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

I’ve helped people clear debt for 30 years. Here’s how to tackle it.

Whether it's a few hundred euro on a credit card that you just can't manage to clear, or if you have fallen behind on your mortgage repayments due to an unforeseen life event - if debt is keeping you awake at night, this is the podcast you need to hear. This conversation with Gwen Harris, regional manager with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service explores practical, step-by-step ways to regain control of your finances - from creating a realistic budget to understanding options like loan consolidation and personal insolvency. Gwen also breaks down popular repayment strategies such as the “snowball” and “avalanche” methods, and highlights how people can maximise their income by claiming entitlements they may not realise they’re eligible for. She also shares advice for families, including why it’s important for parents to have honest conversations about contributions from adult children still living at home, especially during times of financial strain. Plus, Gwen offers simple, practical saving tips that can make a real difference over time. Presented by Aideen Finnegan You can contact MABS in confidence via their web site, call in person to one of their 60 regional offices or phone their helpline on 0818 07 2000. Previous episodes of Better with Money which deal with debt can be found here: ‘How we saved €100k in four years’ [https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/how-we-saved-100k-in-four-years/] ‘I went from €17,000 in debt and jobless to paying off my mortgage early’ [https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/better-with-money/breaking-free-from-debt-i-used-to-see-my-credit-card-limit-as-a-target/] 'I cleared six figures’ worth of debt in Ireland. These are the low-risk ways to invest' [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/] Better with Money is for information purposes only and does constitute financial advice ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

'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.