How Much Do I Need in a Pension to Retire Comfortably?

Well, the simple answer to that depends entirely on the amount of income you want each month when you retire, over and above the state pension.

The more you want, the more you will need to have in your fund so the starting point to any retirement plan is figuring out what this number is for you.

Assuming you qualify for it, the state pension will give you about €1,075 each month as a single person or €1,999 p/m if you have a dependent spouse. 

That’s your income floor which means anything you want on top will need to come from whatever income producing assets you manage to collect over the course of your career.

Things like a business, an investment property or a pension fund.

Working Out What You Need.

If you’re working with a pension then the actual amount you need to have can be determined by your income need and then working backwards to determine the fund required to generate it. 

To do this we would use the standard figure of 4%.

We use 4% because it represents the standard annuity rate and is also the globally accepted, sustainable rate of withdrawal from post-retirement investment funds i.e. Approved Retirement Funds (ARF) in Ireland.

If we work with that, then each additional €1,000 you want on top of your state pension each month, would need €300,000 in a pension fund to provide it.

In other words, you get €1 euro worth of monthly income in retirement for every €300 you have saved. Guaranteed income is expensive which is why you need to have an appropriate strategy in place to get the most out of the money you invest.

That said, annuities are not very popular because the rates are very low right now so they don’t offer great value. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they should be dismissed out of hand because they certainly have their place.

If you’re ready to build a better future for yourself then you need to take action.

Book a complimentary consultation directly into my calendar as a company director, self employed professional or company employee and we’ll take it from there.

What Kind of Future Do You Want?

Ultimately, the amount you need to retire depends on the lifestyle you want to have.

That lifestyle will require a monthly income so here are a list of fund values from €50,000 up to the maximum €2 million, showing;

• The maximum lump sum after tax, 
• The expected monthly income it will generate at 4%
• The effective rate of income tax payable at each level.

You can work your way down the list and stop at the one that you think is achievable.

That’s a good start. Email me here if you want to discuss your figures or join our mailing list at the end of the page for investing tips.

Busting The Biggest Myth About Pensions.

There is a common misconception that pensions are nothing more than a tax deferral exercise and that any tax relief you get on the way in is simply taken back later on.

That’s a myth because the income tax thresholds change dramatically when you retire. The individual in our example above can earn up to €36,000 p.a. before paying any income tax whatsoever. 

This means they can be drawing an income from a pension fund of €400,000 completely tax free. It’s only when a fund starts to creep over this value before they start becoming liable to income tax.

Even at €2,000,000 the effective income tax rate is only 22.86% which is just over half of the current working marginal tax rate of 40%! And that’s in addition to getting a lump sum of €440,000.

How To Make More Money With Your Pension.

Well, now that you’ve an idea of the figures involved you need to make sure that your pension is set up to succeed.

The structure of your pension fund is critically important.

Most people who have their money with Irish banks, tied agents and other advisors aren’t set up to succeed.

That’s because they have a limited array of choice and are investing into contracts with very expensive charges.

It’s the equivalent of owning a 4 speed car with a leaking petrol tank.

The best pension plans in Ireland are made of the highest quality components in a low cost structure.

At The Pension Store, we can get you the best of everything by;

1. Showing you how to manage your money like a professional investor 🧐 
2. Offering you access to the best solutions available on the Irish market 🏆
3. Building portfolios that can deliver the results you need 🔥
4. Ensuring that you don’t make the common mistakes that others make 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♀️
5. Freeing you from the avoidable charges that stunt your growth potential 🚀

It’s important to do everything you can to maximise your retirement fund and if you want some further reading then there are some valuable tips contained in the article 7 Reasons Why Your Pension Fund Isn’t as Big as it Should Be

Book a complimentary consultation directly into my calendar as a company director, self employed professional or company employee and we’ll take it from there.

Kevin