The Hidden Hustle Podcast

We’re back with Part 2 of our conversation with PaulMerriman and this one is packed with practical advice every Irish ear needs to hear.
 
Why is over €180 billion sitting idle in deposit accounts?
Are you making the most of the Small Gifts Exemption?
What’s actually the smartest way to invest €10k right now?
And… are Irish banks quietly costing you more than youthink?
 
In this episode, we get into the real conversations peopleoften avoid:
– The hidden risks of borrowing money
– The biggest financial mistake Irish people keep making
– Pension vs investment what actually makes sense for you
– And why that “go-to” property purchase might not be thesafe bet you think it is
– Simple Financial Planning wins

This is honest advice you can actually use.
 
If you’re trying to make smarter financial decisions (andavoid costly ones), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
 
Links & resources:
Fairstone: https://www.fairstone.ie/
Follow Paul on Linkedln: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-merriman-...
Follow on all the socials – AskPaul.ie 
Our Sponsors:
Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Description
We recently had an incredible sit-down with Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone Ireland and founder of AskPaul.ie.
We’ve split the conversation into two episodes, and this week’s release focuses on Paul’s incredible journey building his business.
From not making it past Rag Week in college to now running a business managing €3 billion in assets, employing 250 people, and operating across 60 offices.
Paul shares how the AskPaul brand was central to that growth, and why personal branding played such a pivotal role in his success. He also speaks honestly about the criticism he faced early on for doing things differently and why he stuck with it anyway.
We dive into how he went on to dominate the financial planning space in Ireland (almost without realising it), which ultimately led to Fairstone acquiring the business a deal that, as Paul tells it, handshakes were made after a few drinks in Asador.
Next week’s episode shifts gears into practical advice about everyone about investing, mortgages, pensions, rent vs buying, why €180 billion is sitting in deposits in Ireland, and how to approach investing your first €10k.
Show notes
Paul’s journey from not making it past Rag Week in college to managing €3 billion in assets, leading a team of 250 people across 60 offices
Why personal branding was a game-changer and how AskPaul became the foundation of his success
The reality of the grind working from 6am to 1am every day during Covid to meet demand and scale the business
Facing criticism and industry “stick” early on for doing things differently and why he ignored the noise
How passion for what you do, combined with consistently doing the right thing, compounds over time
The story behind the sale of the business
Why Fairstone was the right fit and how alignment in values/vision played a key role in the decision to sell
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Dealing with rejection and setbacks, and using them as fuel rather than barriers

Links & resources:
Fairstone: https://www.fairstone.ie/
Follow Paul on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-merriman-cfp%C2%AE-48152b17/
Follow on all the socials – AskPaul.ie
 
Our Sponsors:
Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/
linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Alex Fox and Johnson Hana have fundamentally changed the legal industry in Ireland.
We had an incredible conversation with Alex Fox, Co-Founder of Johnson Hana and now General Manager of Eudia, which acquired Johnson Hana for $50 million in July 2025.
Alex shares how he left his sales job after recognising alongside his brother that the legal industry was broken. What followed was a challenging early journey, including the struggle to land their very first customer.
He explains how the company went from strength to strength, achieving 50–100% year-on-year growth from inception through to acquisition.
Alex also discusses his strong belief in raising as much funding as possible, and how that process forces founders to develop a wide range of critical skills.
This is a real Irish success story and a must-listen for anyone looking to build, scale, and disrupt an industry.
Show Notes
• How he quit his sales job to pursue the idea behind Johnson Hana
• How they leveraged UK business models to disrupt the Irish legal industry
• The role of funding in their journey featuring both major setbacks and big wins
• How to scale a company at speed
• The importance of key mentors throughout the Johnson Hana journey
• The acquisition, and why Eudia was the perfect fit
• Some extremely interesting and unconventional answers in our “Question for the Road” segment
Links & resources:
• Eudia: https://www.eudia.com/
• Follow Alex on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-fox-473b4bb4/
Our Sponsors:
• Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/
linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Sometimes you need to fire your entire management team…including yourself.
Meet the man who successfully stepped out of his ownbusiness.  Going from working long hoursevery week to becoming the “1-Hour CEO” by completely rebuilding his management team.
Paul Ryan is the CEO of Temple and EDL, an 8-figure datacommunications and electrical distribution business he started with his fatherover 40 years ago.
Today, Paul helps entrepreneurs work on themselves — what he calls “The Inner Entrepreneur.” He teaches business owners how to step back from day-to-day operations, build a strong leadership team, and refocus on what truly matters — so they can create both a better business and a more fulfilled life.
Paul is also a fellow podcaster. His podcast, The InnerEntrepreneur, has over 20,000 subscribers.
This episode is packed with perspective shifts onleadership, culture, and how to build a great business while being fulfilled in life.
Show notes
Overview of Paul’s Business Ventures
Early Years and Growth of Temple and EDL
The Decision to Fire Himself and 4 out of 5 ofhis management team
Building a Strong Management Team
Cultural Fit and Hiring Practices
Addressing Bad Behaviour and Culture in Business
His current role being the 1-hour CEO
The Importance of Fulfilment
Understanding Unique Personal Drivers
How Paul helps other CEO’s step away and becomefulfilled
Investment Strategies for a Fulfilled Life
Becoming a podcaster
The Role of Meditation in Daily Life
Links & resources:
Temple Connectivity: https://www.temple.ie/
EDL: http://edl.ie/
Follow Paul on Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ryan-9a98774/
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://x.com/paulryanwrites
Our Sponsors:
Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/
linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy

Introduced to us by the legend Paul McCarthy, who described him as a ‘National Treasure’, Denis O’Reilly more than lived up to the title.
Denis is the founder of Wild Wicklow Tours, ranked second globally on TripAdvisor and number one in Ireland before selling it to Tony Doyle Coaches in 2023. But what truly sets him apart is how he has channelled that success into meaningful, lasting social impact.
Through Difference Days, Denis partners leading organisations such as Smurfit Kappa, Aer Lingus, SMBC Aviation Capital and many more with DEIS and Special Needs schools to deliver transformational improvements from revitalised classrooms to restored gardens. Every DEIS school in Ballymun has benefited, and in partnership with Dublin City Council, he mobilised 300 volunteers to create a brand new community park in Dolphins Barn.
During Covid, after learning that many children were going hungry, Denis launched Good Grubs, delivering up to 5,000 fresh food packs per week. To date, more than 750,000 packs have been distributed nationwide. He also founded Outdoor Spaces where he currently works, creating safe outdoor learning environments that continue to support schools across the country.
This is a powerful conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the real impact business can have on communities.
Show notes
- Denis built Wild Wicklow Tours into a globally recognised tourism brand.
- Entrepreneurship can be a powerful vehicle for social change.- Difference Days connects corporate teams with schools that need support most.
- All DEIS schools in Ballymun have benefited from the initiative.
- Large-scale community projects are possible through strong partnerships.
- Good Grubs was created in response to child food poverty during Covid.
- Over 750,000 fresh food packs have been delivered to schools nationwide.
- Outdoor Spaces continues to provide long-term educational impact.
- Business, when guided by purpose, can create lasting societal change.
Links & resources:
https://wildwicklow.ie/
https://differencedays.ie/
https://outdoorspaces.ie/
https://www.goodgrub.ie/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisoreilly/
Our Sponsors:
Tap Design Consultancy: https://wearetap.ie/
linkedin.com/company/tapdesignconsultancy