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Category Archives: Borrowing

Blog119: How Early Can I Retire?

Blog119: How Early Can I Retire?

Welcome back to the #1 Investment and Retirement Planning Blog & Podcast in Ireland. Of late our focus has been very much around preparing our finances in advance of, and indeed after we leave full-time employment. Some people call it retirement, other people don't like that term (hear Fin's interview here!). This week, as promised...
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Blog118: Duracell-ARF…Making Your ARF Last Longer!

Blog118: Duracell-ARF…Making Your ARF Last Longer!

If you have, or are soon to have, an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) you might benefit from the following research. Wondering how to make your ARF last longer? How to generate as much income as feasible from your ARF? This week we continue where we left off 2 weeks ago, and as promised share some strategies...
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Blog107: Diversification Vs Asset Allocation…..

Blog107: Diversification Vs Asset Allocation…..

This week we are going to explore two concepts, 'Diversification' and 'Asset Allocation' which can have significant impact on investment success over the long term, and which are shrouded in mystery and often misunderstood. We are going to tell it like it is, share some insights which may surprise you, and give you some food...
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Blog99: Annual Declines Of -13.9%

Blog99: Annual Declines Of -13.9%

Welcome back to the new home of Personal Finance in Ireland, where we share insights which we hope help you to avoid mistakes and achieve the results you seek. All we ask in return for sharing these ideas is to tell a friend, and use the ideas with the intention in which they are shared,...
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Blog96: Best Ways To Get Financial Advice In Ireland?

Blog96: Best Ways To Get Financial Advice In Ireland?

Hey there, it's great to be back after a few weeks of rest over the Christmas, it was probably good for all of us to have a break from listening to me! Anyway, very excited about developing what we are doing here, growing the community, and helping more people get the information they need to...
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Blog93: Congregation2018: Beware The Lizard-Brain

Blog93: Congregation2018: Beware The Lizard-Brain

Welcome back to Ireland's award-winning Finance Blog where we are on a mission to share ideas that will have a lasting and positive impact for you. This week were are sharing something a little different, and hope that it hits the mark, that it perhaps gets you thinking and perhaps even encourages you to do...
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Blog85: Is Investing in EII A Viable Option?

Blog85: Is Investing in EII A Viable Option?

This week we are finally getting round to a topic that has been on 'the list' for quite a while. One of the main benefits of pensions that 'the industry' of financial services harks on about a lot is the tax relief that is available on contributions, and that is certainly true. Having said that...
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Blog 83: The 4% Rule

Blog 83: The 4% Rule

This week we are taking a closer look at the fabled '4% Rule' relating to drawing-down on investment or retirement pots. This particular 'rule' gets plenty of airtime in the US, UK and many other countries but from my own experience very few people here in Ireland seem to have heard of (even many advisors!)....
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Blog81: Can A Couple Retire With €1m Pension Pot?

Blog81: Can A Couple Retire With €1m Pension Pot?

As a young boy growing up many years ago a million euros (or pounds as it was!)  always sounded like an inexorably large amount of money. If you had €1m you were officially a millionaire and were in our eyes elevated to a stratospheric status.......The same can't be said anymore though! While it no doubt...
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Podcast87: Just Start……

Podcast87: Just Start……

This week we are trying to share a simple message, an appeal to you, one which we hope will help move things forward for you in a positive direction. When we procrastinate about or delay committing to positive action we will always manage to rationalise it in our own heads, always! We are masters at...
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Buying Your First Home……The Pitfalls

Buying Your First Home……The Pitfalls

We don't ever go out of our way to be pessimistic on this blog, in fact we tend to be quite the opposite, having a firm belief that optimism is the only valid way when it comes to investing. However, when it comes to borrowing, which as we all know is essentially the reverse...
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Podcast83: Peer 2 Peer Lending….What You Should Know

Podcast83: Peer 2 Peer Lending….What You Should Know

Welcome back to Ireland's dedicated Financial Planning Podcast & Blog. We have had a lot of enquiries about Peer 2 Peer Lending over the past few months, so we thought what better way to find out the detail than to interview a man that has been involved in it for many years. Oli Cavanagh is co-founder...
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Blog62- What Should I Do With A Salary Raise?!

Blog62- What Should I Do With A Salary Raise?!

According to Central Statistics Office the average salary in Ireland (2016) of a full-time employee was a 'grocery-shop' more than €45,000. Knowing that figure might make you feel that you're doing well or it might make you feel like making progress on the income you are bringing in. In reality this is the main thing...
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Blog- The War on Commissions (The Green-Grocer Version!!)

Blog- The War on Commissions (The Green-Grocer Version!!)

This week we are aiming to share some slightly different insights, and reveal some major news in the world of Financial Services in Ireland! Last week the Central Bank released a proposal which is due to come into force next year (subject to Dept. of Finance), which is aimed at maximising the protection consumers get...
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Blog #54- The 5 Simple Things…..(I Promise!)

