Can I Purchase a Property with my ARF? The simple answer is Yes – an ARF can hold or invest in property assets. This form of investment has been gaining traction over the past few years for a number of reasons: Over the long term Property is a solid investment asset and It provides an annual income A ARF Fund can invest in almost any type of asset you can reasonably invest in. For example stocks and shares, government bonds, …
Annuity or ARF – Article 2 – Best of Both!
Annuity or ARF – Article 2 – Best of Both! In our first article we started to explore the pros and cons of Annuities vs ARFs. This week we will delve into a little more detail under the following headings: Certainty of Income Flexibility Investment Risk Inheritance Value for Money 1. Certainty of Income – an annuity provides for the greatest level of certainty of income as the insurance company commits to providing a fixed level of income for life. …
Annuity or ARF – Article 1 – Which is best?
Annuity or ARF – Article 1 – Which is best? Over the next two articles I will explore the pros and cons of Annuities vs ARFs (Approved Retirement Funds) When you access your pension and after getting your lump sum you will invariably be asked to choose what you wish to do with the balance of the pension. Your options at this point are typically: Purchase an Annuity or Invest in an ARF / AMRF It can be very difficult …
How should I invest my Approved Retirement Fund?
Choosing a suitable ARF Fund in which to invest your retirement fund can be a daunting prospect at the best of times. Believe or not choosing an investment fund or strategy over the past decade has been quite easy as pretty much any ARF or investment fund you picked would have made some kind of positive return for you. However, we are entering a new phase in 2021 and beyond, and investment decisions will become more problematic for many reasons. …
How Do I Protect My Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) During Periods of Stock Market Volatility?
How Do I Protect My Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) During Periods of Stock Market Volatility? When you accessed your Pension, and after you got your tax-free lump sum, you will in most cases have set up an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF). This ARF is the fund that you will draw your yearly income from in retirement. ARF funds are essentially investment funds with some exposure to stock markets, and by extension financial market volatility. This leaves many ARF holders worried …
Accessing My Pension – Annuity or Approved Retirement Fund?
Accessing your Private Pension can be a daunting experience. You will have the option of taking at least 25% of the value of your Pension fund as a tax free cash lump sum. However, there are important decisions to be make when it comes to deciding on how best to use the remaining 75% of the pension fund. It’s crucial you understand what these options are and the long term implication of your decisions. You will have the option of: …
When Can I Access My Private Pension Fund?
When Can I Access My Private Pension Fund? The financial impact of the Coronavirus is being felt my almost everybody in society at the moment. As cashflow tightens and business owners and employees assess their own finances, we have seen an increase in enquiries from people looking to access their Pension. What are the rules? There are very strict Revenue rules regarding when and how you can access your private pension fund. These rules relate to your age, employment circumstances, …
Pension Fund Performance – Are All Pension Funds The Same?
Pension Fund Performance – Are All Pension Funds The Same? If you have a Pension you probably understand that your Pension Fund to some degree is exposed to the performance of financial markets. When the world economy does well, your Pension rises in value, when it does poorly, your Pension falls in value. But why do some people with Pensions do better than others, even during volatile times? In this article I want to: Explain how your pension is invested. …
I am 65 years, retiring soon and about to access my pension – What options are available to me?
I am 65 years, retiring soon and about to access my pension – What options are available to me? When you access your pension and after getting your lump sum you will invariably be asked to choose what you wish to do with the balance of the fund. Your options at this point are typically: Purchase an Annuity or Invest in an ARF / AMRF It can be very difficult to choose between these two options. Let’s consider the pros …
Investment Market Update 23rd April 2018
Investment Market Update 23rd April – Markets in Numbers Equity Markets (Local) Level 1 Day % Month to Quarter to Year to 1 Year Date % Date % Date % Ago % Euro Stoxx 50 3,491 0.24% 4.3% 4.3% 0.4% 4.9% Ireland 6,828 0.66% 4.1% 4.1% -1.9% 3.4% UK 7,368 0.54% 4.7% 4.7% -2.8% 7.7% France 5,405 0.43% 5.0% 5.0% 2.3% 9.9% Germany 12,523 -0.21% 3.7% 3.7% -2.9% 4.3% MSCI World 2,100 -0.76% 1.8% 1.8% 0.6% 16.5% S&P 500 2,670 …
