Pensions Advice Kildare, Ireland
Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and QFA qualified. Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, reference C49856. Member of Brokers Ireland. Advising families and business owners on pensions from Naas, Co Kildare since 2007.
Retirement is inevitable, the money you have to enjoy it is optional.
What is a pension in Ireland?
A pension is a long term savings arrangement that you build up during your working life to provide an income after you stop working. Contributions attract income tax relief at your marginal rate of tax, the fund grows free of Irish income tax, capital gains tax CGT and DIRT while it is invested, and part of the fund can normally be taken as a tax free lump sum when you retire. Irish pensions include occupational schemes run through an employer, Personal Retirement Savings Accounts, personal pensions and the auto enrolment scheme MyFutureFund. At Gwen Clarke Financial Services we advise on all of these from our office in Naas, Co Kildare.
The difference between having a pension and not can be the defining factor in how you live your life after you retire. Your pension takes the fear out of your Retirement and gives you more freedom and options. Will you have money to enjoy your life after you retire? If this is something you are worried about then contact Gwen.
Benefits of a Pension in Kildare, Ireland
- Pay less tax
- Tax free growth on the money you have
- Money working for you - money that makes you money
- Tax free lump sum when you retire
Not sure where to start? Contact Gwen now
Pension tax relief limits in Ireland for 2026
You can claim income tax relief on pension contributions up to a percentage of your earnings that rises with your age, starting at 15% under age 30 and reaching 40% from age 60. Earnings above €115,000 are not counted when that percentage is worked out.
| Your age | Percentage of earnings that qualifies for relief |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | 15% |
| 30 to 39 | 20% |
| 40 to 49 | 25% |
| 50 to 54 | 30% |
| 55 to 59 | 35% |
| 60 or over | 40% |
The earnings cap. €115,000 is the maximum income used to calculate that percentage. A 45 year old earning €150,000 can claim relief on 25% of €115,000, which is €28,750, not 25% of the full salary. For employees, income means gross pay. For self employed people it means net relevant earnings.
What the relief is worth. Relief is given at your highest rate of income tax. At the 40% rate, €100 into your pension costs you €60. At the 20% rate it costs €80. There is no relief on USC or PRSI, so the saving is smaller than the headline rate suggests.
The lifetime limit. The Standard Fund Threshold is €2.2 million in 2026, up from €2 million in 2025, and it is due to rise in stages to €2.8 million by 2029. Anything above the threshold is charged at 40% when you become entitled to draw it.
The lump sum limit. There is a €200,000 limit on the total tax free retirement lump sums you can take across all your pensions. Amounts from €200,000 to €500,000 are taxed at 20%. Anything above €500,000 is taxed at your marginal rate.
These limits are set by Revenue and change with each Budget. Current rates are published on the Citizens Information page for tax relief on pensions. If you are not sure which band you fall into or how much room you have left this year, that is a five minute conversation.
What the State Pension pays in 2026
The maximum State Pension in Ireland (Contributory) is €299.30 a week in 2026, which works out at roughly €15,564 a year. It is payable from age 66 and it is not means tested, so other income does not reduce it.
The qualifying age. State Pension age is 66. If you were born on or after 1 January 1958 you can choose to start it at any point between 66 and 70 and taking it later increases the weekly rate.
What you need on your record. The rate you receive depends on your PRSI record. Full rate contributions are what count, and gaps, years spent abroad or a late start can all reduce the figure. You can request a statement of your contributions from the Department of Social Protection through MyWelfare and it is worth doing that in your forties or fifties while there is still time to act on what it shows.
The gap that matters. Very few people want to live on €15,564 a year. The State Pension is a floor, not a plan. The distance between that figure and the income you actually want is the number your private pension has to cover, and working out that distance is the starting point for most of the conversations we have in Naas.
Rates and qualifying conditions are published by the Department of Social Protection on the State Pension (Contributory) page on gov.ie. If you would like to see where your own fund leaves you against that figure, start with a pension review.
Pension Services, Kildare, Ireland
Reviewing your Pension
Lost Pension
Personal Pension
Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA)
Annuities
Approved Retirement Fund (ARF)
Personal Retirement Bond (PRB)
Executive Pension / Master Trust
Auto Enrolment
Auto enrolment and MyFutureFund for employees in Naas and Kildare
MyFutureFund, the Irish auto enrolment pension scheme, started on 1 January 2026. If you are an employee aged between 23 and 60, you earn €20,000 or more a year across all your jobs and you do not pay into a pension through payroll, you have been enrolled automatically. You did not need to do anything and neither did your employer.
| Scheme year | You pay | Your employer pays | The Government pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| 4 to 6 | 3% | 3% | 1% |
| 7 to 9 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1.5% |
| 10 and after | 6% | 6% | 2% |
For every €3 you put in, €7 lands in your fund. Your employer adds €3 and the Government adds €1. That is the whole argument for staying in and it is why opting out is rarely a decision to make quickly.
