Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast

Michael Houghton returns to the Informed Decisions Podcast seven years after his first appearance to share how his thinking on money, work and property has evolved.
 
Michael is a personal finance writer, former software developer, FIRE advocate, Irish Independent columnist, and now an active property investor building income and wealth through rental property in Ireland.
 
In this conversation, Michael explains why financial independence is really about choice, not simply giving up work. He shares how he and his family went from extreme saving and FIRE to a more flexible life built around purposeful work, property income, and long term planning.
 
Key talking points
• Michael's journey from New Zealand visitor to living in Ireland for 15 years
• How he and his family pursued FIRE by saving aggressively and working towards financial independence
• Why hitting your number does not always mean you want to stop working
• How he thinks about retirement, purpose, and the value of meaningful work
• Why he sees property as a strong long term wealth building tool
• The role of rental yield, leverage, refinancing, and bank appetite in building a portfolio
• The risks of property investing, including concentration, leverage, insurance, and tenant issues
• How property fits alongside pensions and other investments in an overall financial plan
 
I hope it helps.

In this week's podcast, Paddy is joined by specialist solicitor Elaine Byrne to demystify trusts and explain why they're one of the most powerful — and underused — tools in Irish estate planning.
From discretionary trusts for young children to protecting a family member with additional needs, Elaine covers the types of trusts, the tax implications, how to update your will, and what it actually costs to get it done right. If you've been putting off your will or wondering whether a trust is relevant to your family — this one's for you.
I hope it helps.

We can spend decades building our wealth, protecting our families, and planning for retirement. But there's one question most people avoid until it's too late: what happens if you can't make decisions for yourself?
In this week's podcast I look at Enduring Power of Attorney.
I hope it helps

In this week's podcast, Paddy sits down with guest Brendan Allen to unpack the rental market right now, and it is messy. They get into why so many landlords feel stuck between shifting government rules and real world supply shortages, and how that tension can push rents higher even when the aim is tenant security. Brendan also breaks down the practical business case for staying invested long term, why commercial property can suit some investors better than residential, and what you need to check before you jump in. If you have ever thought, surely it cannot be this complicated, bad news: it can. Good news: you can still make smart calls if you do the work.
Key talking points • Why landlord confusion is rising as regulations change and market rent keeps moving • Supply shortages as the core issue, especially outside big cities, and how that affects rents • Commercial vs residential property: returns, maintenance, and what type of investor each suits

If you're saving for retirement or nearing the end of your career, or eyeing retirement or a 'handier' role :) a significant change is on the horizon that could meaningfully affect how much tax you'll pay on your pension. From 2026, the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT), the maximum value you can accumulate across all retirement benefits without triggering additional tax charge, will begin to increase for the first time in over a decade.
For many high earners and diligent savers, this represents a genuine opportunity to improve tax efficiency, reduce liabilities, and plan more strategically around when and how to access your retirement benefits. This piece aims to keep it plain English, and I hope you will learn:
‍ • What the Standard Fund Threshold is in 2026 and why it matters • How your pension is valued for SFT • What tax applies if you breach it, and differences between Defined Benefit, and the rest! • Smart planning moves before you retire • When to get help and stop guessing