Blog #54- The 5 Simple Things…..(I Promise!)

Welcome to Ireland's #1 Finance Blog & Podcast. Our purpose is to help you make informed decisions with your money, and importantly to avoid some costly mistakes that they rest of us have made! We are aiming to make this THE home of Financial Planning information and insight for normal people here in Ireland! This...
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Podcast #64: The 5 Simple Things….(I Promise!)

Podcast #64: The 5 Simple Things….(I Promise!)

Welcome to Ireland's #1 Financial Planning Blog & Podcast. Our purpose is to help you make informed decisions with your money, and importantly to avoid some costly mistakes that they rest of us have made! We are aiming to make this THE home of Financial Planning ideas and insight for normal people in Ireland!   This...
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Podcast #54: Wait For Armageddon Or Buy A House Now!?

Podcast #54: Wait For Armageddon Or Buy A House Now!?

There are many many people today in Ireland pining for their own home, looking to get onto the property ladder, sick of paying rent or perhaps living with parents or family. There are usually a one or more of the following barriers to them doing so; cannot get a mortgage large enough, cannot find a...
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Podcast #50: Is This The Best Mortgage Ever….!?

Podcast #50: Is This The Best Mortgage Ever….!?

Hey all, in this 50th episode of the Informed Decisions Financial Planning Podcast we will aim to share insights on the very best mortgage that you can get here in Ireland; whether you are aiming for your first mortgage or have a collection of them we hope to share ideas which will save you a...
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Blog#43- Is This The Best Mortgage Ever….??

Blog#43- Is This The Best Mortgage Ever….??

Hey all, in this blog we will aim to share insights on the very best mortgage that you can get, whether you are aiming for your first mortgage or have a collection of them we hope to share ideas which will save you a small fortune over your life-time. All we ask in return is to...
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Blog #38- Noah’s ARF…..The Biblical Retirement Fund

Blog #38- Noah’s ARF…..The Biblical Retirement Fund

Welcome to the episode which will hopefully finally banish any confusion about ARFs, or do I mean ARKs!?...... Apparently Noah's Ark was made of 'cypress wood' and was in the region of 500 feet long. It was said to have been quite a boat, large enough to hold  125,000 sheep if those were his orders! Anyone...
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Blog #37- PCP….A Drug or A Lease Agreement?!

Blog #37- PCP….A Drug or A Lease Agreement?!

PCP ('Phencyclidine' - not sure how that is pronounced!) was introduced in the 1950's as an anesthetic but was shelved in the 60's due to it's potentially lethal hallucinogenic effects. It was this hallucinogenic effect that made it so popular with recreational drug users and they have been producing it under the title of 'Angel...
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Podcast #42: PCP Finance…A Drug or A Car Finance Product?!

Podcast #42: PCP Finance…A Drug or A Car Finance Product?!

PCP ('Phencyclidine' - not sure how that is pronounced!) was introduced in the 1950's as an anesthetic but was shelved in the 60's due to it's potentially lethal hallucinogenic effects. It was this hallucinogenic effect that made it so popular with recreational drug users and they have been producing it under the title of 'Angel...
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Podcast #36: Is It Profitable Being a Landlord?

Podcast #36: Is It Profitable Being a Landlord?

Apparently 66% of the 70,000 'landlords' in Ireland own 1 investment property. Surely you don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, you want to be one of these? "Sure property prices are climbing, you'd be mad not to own at least one investment property". You buy the place and rent it out so...
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Podcast #8: How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Debt Early

Podcast #8: How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Debt Early

Discover the benefits and indeed the savings to be had from clearing your debt early. While it is not something everyone can aim to do, there may be scope for many to make small changes to save lots of interest, and to be free of debt earlier than expected. Irish Mortgage holders might be able...
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Podcast #6: Rent or Buy??

Podcast #6: Rent or Buy??

Hi All, Paddy & John shed (pardon the pun!) some light on what is the best way to go, rent your home, or take the plunge and buy it with the help of a mortgage. Both have experience from a personal & professional perspective and share their thoughts on how best to consider this question......plus some...
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Podcast #4: Personal Finance Budgets…..the joys!

Podcast #4: Personal Finance Budgets…..the joys!

Many of us deal with budgets in a work environment, everything revolves around budgets. Yet for many the thoughts of budgeting our own finances seems alien! Paddy & John discuss the merits and the ways to approach budgeting, and most importantly WHY bother! A large emphasis is on identifying your own personal Financial Goal, then and only...
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Blog #2 How’s your Cash-Tree?

Blog #2 How’s your Cash-Tree?

Hi, The time has come to ask the BIG Question in regards your finances, the very foundation of it all.......What does money mean to you? Whether you are self employed, an employee or not earning an income, what exactly does money do for you? From my experience, for some it means the world, they are obsessed and...
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