Managing Your Finances
New auto-enrolment retirement savings system
Ireland’s new auto-enrolment scheme launches in 2026, matching worker and employer savings with a State top-up to make retirement saving simpler and fairer.
Recently, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary said MyFutureFund is about ensuring workers have access to a quality-assured retirement savings option. It’s a transformative scheme and will bear great fruit, particularly for younger generations, and ultimately, an investment in Ireland’s future. MyFutureFund will come into effect from 1 January 2026, so how will it transform how people save for retirement?
How the retirement savings scheme works
For every €3 a worker saves, the employer will add €3, and the State will add a further €1, turning a €3 contribution into €7 going to your savings, with investment returns on top of that. All participants will be automatically enrolled into a default investment strategy that works on a life-cycle basis. Taking advantage of higher risk growth in early years and the stability of lower risk closer to retirement. But, if you want to make a choice around your investment strategy, you can choose between the high, medium and low risk strategies. There will be some administration and investment management fees, but these will be kept to a minimum and likely to be less than those typically charged for pension services.
Employees not already in a pension scheme paid through their payroll, aged 23 to 60 and
earning over €20,000 across all employments, will start paying into MyFutureFund in January. Employees outside of the earnings threshold and aged between 18 and 66 can also opt in, even if they don’t meet the earnings threshold.
Ease for employers and security for staff
While employers are legally obliged to comply with autoenrolment, the good news is that engaging with MyFutureFund will be really easy. The fund is being fully administered by a new State authority: the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority, based in Letterkenny. This means employers don’t have to set up a pension scheme, appoint trustees or pay fees to a service provider. Employers will have to complete their profile on the employer portal when it goes live in December and set up a payment method before January 2026.
They also don’t have to explain a multitude of differing investment options to employees. The system itself is fully integrated into payroll systems and deductions will be taken directly at source, with the State ‘top-up’ automatically added, so there will be no complex tax calculations. Best of all, the ‘fund’ moves with employees as they move between jobs, and a new employer just has to run their payroll as normal, and the employee’s pension will be covered.
Dara Calleary Minister for Social Protection
Pension fund insights: building better retirements for Ireland
Building a pension fund involves smart investing, practical advice and policies that scale innovative ideas.
When Mary, a 34-year-old nurse in Cork, checks her pension app, she only wants one thing: confidence that the small sums she saves today will buy a steady income decades from now. Across Ireland, millions of savers share Mary’s quiet hope.
Long term investing that works towards a more sustainable future
Low-cost index strategies give savers broad exposure to markets, but they do more than mirror returns. Responsible
asset managers engage with the companies they own, pushing for better governance, better sustainability targets and business plans that look decades ahead.
Is bigger better for Ireland’s growing pension market?
Industry, advisers and policymakers should work together now to align incentives, scale innovations.
Once reserved for institutions like endowments or large overseas pension funds, the larger Irish pension schemes can now also access investments such as toll roads, wind farms, even local housing projects. Those assets can provide returns for members and visible benefits to communities — jobs, cleaner energy and safer homes.
Scale matters for savers. Bigger pension pools can spread fees, access a wider range of investments and back larger local projects. That gives ordinary pension members a stake in the local economy and a chance to benefit from long-term growth.
Advice and technology — the human and the digital
Most Irish savers are in definedcontribution pensions, which means we
are all responsible for understanding our own pensions. That’s why advice matters now more than ever. Modern retirement advice blends digital tools with human expertise: automated platforms and apps manage routine tasks and rebalancing, while qualified advisers translate big economic themes into personalised plans that consider tax, risk tolerance and family circumstances. Good advice uses cashflow modelling and scenario planning so savers can see “what if” outcomes, not just charts. It’s also becoming more scalable: advisers combine periodic face-to-face strategy reviews with automated rebalancing and digital communication to serve many more individuals without diluting quality.
Policy matters for your pension Policymakers can accelerate progress by making default pension options affordable and diversified, encouraging stewardship practices and supporting accessible advice models. Practical steps like these turn broad ideas into measurable improvements for Irish savers. Ireland has a real opportunity: as workplace pensions and digital platforms expand, more people will gain access to durable, professionally managed savings vehicles.
