Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast

You've built a €2 million pension. Now here's the question nobody asked you: how much of it will you actually keep?
In this episode, Paddy runs the real numbers on what a €2 million ARF looks like in Ireland in 2026: mandatory drawdowns, income tax, USC, PRSI, and the phased strategy that could save you tens of thousands every year in the early stages of retirement.
What this Episode covers:
Why a €2M ARF triggers a mandatory €120,000 income. Whether you need it or not
The real net income after tax: €72,614 at a 39.5% effective rate
How phasing your drawdown across two crystallisation events drops your annual tax bill from €47,386 to €8,088
What happens to the deferred pot if it grows at 6% for 8 years, and how that interacts with the Standard Fund Threshold
The couple scenario: why joint assessment changes everything
SFT mechanics at each Benefit Crystallisation Event and where the margin gets tight
The numbers are stark. The structure matters. And getting this wrong (or not thinking about it at all) is one of the most expensive planning gaps we see.
Discover the full blog post and show notes on informeddecisions.ie

In this week's episode, Paddy tackles the question he gets asked more than any other: how much do I actually need to retire in Ireland?
Well, for an answer to that question, one should make a proper calculation beforehand, and Paddy is here to help you out by covering the key benchmarks from the Pensions Council report, what they mean in practice, and where they fall short.
Some of the specific points covered in this episode:
Why the state pension — currently €299.30 per week in 2026 — changes the calculation significantly, and what it means for couples where both partners qualify
The simple framework for working out your own number: current spending, minus what disappears, plus what increases, minus state pension, divided by 0.04
Why many couples targeting a comfortable retirement need a private pension pot closer to €300,000–€400,000 than the €1 million figure people often assume
The healthcare wildcard — private health insurance costs that the benchmarks don't fully capture
Why the question changes completely for those with €1 million or more in pension assets: it's no longer "do I have enough?" but "how do I structure what I have?"
The imputed distribution rules every ARF holder needs to understand before drawing down
If you're in your 50s or 60s and haven't yet put a real number on what retirement will cost you, this episode is a practical and reassuring place to start. Enjoy listening!

In this week's podcast, Paddy talks about what a €1 million pension can actually generate in retirement—and why the headline number doesn't always match the reality of income.
The tax-free lump sum explained
You can take 25%, but only the first €200,000 is fully tax-free. The rest may be taxed, reducing what you actually receive.
ARF income isn't as high as you think
A €750,000 ARF might generate around €30,000 per year—but after tax, that's closer to €25,000 net.
The State Pension makes a big difference
Adding the State Pension can bring total income to roughly €45,000+, improving monthly income significantly.
Annuities offer certainty—but at a cost
They provide guaranteed income for life, but you give up control, flexibility, and access to your capital.
You can take more—but it comes at a price
Higher withdrawals from an ARF are possible, but they increase your tax bill and may reduce long-term sustainability.
A mix of ARF and annuity may work best
Combining both can give you a balance of guaranteed income and flexibility.
Couples have a clear advantage
With two State Pensions and wider tax bands, married couples can generate significantly higher net income.
What matters isn't the €1 million
It's the income it produces—and whether that income supports the life you want.
What's realistic, what's sustainable, and what €1 million actually means in retirement. Enjoy listening!

In this week's podcast, Paddy talks about why leaving your cash in a current or low-interest account is quietly costing you.
Your savings could earn more Demand deposit accounts now offer around 2% and fixed-term options near 3%, so idle cash loses ground to inflation.
Use the right tools The CCPC comparison tool helps Irish savers easily compare domestic and international deposit accounts.
Rates vary widely Foreign platforms often offer better rates than Irish banks, but terms matter—don't just chase the headline numbers.
Tax makes a difference DIRT takes 33% of your interest, so tax-free options like State Savings and some government bonds can be surprisingly competitive.
Read the fine print Platforms like Raisin show strong rates, but the advertised "3%" often comes with conditions. Actual easy-access rates are closer to 2%.
What's realistic, what's competitive, and how to make your cash work harder for you.
Hope it helps.

Most people with significant pension assets have no real idea what their financial advisor earns from their money. Not because the information is illegal to share — it isn't — but because the system is designed in a way that makes it genuinely difficult to see.
In this episode, Paddy looks at how commission structures work in Irish financial advice, why the difference between a percentage and a euro figure matters enormously, and what a truly transparent client-advisor relationship should actually look like.
Key points covered:
How initial and trail commissions work on Irish ARFs, pensions and investment products — and what those percentages look like when converted into real euro figures
Why the structure of commission-based advice creates a conflict of interest that isn't malicious, but is very real
The difference between a suitability standard and a fiduciary duty — and why that distinction could be worth a significant amount of money to you
A real client story: a couple who were being advised to keep working and keep contributing, when in fact they already had enough to retire comfortably
What good transparency would actually look like — and the three questions every investor should be asking their advisor right now
I hope it helps.