Retirement Planning Council

18/06/2026

🗨️ Very well delivered positive course, covering all the relevant areas as we move into our third phase of life. Really looking forward to what is ahead. Thanks

🗨️ The course make my retirement real, and not just notional, as I have had to think about the actual reality of how it will affect my lifestyle and relationships.

🗨️ Took the panic out of retirement. Helped with practical advice re: social welfare entitlements & taxation. Nutrition & health was very sensible, effective realistic & informative.

➡️ For more information or to book a course go to www.rpc.ie

15/06/2026

🙍‍♂️ Men’s Health Week 2026 runs from Monday, 15th to Sunday, June 21st.

🌍 International Men’s Health Week takes place each year in the week leading up to Father’s Day. It is celebrated across Ireland and around the world, highlighting the importance of men’s health and wellbeing.

Men make up almost 50% of the population in Ireland, yet research shows they experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and often die younger than women.
• Men have higher death rates for many leading causes of death
• Lifestyle factors contribute to chronic illness
• Many men delay seeking help, which can lead to more serious health problems

👉 The good news? Many of these issues are preventable and small changes can make a big difference.

Aims of Men’s Health Week:
✅ Raise awareness of preventable health issues
✅ Support healthier lifestyle choices
✅ Encourage early detection and treatment

This year’s message is 'One Step at a Time'. Small, positive steps towards better health really do add up. Whether it’s booking a check-up, getting more active, eating better, or simply having a chat - every step counts.

Men’s Health Week in Ireland is supported by the HSE Health and Wellbeing and the Public Health Agency.

For more information, check out: https://mhfi.org/mhw/mhw-2026.html

12/06/2026

👒 Bloomsday Festival 11-16 June 2026

📚 Whether you are a lifelong Joyce fan or just curious to join the fun, there is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the festival.

🎭 So if you are looking for something to do, why not head into Dublin to soak up the atmosphere.

"Your mind will give back to you exactly what you put in it" - James Joyce

To find out what's on, visit https://www.bloomsdayfestival.ie/programme/

10/06/2026

💵 Most pension schemes allow you to take a tax-free lump sum when you retire.

In traditional Defined Benefit Pension schemes, the lump sum can vary from a maximum of 150% of final salary.

In Defined Contribution schemes, it can be 25% of the total fund value.

It's a good idea to talk to your pension advisor to find out what you can access and when.

➡️ When can you access the lump sum?
You can access the lump sum when you retire from the scheme. Normal retirement tends to be between 60 and 65. But some schemes may allow you to retire your benefits from age 50, in certain circumstances.

➡️ Is there a limit on the lump sum?
If you are retiring from a Defined Benefit scheme on your normal retirement age, then you can take a lump sum of up to 150% of final salary, subject to certain conditions. If you retire early, then the lump sum will be reduced somewhat.

➡️ For Defined Contribution schemes, you can generally take 25% of your pension fund as a lump sum from the date you retire. In certain cases, you might opt for the 150% of final salary figure, if this would result in a higher lump sum figure.

➡️ Whatever the lump sum calculation delivers, the first €200,000 of any amount can be taken tax-free. Any amount above €200,000 is taxed at 20% (up to €500,000).

❔Why take a lump sum?

Any lump sum taken up to €200,000 is tax- free, whereas any residual pension income is potentially taxable, depending on your marginal rate of tax. Virtually everyone seeks to maximise the tax-free lump sum, because it’s TAX FREE. It is up to you if you want to take a lump sum at retirement and how you want to use it.

❕If you need more specific information you should contact your HR department or the pensions consultancy firm managing your employer’s pension scheme.

08/06/2026

Planning to retire?

Check out all you need to know to plan a balanced, healthy, financially secure, and happy retirement at one of our pre-retirement courses.

We have open courses in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny and Waterford. We can also run an in-house course at your workplace.

Book now at www.rpc.ie.

05/06/2026

What’s on Your Payslip — and What to Look Out For 👀

➡️ Your personal details:
Your full name, PPS number, your employer's name and registration number will appear on your payslip. It’s important to ensure everything is correct. Payslips can also be useful as supporting proof of employment, income, and tax paid.
⠀
➡️ Your PRSI details:
Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) is money paid into the Social Insurance Fund. On your payslip, you may see your PRSI class and contributions to date.
Your PRSI Class is important, as different classes determine your eligibility for certain benefits. Knowing your class can help you understand what supports you may be entitled to.
You may also see your insurable weeks, though these can also be checked through your PRSI record online. These are important for eligibility for benefits such as Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit, Parental Benefit and the State Pension.
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➡️ Pension contributions: EE vs ER
EE = Employee contributions (what you pay)
ER = Employer contributions (what your employer pays on your behalf)
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➡️ Tax Credits:
These reduce the amount of tax you pay. Some are applied automatically, while others need to be claimed.
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➡️ Gross vs Net Pay:
Gross pay = total earnings before deductions
Net pay = your take-home pay after deductions (tax, PRSI, USC, pension etc.)
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➡️ Standard rate cut-off point:
This is the portion of your income taxed at 20%, with any income above this taxed at 40%. The exact threshold depends on your personal circumstances.

