I was fortunate to attend FutureProof last week, the world's biggest Wealth Management and Financial Advice conference, attended by c3,000 Financial Advisors. It was held in L.A, California and so was attended mostly by US and Canadian advisors and institutions. And given US/Canada are probably 15 years ahead of us in progressive advice in clients' interests, it is a great place to get ideas and inspiration as to how best serve clients here in Ireland. This week, you benefit from some of that inspiration; where I share the top 5 trends that I observed from being immersed in FutureProof for 3 days

In the ever-evolving ocean of investments, where trends and fads can shift like the currents of the oceans beneath us, it's essential to keep a steady hand on the wheel. Amid the chorus of voices clamoring for the latest high-flying assets, one must pause and reconsider the tried-and-true: bonds. As financial advisors, it's our duty to ensure our clients make informed decisions. That's why we'll discuss why abandoning bonds might not be the wisest move, especially in today's dynamic market  

This week I share some lessons we can learn from Johnny Sexton's reported pension planning in recent weeks! I've not even met the man (yet!) but he is a sporting legend, and I admire everything that he's done (even balling the referees for some of their Cup Final decisions!). And he has set yet another fine leadership example in terms of his pension planning. Let's learn from the boss!   I hope you enjoy it!

In this week's podcast, Paddy has a fantastic chat with Brad Barret the MD of a $5Bn planning firm. Brad is a Managing Director with One Capital Management. He advises private individuals and families on their personal investment and advanced planning needs. In addition, he oversees the firm's Retirement and Corporate Services practice. His firm manages nearly $5 Billion dollars for thousands of families across the United States and abroad.  Brad is the author of, Retire Right: Secure the Right Path to Your Retirement - here is the link to his book on Amazon, and here is a link to his website.  He is also the host of two podcasts, Make Your Money Matter and Pension Attention. Make Your Money Matter with Brad Barrett Key topics include: Favourite part of being a financial advisor Stork theory Personalising the approach for each client Making your money matter Approaching giving I hope you find it helpful!   The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness 

Today I share some thoughts on holding cash, some saucy Central Bank of Ireland research on Irish households, and a warning about going all-in! Irish Household Wealth Aside from their regulatory role over financial services, Central Bank of Ireland share some really interesting research and reports. One such recent report was their 'Quarterly Financial Accounts' for Ireland. For me, one of the greatest signals of our financial health as a nation is our 'Household Debt'. This rate hit a high in 2007 when it stood at €203BN. Working on the basis that there are c3.6m adults in Ireland this was around €60k debt for every man and woman over 18 years of age in the country! That €203BN debt figure has fallen steadily since 2007, to €131BN in 2020, (€36k per adult) and now sits at c€120BN (€33k per adult). Read on! Paddy.