Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast

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.

In this week's episode, I welcome Aaron to the podcast before diving into a timely topic for Irish savers and investors: how inflation quietly erodes cash savings over time.
I look at why holding too much cash can damage long term purchasing power, why fear often keeps people on the sidelines, and why a diversified, low cost investment approach has historically offered a stronger path for long term wealth.
Key points:
• Inflation reduces the real value of cash, even when your account balance stays the same • Too much money on deposit can weaken long term wealth and legacy outcomes • A diversified global portfolio has historically rewarded patient investors despite short term volatility
 
I hope it helps.

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.