With four different Master Trust products being launched over the last number of weeks, I found myself logging onto a number of webinars to find out more about these new products that are replacing one person company pension plans. One thing that struck me was all the life company wanted to emphasise that financial brokers […]
The Pensions Authority shut down one person pension schemes last July. The replacement is the Master Trust structure. Over the last few weeks, the insurance companies have been launching their version of the master trust structure that can be used in one person arrangements. What is a Master Trust? Previously, when setting up a one […]
With markets continuing to have a torrid time and now the start of job losses in the tech sector, there is an increased level of worry for investors. Last year saw bumper returns for investors so this years volatility is somewhat of a shock for investors. Some are beginning to ask, how much can I […]
There was a time when if you wanted to invest, you had to go to a stockbroker and they would place the trades for you. They earned a commission on placing the trades, so it was only worth their while making sizable investing. In other words, you had to be rich to invest. Current Day […]
Speaking with a new client last week, he told me that his colleague’s financial advisor said she needed €1 million in her pension at retirement. He wanted to know if he needed €1 million as well? I had no idea. He was a new client and I didn’t know enough about him and what he […]
The Finance Bill has made some interesting changes to funding for retirement, namely in PRSAs. Current rules At present, employer paid contributions to an employee’s PRSA is a Benefit in Kind (BIK) for tax purposes. But the BIK is not put through the PAYE system so the it does not attract USC & PRSI taxes, […]
The Central Bank has relaxed its borrowing rules for some borrowers, slightly. In 2015, they introduced strict borrowing rules as a result of the loose lending that went on during the Celtic Tiger that resulted in many people having unservicable debt. Loan to Income limit increased for first time buyers First time buyers can now […]
2022 has been a horrible year for investors. Inflation continues to be high, interest rates have been increased agressively, Russia invaded Ukraine and energy costs have skyrocketed. All of these factors point towards a recession in the next few months/ next year. Year to date, the market is down -9.70%. It is understandably a hard […]
The gym I go to has boxing bags. I like doing a Boxing HIIT workout with them. It’s great cardio and I always feel great afterwards. But I don’t know how to box. When you see some of the other guys hitting the bags, you realise that there is a lot more to it than […]
We all know the State pension is a ticking timebomb. The Pensions Roadmap 2018 – 2023 stated that over the next 40 years, the ratio of workers to pensioners is expected to fall to 2.3:1. This is going result in a pension deficit of €400 billion over the next 50 years if changes weren’t made. […]