I want to start a pension. Can you tell me more about the auto-enrolment scheme? I want to start a pension, I’ve heard a new compulsory scheme might be coming soon. Do you advise starting now or waiting to see what might happen with this compulsory scheme? A I would advise you to go ahead,
I’m about to retire, but what is the best option to take with my personal pension fund? Q I’m due to retire soon and I recently received a maturity notice from my pension provider. They say it’s a personal pension and that I have the following options. Take 25% of the fund tax free and
Q I am in the lucky position of having a fixed rate of 1.95 per cent and have avoided all the recent interest rate increases, but that is due to change very soon as my fixed rate ends in November. While we are not struggling yet, I’m extremely worried as I can’t afford a big
Saving and investing, a step-by-step guide to help navigate the essentials! For many, the idea of saving and investing can be tricky to understand, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as we think. Let’s start by thinking about saving.. Saving We’ve all heard the old wisdom of “look after the pennies” and
How do I learn to budget better and get my saving and spending under control? Q I’m finding it difficult to budget at the moment with the constant changes to prices, interest rates and so called expert opinions on what’s going to happen. How can I budget better and try get both my spending
Is now the wrong time to get on the property ladder or are prices going to drop? Q I moved back in with my parents at the start of Covid and decided to stay there so I could save money for a deposit. Finally, I feel like I’m ready, but is now the right
How do we bridge the gap to buy our home via the First Home Scheme? Q Hi Philip, can you tell me about the new scheme available that may help myself and my partner buy our first home? We earn €70,000 between us and we are first time buyers currently trying to secure a mortgage.
What are the financial benefits of getting married? Q My partner and I have been livingtogether for 15 years. We are very happy to be in a committed, long-term relationship. We have been told that by not getting married we lose some financial benefits. Is there really a financial case for getting wed and what
Q It’s my 50th birthday soon and I’ve been working hard in various jobs for almost 35 years. I want to be in a position to retire by the time I’m 60. How can I make sure that can happen? A This answer is a long one. I’ll send you a list of the information
What is happening with mortgage interest rates? Mortgage chaos in the form of interest rate hikes has dominated the headlines for the last few weeks. Lenders have scrambled to keep up with the rising cost of borrowing as the ECB have raised rates from 0 per cent just a year ago to 4 per