How to Invest
The question of how to invest is an important one, never more so than in a time of stock market turbulence. 2018 has seen one of the US stock market’s worst ever days, followed by a six day rally, but all adding up to a resurgence in volatility. So, how to invest (and...
The Money Taboo
Why do we find talking about money so embarrassing? With family and friends we can generally talk fairly easily about sex, death, religion, politics – all the ‘big ones’ except money! It’s incredible to think that something as straightforward as money is arguably the...
What is an ARF?
Let’s face it, pensions are boring, complicated and full of jargon. Unfortunately they are also very important to our wellbeing so whether we like it or not, it’s important to know the basics. If you have a private pension (ie, anything other than the State Pension)...
What is an AMRF?
As I’ve said before, pensions are boring, complicated and full of jargon. But as they are central to how comfortable (or not) our retirements will be, it’s really important to know the basics. If you have a private pension (ie, anything other than the State Pension)...
Too Much Cash
The late Ken Dodd once revealed (in court) that he kept £336,000 in cash stashed in suitcases in his attic. I have two immediate thoughts on this story. First, he is not the only one whose wealth is less than it should be as a result of being incredibly risk averse as...
The Value of Independent Financial Advice
Do you need a Financial Advisor? Yes. You do. We all do. Why? Because expert independent financial advice will save you from making poor financial decisions and guide you towards a consistent and disciplined investment strategy. But don’t just listen to me, here’s the...
Probate in Ireland
It’s not a subject we like to dwell on but it is important to know what happens to our money after we die. Knowing the processes involved (and how long they take) is a great motivation to structure our finances in a way that makes it as easy as possible for our...
What is an Annuity?
Many people will have heard pension conversations mention the words Annuity and ARF without understanding (or not being interested in) what they actually mean. So here goes. When you retire your pension fund first provides you with a tax free lump sum. You will...
How Much Do I Need To Retire?
A question I get asked countless times is, how much do I need to retire? While there is no exact answer, and certainly not one figure that applies to everybody, there are two methodologies we can use to come to a conclusion. The Salary Method You’ll probably have seen...