Budget 2017 was announced on 11 October 2016. A €5 per week increase in the State Contributory Pension was announced. The rates are per the table below. Further information on budget 2017 is available from http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/budget_2017.html and further information on social welfare rates generally is available from http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/a-retired-or-an-older-person.aspx. Maximum Weekly Rates 2017 Personal rate Increase for a qualified […]

In recent days, an amendment to the Social Welfare Bill 2017 was proposed, the intention of which was to prevent measures being taken by solvent companies which would result in the wind-up of defined benefit pension schemes unless the pension scheme was at least 90% funded on a minimum funding standard basis. The amendment was […]

Section 13 of the Finance Bill 2016 makes a number of amendments to Part 30 of, and Schedule 23B to, the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for the purposes of preventing certain tax avoidance opportunities in relation to Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs). The amendments ensure that, where benefits are not taken by the PRSA owner on or […]

As always, the future direction of investment markets cannot be known. However, bond markets have had a very long period of growth boosted by declining yields (which increase capital values). The opposite – capital losses – would happen if bond yields increase. The US has seen an increase in bond yields since the US election. […]

$1 trillion on infrastructure? Barriers to trade? Two and a half days after Trump wins the US Presidency, bond yields are up and we may have seen the event that sparks a bout of inflation.

With an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF), when you die you can leave any remaining funds to your spouse/civil partner or other beneficiaries. If you leave the funds to your spouse or civil partner, the funds can be transferred to an Approved Retirement Fund in their name. In all other cases, the funds are wound up […]

Prescribed Guidance in Relation to Section 34 of the Pensions Act, 1990 Monday 24 October 2016: The Authority has issued revised statutory guidance, approved by the Minister on 21 September 2016, in relation to section 34 of the Pensions Act. The effective date of this guidance is 1 January 2017.

The Pensions Authority today, 21 October 2016, published the basis on which transfer values should have been calculated since 21 September 2016. They have confirmed that the attached guidance was effective from the date the Minister approved the guidance. For practical purposes, a lead in time may need to be agreed so that actuarial systems […]

The Irish Times has published a supplement on pensions today, 18 October 2016. The supplement covers pension saving options as well as the future of pensions provision. John O’Connell, Director of Trident Consulting is quoted in the following articles:          Trident Consulting has advised industry stakeholders in relation to future pension provision.

The changes affecting pensions and investments announced in today’s budget are as follows: No change to private pension rules €5 per week increase in the State pension from 1st March 2017 The DIRT rate applying to bank deposit interest will be reduced from 41% to 39% in 2017 and thereafter an annual reduction of 2% p.a. […]