“Auto-enrolment is just one vital part of the pension conundrum in Ireland, and the Department of Social Protection need to be applauded as we get closer to launch. Next on the agenda will be looking in more detail at post-retirement decumulation options and the role investment managers like Amundi can look to play in that space as it evolves.”
Michael Curran, Head of Institutional Business, Amundi Ireland.
Trusted retirement partner
Amundi brings a global perspective and local experience to this moment — from managing funds in markets such as Italy and France to working with schemes across Europe and Asia. That scale and expertise can help deliver “retirementready” toolkits: diversified investments, stewardship that matters and advice technology that reaches more people.
A call to partnership
The retirement challenge is large and personal, but we’re excited about the landscape. Industry, advisers and policymakers should work together now to align incentives, scale innovations and make affordable quality advice the norm. Do that, and savers like Mary will be more likely to enjoy a secure, comfortable retirement — and communities across Ireland will feel the benefits. To find out more on how Amundi can support you on your savings journey, please reach out to your financial advisor.
Michael Curran Head of Institutional Business, Amundi Ireland
amundi.ie
Sponsored by Amundi
Practical ways to save on food, energy and everyday costs
Across Ireland, people are finding themselves financially stretched. Rising rents, childcare costs, energy bills and everyday expenses are putting pressure on families, couples and individuals alike.
Whatever your situation and wherever you live, the cost of living can feel overwhelming. It can lead to sleepless nights, relationship strain and a sense of isolation. It’s important to remember that you are not alone and there is help available. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Understand where your money is going
When money feels tight, the first step is to understand where it’s going. Start by listing your income and expenses weekly or monthly. Don’t forget about your annual payments, such as car and house insurance.
2. Make a shopping list
Before you go to do your weekly food shop, start with making a list. Think about meal planning for the week ahead and check what’s already in the cupboards and your freezer, then make a list of what you need and stick to it.
3. Review your utility bills
Your contract with your utility companies is generally a 12-month contract. It is worth shopping around to see if you get a better deal. Always have your last bill available so you can understand how and what you consume in terms of energy.
Why Ireland’s new fibre broadband network could be a money-saver
Fibre optic broadband is being rolled out across Ireland, enabling access to a high-speed internet connection — and may even save you money.
Joe Lavin Chief Commercial Officer, National Broadband Ireland (NBI)
WRITTEN BY
Tony Greenway
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, Ireland’s largest ever telecommunications project, is expected to be completed towards the end of 2026, and it’s already making a particular difference to rural communities that either had no or limited access to high-speed broadband.
Fibre is much faster than traditional copper broadband. “Fibre aims to provide homes and businesses with download and upload speeds of up to one gigabit,” explains Joe Lavin, Chief Commercial Officer of NBI, the company charged with designing, building and operating the new
4. Understand what your priority payments are
Do you have a mortgage or pay rent? Food, heat and light are also priority payments. If you fall behind with these payments, the consequences can have a much greater impact on you and your family.
5. Pay what you can
Always remember that if a creditor offers you a moratorium, for example, the energy providers during winter months may not disconnect you for failure to pay your bill. This does not mean that you do not owe the money, and you should continue to pay what you can during this time.
6. Find more information to get you started
For more information, hints and tips to start you on your journey, visit www.mabs.ie. We are here to help. MABS is a free, confidential and independent service with offices available in every county.
network. “That’s important from an equitable perspective because it gives everyone, irrespective of location, the same opportunities for remote learning, home working, streaming entertainment and remote consultations with a doctor.”
Switch to save Plus, switching to fibre could actually save you money. “It’s unlikely that switching to fibre will increase your monthly bills,” says Lavin. “Our network features more than 50 broadband providers who’ll all be competing for your business with new products and promotions. So, you could end up spending less but getting
a significantly better internet service.”
Currently, over 80% of the network has been built, and of the 564,000 premises in NBI’s rollout area, 450,000 can now order fibre. More than 155,000 have taken up the service so far. According to Lavin, sign-ups continue to grow daily, with the main reason for not joining yet being a lack of awareness that fibre is available in their area, particularly in rural locations. Others are still tied to existing contracts, but NBI expects them to switch in time.
Switching to fibre is easy — and January is a good time for it when people are looking for a good deal post-Christmas. “When you contact your broadband provider and say you want to sign up, we’ll arrange for one of our technicians to bring fibre into your home,” says Lavin. “When choosing a provider, make sure you ask if the price will increase after the minimum term is over. When it does come to an end, find out what deals they can offer you to stay and see if any bundles or add-ons are available.”
