Better With Money

'My pension fund has grown by 69% in three and a half years' - here's how to maximise yours

If you have pension anxiety - either because you don't have one yet or because the one you do have won't cut it - this is the episode for you. Sjoerd Bak, a qualified financial adviser and founder of Become a Millionaire [https://www.bamillionaire.com/] explains why pensions should come before any other investing, especially for those worried their retirement fund won’t be enough. Bak shares how a stroke in 2020 prompted him to reassess his finances, simplify his approach, and retrain as an adviser after running workplace “Become a Millionaire” sessions. He explains Ireland’s pension tax relief and argues the tax benefits can’t be beaten by ETFs or stock picking. He urges listeners to track income and spending, log into their pension portal to review fees and asset allocation (especially equity exposure), and focus on consistent, long-term investing. Plus, find out how Freud's pleasure pain theory can help reframe your money mindset. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. This episode is for information purposes only and doesn't constitute financial advice. Check out our previous episode on pensions with assistant business editor Dominic Coyle can be found here [https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/the-ultimate-tax-break-you-need-to-take-advantage-of/]. You can find Sjoerd [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjoerdbak/]'s guide to pension relief here [https://bamillionaire.kit.com/taxguide] and his finance tracker here [https://bamillionaire.kit.com/tracker]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Flights, car hire and the airport 'golden hour': Conor Pope's guide to holiday spending traps

Wondering how you'll stretch your holiday budget amid uncertainty over rising energy costs and jet fuel supplies? Pricewatch editor Conor Pope has the latest on what the conflict in the Middle East might mean for airline cost-cutting, and why you should take out travel insurance as soon as you book. He also shares the airport spending traps you need to avoid to keep more money in your pocket. (Did you know they try and keep you in the shopping hall for longer by waiting ages to reveal your departure gate?!) There's also advice on navigating the world of car hire (fuel policies, collection windows and filming the car). And Conor recommends looking into the free local activities available in your destination location ahead of time, why you should always pay in local currency and make sure you decline ATM conversions. Staycations may offer better value due to sluggish demand, though Irish weather and costs can result in a Father Ted caravan situation. Presented by Aideen Finnegan ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

'Never open that app again' - Investing platforms, ETFs, and the deemed disposal headache

This episode is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. It's the second part of our chat with Dan Malone from honest.ie [https://honest.ie/] who is demystifying the various online trading platforms available to Irish people. Dan walks through how a beginner (like “Sarah,” a 30-something on an average salary) can start long-term investing, stressing that the first step is maximising pension contributions and having an emergency fund. He recommends choosing a user-friendly, low-fee broker app such as Trading 212, Trade Republic, Degiro or Lightyear etc, and trying them out with small deposits, before committing to a long-term mindset. He explains ETF selection, how some are structured and why buying euro-denominated listings will avoid foreign exchange costs. The conversation also covers realistic amounts of money, euro cost averaging vs lump sums, and Ireland’s deemed disposal rules which are essential to being tax compliant. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Listen back to part one here. [https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/999-of-people-shouldnt-be-picking-stocks-a-beginners-guide-to-investment-apps-in-ireland/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

“99.9% of people shouldn’t be picking stocks’ - A beginner’s guide to investment apps in Ireland

If you've never opened an online trading app in your life (or you have but felt immediately overwhelmed) this is the episode for you. Dan Malone from honest.ie [https://honest.ie/] is a chartered accountant, chartered tax advisor and qualified financial advisor. He's analysed the most popular trading platforms in Ireland like Trading 212, Trade Republic, Lightyear, Interactive Brokers, Revolut and N26. Malone explains which ones might suit the novice investor, what hidden fees and sneaky charges you should look out for, and the tax implications come the pay-and-file deadline. This episode also explores how safe your money is, why most people shouldn’t be picking individual stocks at all, and Dan makes the case for long‑term, passive investing using low‑cost ETFs (exchange‑traded funds) instead. While there's plenty of jargon to get your head around, Dan explains it in plain English. Crucially, he explains why time in the market matters more than timing the market, why women are better investors, and makes the case for starting in your twenties. If you want to go back and listen to our earlier episodes about investing, including this one [https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/i-cleared-six-figures-worth-of-debt-in-ireland-these-are-the-low-risk-ways-to-invest-that-helped/] for absolute beginners, you can find them on irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/ [https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/] Presented by Aideen Finnegan. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

New savings and investment scheme: What's in Simon Harris' plan?

Today we are unpacking Simon Harris’s proposed savings and investment scheme, due to be unveiled in October, and what questions remain about how it will work. Qualified Financial Advisor and long-time investor Kel Galavan [https://www.mrssmartmoney.com/] says it won't mirror the Celtic Tiger era SSIA scheme. It's more likely to be styled on the Swedish or UK system; where savers put their money in accounts specially designed for novice investors. The known unknowns include access rules, fees and term length - we will have to wait until the Budget to get the full picture. Kel outlines what we know, what we don't, and how you can start investing now, without waiting for the announcement in October. She explains the basics of investment taxation, including capital gains tax versus exit tax and deemed disposal. While waiting for the Minister For Finance to reveal the details, she recommends getting your money foundations right, (rainy day and emergency funds, pension etc), seeking better savings rates via regulated European banks, and using “no spend days” to create extra money to save or invest. This episode is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.