Michael Halloran, CFP® MSc Senior Wealth Manager and Gemma O’Connor QFA, Wealth Manager share their views.
This report is a call to action for Ireland’s high earners. It is, firstly, a stark portrayal of how, despite Ireland being wealthier than ever before, this prosperity masks a pension crisis. In a nation brimming with wealth, we ask: why are pensions still an afterthought? The report aims to demystify pensions and outline the opportunity for futures that are worth more through smarter planning and a re-imagined approach to advice.
Retirement isn’t what it used to be, and neither is ageing. Irish life expectancy is rising, inflation has returned, and the State Pension faces mounting pressure from demographic shifts. The result? Your money needs to last longer and work harder than ever before. Yet too many individuals continue to sit in cash, avoid growth, or defer action entirely—often at great long-term cost.
Ireland’s pension landscape is broken. Performance is patchy, fees are opaque, and advice is often misaligned. The shift from Defined Benefit to Defined Contribution pensions has transferred risk to individuals who are often ill-equipped to manage it. High charges, poor service, and inertia compound the problem. However, this also creates a rare opportunity: with the right advice, structure, and strategy, pensions can be one of the most powerful, tax-efficient tools available for building and protecting wealth.