“With copper switch-off coming down the tracks in the coming years, everyone will have to migrate off the legacy networks at some stage,” says Lavin. “So, you might as well switch to fibre now and maybe even save yourself money.”
Michelle O’Hara Regional Manager, South Leinster MABS
Sponsored by National Broadband Ireland
An
An Post Money: digital banking services with a human touch
Post Money’s innovative products and services aim to help customers get on top of their finances.
There was a time when customers would stay with their bank through thick and thin, due to familiarity, lack of competition or because it was more convenient.
That’s not the case now, insists Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail. “The financial marketplace is fragmented,” she says. “Consumers don’t stay in one place. They can have various bank accounts, loans and credit cards with different organisations. We’re starting to see people shopping around for banks and financial services providers that offer better features, benefits and rates.”
Helping customers manage their money is a guiding principle for An Post, which launched its financial services operations in 2007. After rebranding as An Post Money in 2019, it now offers a range of banking products and services, including travel money in cash and card, an advanced personal finance app, the largest branch network in the country, a full current account, budgeting tools, credit cards, the lowest fixed rate on personal loans under €30k and a current account for 7-15 year olds (‘Money Mate’) to help teach children financial responsibility.
Financial services can be confusing, so we keep our offering simple and straightforward.
Advanced app and largest branch network
From the outset, An Post Money set out to become a viable alternative to traditional banks — and one that’s interested in finding ways to better support customers. “Our success is built on three core principles,” says Byrne. “The first is providing customers with state-of-the-art digital banking, while ensuring that they can always talk to someone face-to-face whenever they need to. Second, financial services can be confusing, so we keep our offering simple and straightforward. Third, sound money management is
Make
at the heart of everything we do, so we wanted to provide our customers with a comprehensive budget management tool.”
An Post Money takes pride in its reputation as a digital banking services provider with a human touch. Thanks to its countrywide network of post offices, it has around 880 branches, more than every bank in Ireland combined. “Human interaction has become our USP,” admits Byrne. “It’s really important to us that if a customer has a query or issue, they can go into one of our branches and talk to someone. Or if they don’t want to visit a branch, they can ring and know they’ll get through without a long wait. It’s part of our commitment to provide high-quality service.”
Their easy-to-use finance app features digital savings Jars that allow customers to set money aside for different purposes. Then there’s Money Manager, a budgeting tool available to anyone free of charge (not just An Post Money customers). This links a person’s bank accounts and credit cards in one place to give them a bird’s-eye overview of their finances and helps them track their spending by category.
Award-winning products to help customers improve their finances
Naturally, security is a priority for An Post Money, and why they added award-winning security features such as Dynamic Card Verification Value (CVV) as an extra layer of protection against fraudsters. Every time customers make an online purchase, they can generate a brand-new CVV code from the An Post Money app.
These innovations haven’t gone unnoticed. At the 2025 Bonkers.ie National Consumer Awards, An Post Money won various prizes including Best Credit Card, Best Customer Service, and the Grand Prix for Best Consumer Business. Yet that doesn’t mean it’s content to rest on its laurels.
“In the future, we’d like to offer our customers additional products to meet their needs (such as mortgages), and we see many opportunities to support small and mediumsized businesses as well,” says Byrne. “We always put a lot of emphasis on receiving continuous feedback from consumers so that we can continue to help them improve their finances.”
Debbie Byrne Managing Director, An Post Retail
WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway
Secure online transactions powered by global payment platform
Online payment safety is at the core of this Irish transaction platform. With marketplace partnerships like DoneDeal, they’re significantly expanding the reach of their safe, reliable transactions.
Transaction security isn’t a new concern, and there’s still hesitation around online transactions driven by a perceived lack of trust. “Many people feel uncomfortable sending money online,” explains Conor Lyden, Founder & CEO of Trustap. “Unfortunately, for time-sensitive transactions, people can be more willing to take the risk, leading to some being scammed.”
End-to-end transaction service
Founded in 2017, Trustap was inspired by Lyden’s experience of buying resale football tickets from strangers online. “We’ve created a solution that completely removes distrust,” explains Lyden. Trustap is a simple, safe and scam-proof transaction platform that combines the concept of escrow with an everyday transactional flow.
