Pension

Pension term assurance is a type of life insurance designed specifically to provide life cover while slashing your premiums through tax relief. If you’re self-employed, a contractor, or a PAYE worker without a company pension, this could be the most overlooked financial product in Ireland right now. A €100 monthly premium drops to just €60…

Most people know they should start a pension. And most people keep putting it off. The forms look tedious, the jargon feels impenetrable, and there’s always something more pressing to spend money on right now. But every year you delay is a year of tax relief you’ll never get back, and a year of compound…

Read our guide to self-employed pensions in Ireland, featuring PRSAs, PPPs, and more. Discover expert advice on securing your financial future.

There comes a day in everybody’s life when they want to ‘down tools’ and retire. Whether you are dreaming of a sunny villa, planning a career change, or simply tired of the 9-to-5 grind, the question we hear most often is: “Can I access my pension early?” The answer is yes-but with conditions. While the…

Planning your pension doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. However, it is far from a “set and forget” investment. Your life, the market, and Irish law are constantly moving parts, and if you haven’t looked at your pension in detail for a few years, you might be drifting off course. At Opes Financial Planning, we see…

Ireland and the UK have always had a close relationship, with many Irish people often ending up working in the UK for long periods of time, thus building up ‘pension pots’ which still remain in the UK when they repatriate back to Ireland. Individuals are unaware of their options when it comes to these pensions…

There are a lot of Irish people who have previously or are still working in the United Kingdom. While in employment, these individuals would have paid national insurance stamps which count towards a UK state pension entitlement.   UK State Pension Requirements Qualifying for the UK state pension depends on your National Insurance contributions or…

Planning for retirement in Ireland requires understanding two fundamental pension types: the state pension and private pensions. Whilst the state pension provides a baseline weekly payment, it might not be enough for a comfortable retirement. Most people need private pension arrangements to supplement their state pension and maintain their desired lifestyle throughout retirement. This guide…

Most people are surprised when they discover what their State Pension will actually cover. Whilst it serves as a solid starting point, the reality is that it’s unlikely to sustain anywhere near the lifestyle you’re used to. With the current State Pension qualifying age at 66 and typical payments falling well short of most people’s…

If you’re an Irish professional with spare cash each month, you’re facing one of the most impactful financial decisions of your lifetime. Should you channel those extra euros towards your pension or use them to pay down your mortgage faster? Here’s the bottom line: For most Irish professionals earning between €40,000 and €100,000, maximising your…

The truth about pension timing in Ireland: It’s never too early, rarely too late. If you’re wondering whether you’re the right age to start a pension in Ireland, you’re asking the wrong question. The real question is: how much are you losing by waiting another day? Here’s the reassuring truth: whether you’re a 25-year-old graduate…

As a business owner in Ireland, you’re probably paying more tax than you’d like. The Irish tax system does have a number of ways to slash your tax bill whilst building serious wealth for your future. Pensions aren’t the most exciting topics and are often overlooked, with a lot of people not really understanding the…

Let’s talk about the magic number of a €1 million pension pot that crops up time and again when people discuss retirement planning. But what does it actually mean to have a million-euro retirement fund in Ireland today? For many, it represents financial independence – the ability to maintain your lifestyle without worrying about running…

While it may not be the easiest subject to consider, understanding what happens to your pension on death is essential. A pension is often one of the largest financial assets an individual holds, and assumptions about automatic inheritance can be misleading. The treatment of pension benefits depends on the type of arrangement—executive pension, master trust,…

Discover how much you need to retire at 60 in Ireland. Plan for early retirement with real-life examples, income targets, savings tips, and pension insights.

Understand what retirement relief is with practical examples and learn about new tax changes impacting family business & farm transfers in Ireland.

The Standard Fund Threshold (SFT) was once a concern only for individuals with exceptionally large pension pots. However, as the threshold has fluctuated over the years, more people are now finding themselves approaching this limit. While the SFT remains at €2 million for 2025, it is set to increase annually from 2026 onwards, reaching €2.8…