In our last podcast, we celebrated Fran's incredible achievement of amassing a €2 million pension pot through decades of disciplined saving and investing.
Some who read it were inspired, some were envious, and others said "I don't bloody need €2m pension pot"!
And you'll see why I suggest the following are appropriate pension pots to fund a 'comfortable' retirement lifestyle;
These may seem like a luxury questions, but are the most important aspects in our retirement planning in Ireland.
Disclaimer: Seek professional advice before taking any course of action.
Today, we’re diving into the real-life(ish) story of Fran – a regular guy who built a €2 million+ pension pot and retired at 55.
No big lotto win.
No magic investment hacks.
Just smart use of Ireland’s pension system, discipline, and a few skipped car upgrades!
Fran started young, contributed consistently, and maximised every bit of tax relief and employer matching he could get his hands on. He invested for growth, kept his cool through market crashes, and stuck to the plan. Over 30 years, a €350,000 net contribution turned into a €2 million pension pot.
We walk through:
• Exactly how Fran built that pot
• How he drew income tax-efficiently from 55 onwards
• How he used the ARF to stay flexible and keep control
• And how he left a legacy worth millions – without giving half of it to Revenue
If you're working in Ireland and want financial independence on your own terms, Fran’s journey is a blueprint worth paying attention to.
No fluff, no jargon – just a straight-talking guide to building your future wealth and freedom.
Let’s dive in and see what we can learn from Fran’s €2M success story.
I hope it helps.
The content of this site including blogs and podcasts is for information purposes only. Everybody’s financial situation is different and the content we share on our site and through podcasts may not be applicable to you.
The articles, blogs and podcasts are not investment advice. They do not take account of your individual circumstances, including your knowledge and experience and attitude to risk. Informed Decisions can’t be held responsible for the consequences if you pursue a course of action based on the information we share
Welcome to Informed Decisions Podcast, where we bring you expert insights for Irish investors and retirees.
Today, we have a rip-roaring guest joining us - Bill Bengen, the financial planner who literally wrote the book on retirement withdrawals. Back in 1994, Bill's groundbreaking research established what became known worldwide as the "4% rule".
This was the cornerstone of retirement planning, that suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually without running out of money.
But here's where it gets interesting for our Irish listeners: Bill has been revisiting his own work, and his latest research suggests that retirees today might actually be able to take 5% from their Approved Retirement Funds over multiple decades, not the traditional 4% many have been following.
For those managing ARFs here in Ireland, this could be game-changing news. We know how crucial it is to balance enjoying your retirement years while ensuring your money lasts - it's that delicate dance between living well today and having security tomorrow.
Bill's going to walk us through exactly why he believes this adjustment makes sense in today's market conditions, and how to think about implementing this approach with your own ARF strategy.
Whether you're already drawing from your ARF or planning for that transition, this conversation could reshape how you think about your retirement income. Let's dive in with the man who started it all!
I hope it helps.
Paddy Delaney QFA RPA APA
Disclaimer: Seek professional advice before taking any course of action.
The content of this site including blogs and podcasts is for information purposes only. Everybody’s financial situation is different and the content we share on our site and through podcasts may not be applicable to you.
The articles, blogs and podcasts are not investment advice. They do not take account of your individual circumstances, including your knowledge and experience and attitude to risk. Informed Decisions can’t be held responsible for the consequences if you pursue a course of action based on the information we share