“Not only do we hold the funds in an escrowstyle hold until both parties are satisfied, but we manage transactions from start to finish, including fraud prevention and dispute management, replacing the need for multiple transaction plug-ins or tools, reducing overall transaction cost”, continues Lyden. “This provides a better experience for everyone, from the e-commerce store or marketplace to the end customers.”
DoneDeal Partnership and AI
What started as a standalone app for individual transactions is now a global solution, with partnerships across e-commerce, online marketplaces and other platforms looking to make secure transactions more accessible. “We’ve recently gone into partnership with DoneDeal, facilitating vehicle reservations on their website,” explains Lyden.
To become the standard for secure online transactions, the company is building solutions to meet the needs of marketplaces and e-commerce stores. Founded in Ireland (headquartered in Cork), they now have offices in Dublin, Barcelona, Croatia and New York, servicing over 150 countries. “We want to partner with as many marketplaces as possible to ensure users can transact safely and efficiently.”
AI is another development in transaction security, with the increasing popularity of AI chatbots. Buyer journeys have changed, with people choosing LLMs for product searches instead of browsing online stores. “It won’t be long before there are full agent-to-agent transactions, and we’re working on making sure we’re well placed to ensure they can happen safely and efficiently too.”
Scammers targeting consumers with fake comparison websites
TConor Lyden Founder and CEO, Trustap
WRITTEN BY Bethany Cooper
Sponsored
Fake comparison websites are being used to steal personal data. Discover simple steps to protect yourself.
he world of financial scams is everchanging, with scam artists devising novel methods to try to steal your money. You might be used to receiving unsolicited texts asking you to pay a fee to have a package released, or from someone pretending to be a loved one urgently asking for money. However, you may not know that fraudsters are also using techniques such as fake comparison websites to scam people.
Scammers create and use fake comparison websites for criminal purposes.
How scammers use fake comparison websites
Most of us use comparison websites when trying to find the best offers for certain products or services. However, scammers create and use fake comparison websites for criminal purposes. These sites will purport to help you find and compare financial products, but they’re really a front to collect your personal details. Scammers will use the information you gave to contact you, pretending to be a legitimate firm, with offers for financial products, services and investment opportunities that don’t exist. You might not spot that these products or
services aren’t genuine because you’ll have given your personal details through the fake comparison site, and might be expecting someone to reach out to you.
Simple steps to protect yourself
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from scammers, including ensuring you always use reputable comparison sites and checking the website closely to see if anything seems suspicious. You should also contact the firms directly to independently verify any financial services or products you’ve seen on the comparison website.
The Central Bank encourages everyone considering buying a financial product or dealing with a firm to take the “SAFE” test:
• S top, think and ask yourself: What? Who? Why? Do I feel rushed to act? Could this be a scam?
• A ssess the information you’re being presented with and make sure the firm is legitimate.
• F act-check the offer to ensure it is genuine and coming from a trusted source.
• E xpose and report any suspected scammer to the Central Bank of Ireland or An Garda Síochána.
And of course, the old saying still rings true: if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
by Trustap
Faster, safer payments for Irish customers
Irish consumers can now make and receive euro payments within 10 seconds, with new security checks to confirm payee details.
SEPA Instant Payments and Verification of Payee are transforming how customers send and receive money, making payments faster and more secure.
Payments in seconds, 24/7
Banks and payment service providers in Ireland have recently rolled out SEPA Instant Payments, enabling personal and business customers to make or receive a euro payment within 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, on any day of the year. Customers get confirmation within 10 seconds of making a payment that it has been received by the payee. This marks a major step forward in providing faster and more secure payment services to Irish consumers.
Extra layer of security
Alongside instant payments, a new service called Verification of Payee (VOP) is being introduced for SEPA Instant and standard SEPA payments. VOP works by automatically checking that the name of the person or business a customer intends to pay matches the actual name on the recipient’s account. This added layer of security helps ensure that payments are going to the right recipient, providing customers with greater control and confidence when making payments.
What customers should do
Customers are encouraged to check that their existing payee names match the actual name on their bank account. For example, any payees listed using descriptions like ‘rent’ or ‘creche’ should
be updated to the correct account name. When making a payment, customers will be advised if there is a match, close match, or no match, and can then choose to proceed, correct the name and retry or cancel the payment.
