Retirement Planning Council

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.
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➡️ 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.

25/05/2026

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and with the beautiful sunshine out there today, it's a timely reminder to look after your skin.

☀️ As we get older, our skin becomes more vulnerable to sun damage. Even in Ireland’s mild climate, UV rays can cause harm.

Simple steps can make a big difference:

🧴 Wear SPF 30+ sunscreen daily
👒 Cover up with hats and long sleeves
🌳 Find shade during peak hours (11am–3pm)
🔍 Check your skin regularly for any changes
❗ If you notice anything new or unusual, speak to your GP — early detection saves lives.

The Irish Cancer Society has lots of information on how you can protect your skin and the various signs to be on the lookout for. Check out https://www.cancer.ie/node/7033

22/05/2026

There is no such thing as “slightly high” cholesterol – you either have a healthy cholesterol level or you don’t.

High cholesterol increases your chances of getting problems like heart disease, dementia and stroke when you get older. Taking time to manage your cholesterol is an important step in staying as healthy as you can for as long as you can.

Tips for lowering cholesterol:

❌Limit or even cut out butter and cream. These are very high in saturated fat, the type that does increases cholesterol.
❌ Limit biscuits, cakes, pastries and desserts. You don’t need to cut them out altogether. But if you are having these foods 3 times a day, maybe try cutting back to once a day or even once every 2 days.
❌Fatty meats: sausages, black and white pudding, the visible fat on meat, pâté, meat pies should all be limited.

Some foods can help to lower cholesterol:

✅Oats are great for lowering cholesterol – eat them as porridge or granola or use them to make bread or pancakes.
✅Barley also helps to lower cholesterol. Add it to soups, stews and casseroles.
✅Flaxseeds, linseed and chia seeds all help to lower cholesterol.
✅Beans and lentils are great as well as the fibre helps to keep cholesterol levels healthy – look at bean salads, lentils soups and add chickpeas and beans to stews and curries.
✅Foods with added plant stanols and plant sterols can help to lower cholesterol. You will often see these as yoghurt drinks that you can take with your breakfast.

If you are struggling to lower your cholesterol, you could think about booking a session with a CORU-registered dietitian.

The content of this post is intended for general information purposes only. For specific queries, we recommend seeking professional advice.

20/05/2026

🤔 Not sure if a retirement planning course is right for you? Take a look at some feedback from our recent courses.

🗣️'I was in two minds about attending this course. Assumed I had a good understanding of the pension subject of my circumstances. Where I thought I had a grasp of the pension subject, what I had was a modicum of information. This course not only cemented my required understanding of the subject but also instructed me with the mindset encompassing my retirement. Speakers were insightful, proficient and illuminating'.

🗣️'I picked up a good many pointers as to what to expect and my entitlements.'

🗣️'Definitely a benefit for anyone retiring (or indeed retired).

For more information or to book a course, visit www.rpc.ie

17/05/2026

🤔 What is an AVC?

➡️ AVCs are Additional Voluntary Contributions that can be made in addition to your normal pension contributions.

➡️ AVCs are usually for occupational pension schemes. They can be beneficial for increasing your retirement lump sum and accessing other benefits. They can be a tax-effective way of saving for retirement, bridge gaps if your wages are reduced, and they can provide peace of mind when planning for your future retirement.

❗However, it’s important to fully understand if AVCs are right for you and your own personal
circumstances. They don’t suit everyone in every situation and so we would recommend doing your research and seeking professional advice before making any decisions. There can also be tax implications depending on age, personal circumstances and terms of the occupational pension scheme.

🔍 Finding out the details of your occupational pension is the best way to learn what AVCs to
make, and if they’re right for you.

15/05/2026

Cavan Age Friendly in association with the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland have organised a Pre-Retirement Seminar which will take place on Thursday 21st May 2026 in the Hotel Kilmore Dublin Road, Cavan commencing at 9.30am finishing with a light lunch at 1pm.

Participants will be given the opportunity to explore if they are ready for retirement and how to plan for this very important time in their lives - topics will include:

• How to create a happy and meaningful retirement life.
• The 8 keys to a fulfilled retirement.
• Looking to the future in a positive and optimistic way.
• Exploring the changes that retirement brings in the areas of finance, time & routine.
• Managing relationships and maintaining good health.
• Legal matters such as wills and enduring power of attorney and social welfare benefits will also be discussed.

This seminar is open to everybody of any age so please share this post with your friends. It is free to attend but registration is essential.

There are a limited number of spaces available so early registration is advised.