The Irish FIRE Podcast

In this episode, Michael marks seven years of The Irish FIRE Podcast with a personal update on how his own FIRE journey has progressed and evolved. He shares the latest developments in his property investing strategy, including the purchase of another buy-to-let property in Limerick, the use of refinancing and equity release, and how he thinks about leverage, risk and long-term financial independence.

Michael also reflects on what it actually feels like to reach financial independence. Rather than a clean break from work, he talks about the slower transition towards more freedom, seasonal work, taking more time off, and the challenge of deciding what “retirement” really means when you still enjoy the work you do. He also shares an update on the podcast itself, including reaching 400,000 lifetime downloads and welcoming Moneycube as a new podcast sponsor.

Finally, Michael explores one of the biggest lessons of the past year: time freedom only matters if you protect it. After taking on a major hockey coaching commitment, he reflects on the impact it had on family life, the importance of learning to say no, and why FIRE is ultimately about creating more space for the things that matter most - family, freedom, calmness and time.

Show Notes:

Subscribe to the Irish FIRE Newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

This episode has also been sponsored by Moneycube.  Moneycube is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast, Michael speaks with Alan and Katie Donegan, who reached financial independence and retired in 2019. Since then, they have built a life around freedom, travel, creativity and purpose, living as digital nomads while continuing to teach others about money, business and lifestyle design.

Michael talks to Alan and Katie about their own journey to financial independence, how they approached saving, investing and building a life that was not dependent on traditional employment. They also discuss what life has looked like after reaching FI, including the realities of early retirement, travelling full-time, and finding meaningful projects after stepping away from conventional work.

This episode is a great listen for anyone interested in financial independence, lifestyle design, digital nomadism, or simply hearing from people who have actually reached FI and are living life on their own terms.

Show Notes:

Alan’s previous interview from 2020:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/financial-independence-with-alan-donegan

Rebel Finance School:
https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/rfs/

Rebel Business School:
https://therebelschool.com

Subscribe to the Irish FIRE Newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode, Michael sits down with Paul Overy from Ask About Wealth - a highly experienced financial planner with decades in the industry and a growing following across social media and YouTube.

Paul shares his journey into financial planning, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how his approach differs from traditional financial advice in Ireland. With a strong focus on transparency and client-first thinking, Paul explains how a fee-based model can align incentives and lead to better long-term outcomes.

The conversation also explores what people are really chasing when it comes to money. While early retirement often grabs the headlines, Paul makes the case that financial freedom - having control over your time and choices - is the goal that truly resonates with most people.

Finally, Michael and Paul dive into the often-overlooked topic of estate planning - how to ensure your wealth is passed on efficiently and in line with your wishes, and why this is a critical part of any long-term financial plan.

What We Cover:
- Paul’s journey into financial planning and building his platform
- The difference between financial planners and traditional financial advisors
- How fee-based financial planning works (and why it matters)
- Financial freedom vs early retirement — what are we really aiming for?
- Estate planning: protecting and passing on your wealth

Show Notes:

Ask About Wealth website:
https://askaboutwealth.ie

Ask About Wealth on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AskAboutWealth

Ask About Wealth on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ask.about.wealth

Paul's Youtube video on Inheritance tax:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WYamFXk928

Michael's original interview with Paul:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwo_Z_UswlI&t=2813s

Join The Irish FIRE Podcast newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode, Michael talks with Robert Whelan, from Rockwell Financial.  Originally from Carlow and now living in Dublin, Robert shares his family background, from working with his Dad as a milkman, to working in hospitality, to eventually launching his own business in 2009 as a financial advisor.

Robert answers some tough questions around how those pursuing financial independence can work with a financial advisor to make the journey easier.

He also shares his wisdom around starting his own business and discusses typical advice he would give for those in the “boring middle”.

Show Notes:

Rockwill Financial:
https://rockwellfinancial.ie

FollowRockwell on Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@rockwell_financial

Follow Rockwell on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rockwellfinancialmanagement/

Connect with Robert on Linked In:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-whelan-3baa4120/

Join the newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode, Michael shares the full story of his journey to financial independence - from moving to Ireland from New Zealand in 2011, to building a life with more freedom, less money stress, and far more intention around how he lives. What started as a normal middle-class life of earning and spending gradually changed after meeting a friend living a very different kind of life - one built around time freedom rather than consumerism. That experience opened his eyes to the FIRE movement and set him on a very different path over the next 8 years.

Michael talks about the mistakes he made early on, from poor pension decisions to chasing high returns through unregulated investments that ultimately cost him time, money, and peace of mind. Looking back, one of the biggest lessons was that investing does not need to be exciting to work. The more he chased shortcuts, the more complicated things became. Real progress came when he focused on the basics: tracking spending, saving consistently, automating where possible, thinking long term, and keeping investing simple.

He also reflects on what life looks like today, how money stress affected relationships in the early years, and how even reaching the first stages of financial independence can transform your life long before retirement. This conversation covers the hard lessons, the funny stories, the mindset shifts, and the practical habits that shaped his journey. If you’re new to The Irish FIRE Podcast, this is the perfect place to start.

Show Notes:

Money Bootcamp with Justin:
https://www.moneybootcamp.com

Get the monthly newsletter with updates on Michael's FIRE journey:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.