This is general information - always check Revenue or speak to a financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

www.rpc.ie

03/06/2026

Did you know the poor nutrition can affect your mood?

Although lots of things can affect how you feel, looking at what you eat can be an important place to start.

🤔So what are the key nutrients for mental health?

🐟One of the most important is fish.
Fish is rich in the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA. These important omega-3 fats support mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

➡️ If you never eat fish, a good fish oil can help. Just check the labels and make sure it has EPA and DHA as some omega-3 supplements only have ALA, which is a different omega-3.

➡️ Vitamin B12 is essential for good brain function. Low levels of B12 make you feel tired, give you brain fog and can look like dementia, especially in older people. Ask your GP to check your B12 levels if you are unsure.

➡️ Iron – low iron will definitely make you feel tired, but it can drop your mood as well. It’s always worth checking your iron levels if you are feeling low. Remember to check your iron stores as well as your blood iron (haemoglobin). It’s also a good idea to get your iron checked before taking supplements as lots of people have an iron-storage disease called haemochromatosis.

➡️ Vitamin C supports brain health so do make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables everyday. This helps you towards your last brain-friendly nutrient which is fibre.

➡️ Fibre is important for a healthy gut as it feeds your gut bacteria (microbiome). These gut bacteria then make compounds that can help to regulate your mental health.

👩‍⚕️The above is general information, always check with your doctor for specific advice related to your own needs.

02/06/2026

“Want to retire early? Here’s how to prepare and find purpose in your retirement”

📰 This recent article from the Irish Examiner talks about how retirement doesn’t always feel like the finish line many expect.

It shares the story of Statia O’Carroll, who planned to retire at 60 but instead found a renewed sense of purpose by starting something new.

Alongside her experience, Laura Farrell, CEO of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland, highlights how work often provides more than income, offering structure, identity, routine, and social connection - all of which can be difficult to replace.

As the article explores, retirement can be one of life’s biggest transitions, prompting the question: “Who am I now?”

A timely perspective that retirement isn’t just a financial milestone, but a personal and psychological shift too.

Read the full article here:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/healthandwellbeing/arid-41853114.html

Jobs provide structure, purpose, and meaning, and those losses can be harder than the loss of income. But plan ahead, and your life can still be rewarding

30/05/2026

Retirement today looks very different from even just a generation ago. In a world where careers can stretch across multiple stages, “retirement” doesn’t have to mean a full stop. It can mean a shift in pace, purpose, or passion.

🤔 So, how do you know you’re ready?

✅ Perhaps you feel ready to move on, not just away from the 9–5, the pressure, the routine. Something is calling you forward: time with family, travel, community projects, creative pursuits, or a new kind of work.

✅ You’ve done the emotional and financial preparation. You’ve done the sums and they add up. Retirement isn’t just a spreadsheet; it’s an identity shift. Have you thought about who you'll be, not just what you'll do?

✅You’re bored, and there’s little or nothing you want to achieve in your current job. Retiring can create a new sense of life purpose.

✅ You see retirement not as the end of work, but as a chance to redesign it. Advisory roles, part-time consulting, mentoring, and volunteering. These can all be part of the next stage.

Retirement readiness doesn’t have to be about leaving something behind; it can be starting something meaningful.

www.rpc.ie

27/05/2026

Financial Abuse is when someone takes control of another person’s money or finances without their knowledge or consent.

Safeguarding Ireland are leading an initiative to highlight how people can ‘stay in control’ of their finances and have produced a new guide on keeping your money safe and preventing risk of financial abuse.

➡️ Examples of financial abuse can be when someone:

• Spends a person’s money without permission
• Uses a bank card or online banking without permission
• Collects and keeps a person’s pension/benefit
• Forces a person to sign financial documents or loan guarantees
• Puts pressure change ownership of a property, or a Will.

➡️ Ten tips on how to stay in control of your money:

1. Your money should only be used for your needs
2. Organise your financial information
3. Get advice from your financial provider
4. Explore online banking
5. Adapt as your needs change
6. Plan ahead: Make an Enduring Power of Attorney
7. Plan ahead: Find out about decision support arrangements
8. Plan ahead: Consider your future care
9. Use a JAM card
10. Get independent advice if you need it, such as an Advocate.

⬇️ Safeguarding Ireland have produced comprehensive information resources on how you can 'stay in control' of your finances. These can be found here:

Safeguarding Ireland promotes safeguarding of adults to protect them from all forms of abuse by persons, organisations and institutions and to deliver a national plan for promoting their welfare.