension funds are charging 3% p.a. in fees and are putting pension plan holders’ future pension pots in jeopardy as a result. For my own part a number of my own clients reached out to me and enquired as to whether this report was relevant to them and how much fees where they themselves paying.
When I meet a prospective client one of the first areas to be discussed is what financial products they currently hold. While many people will know that they have a mortgage and its broad details, less will know about what their pension fund and investments are applied to and even fewer …
As a founding member of the Society of Financial Planners of Ireland I am truly delighted to see increased media coverage of our fledgling organisation. This delight extends not from the ego trip that one might think such a name check might get but from the financial media’s recognition that far …
The best way to grow your retirement savings is to invest them intelligently. Putting money in a bank deposit account will, after deduction of DIRT, more than likely not earn you enough to even cover inflation. In order to beat inflation you have to invest in such a way that your rate of …
There is a broad approach among investment advisers that as a client becomes older they should be advised to become less risk orientated in their investments. This is partly driven by the thought of “how would I advise my parents?” and partly driven by fear of the Financial Regulator finding …
Financial history is peppered with stock market crashes, property market booms and busts and a vast array of stories of individuals who have either made or lost fortunes, or even both. Irrespective of the past, a financial adviser deals with the here and now as well as the future, keeping …
It’s that time of the year when everyone takes stock of what they should have done in the last year and what they really should do in the coming year. So if you are really going to get stuck into this area now, here are eleven questions to ask either your current …
A key component of good financial management is the ability to control your costs. If you have ever run a business you will know this. Too much overhead and not enough income amounts to going bust. The speed of the insolvency is directly related to the degree of overspending. Family …
What is the difference between financial planning and financial advice? A little over nine years ago a new personal financial qualification, the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning was introduced by University College Dublin in conjunction with support from the Life Insurance Association, the Institute of Bankers and the Institute of …
Recently I helped a new client, of US citizenship, aged 28 and a full time worker in Ireland, set up a personal pension for herself. She wanted to make sure that her own retirement funding which she started in previous employments, also in Ireland, was continued. We chatted about pension funding in …