Addressing consumer concerns
These changes come about as research conducted by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) shows that almost three-quarters of people in Ireland worry about transferring money from their account to the wrong person or business, whether it’s online, on mobile or in branch. One in five adults has accidentally transferred money or been scammed into transferring money to the wrong person or business. The introduction of SEPA Instant Payments and VOP reflects a broader effort across Europe to modernise payment infrastructure and protect consumers, enhancing the speed, security and convenience of electronic payments, reducing fraud and strengthening consumer protection.
Gillian Byrne Head of Payments, Banking and Payments Federation Ireland
How Renault’s finance solutions are accelerating the move to electric
Mobilize Financial Services is improving electric vehicle (EV) Accessibility with a range of competitive and flexible financing options.
Mobilize Financial Services — the financial services subsidiary of Renault Group in Ireland, providing a range of financing solutions for Renault, Dacia and Alpine vehicles — has seen significant growth in EV financing over the last year, increasing 30% since the same period in 2024.
There are various reasons for this. First, competitive interest rates on EVs are estimated to save customers more than €3,000 over a four-year period. Add in a €3,500 SEAI grant and fuel economy, and that’s a potential saving of up to €10,000 over the period of a finance agreement.
Benefits of Personal Contract Purchase
When it comes to financing options, half of Mobilize customers prefer Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements because they allow them to tailor the duration and mileage allowance of their finance contract and make monthly payments that fit their budget. It also guarantees a minimum future value for customer cars, which, coupled with an eight-year warranty on the vehicle’s battery, offers peace of mind and an enhanced ownership experience for anyone with concerns about switching to electric. There has never been a better time to consider buying an EV with confidence.
When their PCP agreement ends, the customer can simply choose to purchase the vehicle outright or renew their PCP contract for a new vehicle, once certain conditions have been met. To learn more about PCP options, you can contact your local Renault and Dacia dealership to tailor a financing option to fit your budget.
Brian McNulty, Commercial Director, expects to see growth in EV sales continue in 2026. “As Renault Group’s provider, we see daily how products like PCP and lowrate finance offers are central to Ireland’s transition to electric mobility,” he says.
“By reducing upfront costs and providing customers with certainty around future value, finance is removing some of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. Our role is not just to support sales, but to build long-term confidence in new technology — and that confidence is what ultimately accelerates the shift to electric vehicles.”
Financial Planning 101
Many households keep a close watch on monthly spending yet still question whether they truly need a financial plan. The answer, experts say, is yes. Tracking expenses is important, but it’s only the beginning.
Beyond budgeting: why a financial plan matters
Without a roadmap, your money might be active but not effective. A financial plan gives purpose and direction to your finances, helping you make smarter decisions and feel more confident about your future.
Financial planning isn’t about saying no; it’s about knowing when and how to say yes with confidence.
Turning goals into action
At its simplest, a financial plan connects dayto-day spending with long-term ambitions.
Whether saving for a first home, covering children’s education costs or preparing for retirement, structured planning transforms goals into practical steps.
Clarity and consistency are key. A good plan aligns what you do now with what you want
Fairstone Ireland CEO Paul Merriman shares why a structured financial plan isn’t about restriction — and why it can turn everyday spending into lasting financial freedom.
later. It helps you focus your priorities and gives every euro a defined role.
Building stability and resilience
The value of financial planning becomes most visible during uncertainty. A well-designed plan builds resilience, allowing people to handle unexpected events from job loss to medical bills without derailing long-term goals.
Planning also supports smarter investment choices, tailored to each person’s risk level and future needs. With sound tax planning and debt management, individuals can retain more of their income and maintain better control of their financial wellbeing.
Planning for empowerment
Contrary to popular belief, financial planning isn’t about restriction. It’s about empowerment, creating peace of mind and giving people the freedom to live on their own terms.
Financial planning isn’t about saying no; it’s about knowing when and how to say yes with confidence.
Taking the first step
Experts agree that the hardest part is often getting started. However, the earlier individuals put structure around their finances, the greater the long-term rewards.
In an increasingly unpredictable world, financial planning remains one of the most effective tools for achieving security, stability and control ensuring that your money works for you, not the other way around.
Paul Merriman CEO, Ask Paul and Fairstone Ireland