Pensions in Ireland
Find a pension advisor in Ireland
A pension advisor helps you work out how much to put away, which type of pension suits your situation, and how your money is invested along the way. In Ireland that usually means looking at income tax relief on your contributions, choosing between a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA), an occupational scheme or a master trust, and deciding what to do with pension pots left behind at former employers.
When should you speak to a pension advisor?
There is no single right moment, but these are the points where people most often look for help.
You are starting your first pension
An advisor can explain contribution levels, tax relief and fund choices before you commit to a plan.
You are changing jobs or leaving a scheme
Old workplace pensions can be left behind, transferred or consolidated. Each route has different costs and rules.
You are within five to ten years of retiring
Decisions about drawdown, approved retirement funds and annuities become time sensitive at this stage.
You are self employed or a company director
Pension funding through a company or as a sole trader has its own limits, allowances and tax treatment.
You have an older pension you have not reviewed
Charges, fund performance and risk level can drift away from what suits you today.
What to ask before you choose one
Four questions worth asking in a first conversation.
How are you paid?
Fee only, commission, or a combination. Ask for the figures in writing before you proceed.
What is included on an ongoing basis?
Some advisors carry out an annual review as standard, others charge separately for it.
Are you authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland?
Every firm giving pension advice in Ireland must appear on the Central Bank register. You can check it yourself.
How will we meet?
Video call, phone, or a face to face meeting near you. Agree what suits before you begin.
How vivisor works
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Always free for clients to contact advisors through vivisor.
Pension tools and guides
Pension calculator
Project the pot you could retire with, using Irish actuarial assumptions.
What is a pension? Pensions in Ireland explained simply
A short introduction to how Irish pensions work.
Pensions in Ireland: PRSA vs occupational schemes
How the two main pension types compare.
A ten year retirement planning checklist
What to review in the decade before you retire.
Retirement planning in Ireland: what an advisor will cover
The ground a first pension meeting usually covers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a PRSA and an occupational pension?
A Personal Retirement Savings Account is a personal contract you own and carry between jobs. An occupational pension is set up by an employer for its staff, often with an employer contribution and scheme trustees.
How much does pension advice cost in Ireland?
Costs vary. Some advisors charge a flat fee or an hourly rate, some are paid by commission from the product provider, and some use both. Ask for a written breakdown before you agree to anything.
Can I combine several old pensions into one?
In many cases yes, although it depends on the scheme rules, any guarantees attached to the old pension, and the charges on both sides. It is a decision worth taking advice on rather than doing on instinct.
How does tax relief on Irish pension contributions work?
Personal contributions can attract income tax relief at your marginal rate, subject to age related percentage limits and an earnings cap set by Revenue. The limits change over time, so check the current figures.
How do I check whether an advisor is regulated?
The Central Bank of Ireland publishes a public register of authorised firms. Search the firm name there, and ask the advisor which authorisations the firm holds.
Information only. vivisor does not provide financial advice.