How would you feel if you discovered you were paying double the level of fees on your pension or investment that you were led to believe? ‘Clarity On Fees’ is the #1 thing consumers say would improve the level of trust they have in Financial Advice. 76% of people do not know how or what their Financial Advisor is paid. Most pension holders have no idea they are likely paying over 2% fees every year. These are just a sample of the startling results from consumer research we recently conducted. As someone who is hell-bent on finding a win-win for both Consumers and the future of Financial Advice, these results are pretty terrifying, for everyone involved! There is an urgent need for the Financial Advice profession to pull it’s socks up, and to start playing fair with you the consumer. Either it does, or it’ll be sat on the Sub’s Bench for eternity.

Paddy chats with Ireland's former Pensions Ombudsman, Paul Kenny. Paul remains an active member of the pension profession in Ireland. Among other roles he is remains a Programme Leader in the Retirement Planning Council. In this episode he shares his insights about the following relevant topics:

- Keeping track of your pensions when you move employments

- Ensuring your ARF gets treated as per your wishes

- Impact of ARF values on your eligibility to allowances

We hope it is of value, and please do spread the word with anyone you believe needs to hear what he has to say!

Paddy Delaney Informed Decisions

Should I buy property with a pension? Ever wonder what the pros and cons are if you did decide to establish a pension property? Is having a pension property a good idea? Hopefully this will help. In the short piece we will share:

• Financial benefits of buying a property with your pension
• The pit-falls of having a property in your pension
• Some other insights that you should know

Paddy.

1st April 2020 will bring with it the dawn, or the dusk of 'Independent Financial Advice' in Ireland. I really have no clue which way it will go! At least initially, finding an actual living, breathing and practicing 'Independent Financial Advisor' in Ireland may be like the proverbial hen's tooth. (Wouldn't that be a novel name for a Financial Advice firm - 'Hen's Tooth Independent Financial Advisors'!).

I hope it helps in some small way.

Paddy Delaney Informed Decisions

'Are Equities For The Scrap Heap'? I feel compelled to nail our colours to the mast at the outset. I am always open, and deliberately expose myself to contrary thinking, the fact remains that Equity investing has delivered the greatest outcomes for patient and long term investors. That fact will have come into question in people's minds in recent weeks, so I'm going to share with you in this short piece exactly where Equities are right now - and encourage you to decide for yourself.

Paddy Delaney

What to do with my investments and Pensions in a declining Market? Absolutely Nothing. That is all.

Listen-on for a 'slight' elaboration!

I hope you are keeping well - that must remain a priority.

Paddy Delaney

This week, following a recent conversation (there I go with 'conversations' again!), we share a detailed analysis of the Davy GPS Funds. You may be thinking of investing, or are already invested, via pensions or investments.

Either way, we share insights on what are they, what's in them, how they compare to their competitors, and how they have served investors that have entrusted their funds in them.

I hope it helps.

Paddy Delaney 

Warning....The value of your investments will rise and fall. You could get back less than you invest in any investment. But you knew all that! All info correct at time of analysis early March 2020.

Welcome back to Ireland's award-winning Financial Planning Blog & Podcast. This week we were excited to chat with return-guest, Derek Bell of the Retirement Planning Council (RPC).

In this episode Derek and Paddy explore and share insights on:

- State Pension changes

- Income Tax in retirement

- RPC courses & supports

- Common retirement planning mistakes

- Retirement spending Do's & Don'ts 

- Retaining control of your Time in retirement

And more!

We hope it helps.

Paddy Delaney

This piece is inspired by some recent conversations. These conversations have got me thinking about Financial Independence. It also reminded me how much I love conversations with other people - how the words that other say can have such meaning and depth to them, it's quite a thing! Thanks too to the recent iTunes Review-leavers - such positive words of recommendation and encouragement, thanks!

Perhaps you have already reached Financial Independence but you just haven't realised it yet! Or perhaps you are afraid to consider it!

I hope this gets you thinking a little.

Paddy.

What is the relationship between life and your money? Listen to this conversation we had with George Kinder to hear more about Life Planning. 

For years I have been fascinated about how our relationship with money influences what we do, and don't do in life. So much so that I have begun my own journey to become a Registered Life Planner, to compliment my technical financial qualifications and experience.

I was delighted to chat with George Kinder, the 'godfather' of Life Planning within Financial Planning circles, and to share how it can help us all.

I hope you find it insightful and useful in your own life/financial planning.

Paddy.

Links:

Kinder Institute

George Kinder Site

Ryokan Poetry