The salary cap. Employer and Government contributions stop once your salary reaches €80,000 in a year.
Opting out. You have to stay in for at least six months. After that you have a two month window to leave and get your own contributions refunded. The employer and Government money stays in the fund. If you leave or pause, you are re enrolled after two years while you remain eligible.
How it compares with a PRSA. This is the part most people get wrong. MyFutureFund does not give income tax relief. Instead the Government adds €1 for every €3 you contribute, which is 25% of the total going in. A PRSA or personal pension gives relief at your marginal rate, so a higher rate taxpayer paying the same amount into a PRSA may end up further ahead. For a standard rate taxpayer the two are often close. Which one suits you depends on your rate of tax, your employer, what you already have and how long you have left. It is not a question with one right answer, which is exactly why it is worth ten minutes of someone else's time.
The scheme rules are set out on the Citizens Information page for auto enrolment and MyFutureFund, and NAERSA runs the scheme at myfuturefund.ie. For how it applies to you, see our page on auto enrolment or compare it against a Personal Retirement Savings Account.
Need Pensions Kildare, Ireland?
Pensions Kildare are an important aspect of financial planning, particularly in Kildare, Ireland where the aging population continues to grow. With a range of pension options available, including private and state pensions, it can be difficult to navigate the complex system and make informed decisions. In this context, understanding the nuances of pension schemes and planning for retirement is crucial for individuals and families in Kildare. Pension Advisors & Experts at Gwen Clarke Financial Services are here to help!
Gwen Clarke Financial Services Ltd's team of experts offers a wide range of services, including investments, pensions, corporate pensions, mortgages, and life protection. We understand that each of our clients has unique financial needs, which is why we tailor our services to meet your specific requirements. Our goal is to help you achieve your financial goals by providing you with personalised advice and guidance every step of the way. Whether you're looking to invest for the future, secure a mortgage, or protect your loved ones, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about GCFS.IE services and how we can assist you in your Pension and in securing your financial future!
How a pension review with Gwen Clarke in Naas works
There is no charge for the first conversation and no obligation at the end of it.
Step 1. Introductory call. You tell us what you have, what you are worried about and what you want retirement to look like. Fifteen minutes on the phone or in the office here in Naas Co Kildare.
Step 2. Fact find. We gather the detail. Current fund values, employer contributions, PRSI record, other assets, tax position and target retirement date.
Step 3. Tracing and review. If there are old pensions from previous employers, we track them down. We then review what each fund is invested in, what it is costing you and whether it is on course.
Step 4. Written recommendation. You get a written report in plain English setting out where you stand, what your options are and what we recommend, with the reasons and the costs stated.
Step 5. Implementation. If you decide to proceed, we handle the paperwork with the providers and confirm when everything is in place.
Step 6. Ongoing review. We come back to it. Circumstances change, tax rules change and funds drift. A pension set up once and never looked at again is the most common problem we see.
If you already have a pension and simply want to know whether it is doing its job, that is a pension review. If you think there is an old fund sitting somewhere from a job you left years ago, start with tracing a lost pension.
How much does pension advice cost in Kildare?
The introductory conversation is free. Beyond that, how we are paid depends on what you need and it is agreed with you in writing before any work starts. We do not quote a single figure on this page because the honest answer depends on the situation in front of us, and a number pulled out of the air helps nobody.
What affects the cost of pension advice
- Whether you need a review of one fund or a full retirement plan
- How many pension pots are involved and whether any need to be traced
- Whether the work is personal, through a company or both
- Whether you are accumulating a fund or drawing an income from it
- Whether ongoing reviews form part of the arrangement
Our full remuneration disclosure is set out on our remuneration page, in line with the Consumer Protection Code. You will know what you are paying and how we are paid before you commit to anything.
Pension advice across Naas, Newbridge, Kilcullen and Kildare town
Here at Gwen Clarke Financial Services is based at 2 Rathasker Square on the Kilcullen Road in Naas, just a few minutes from the town centre, we advise clients across Kildare, including Newbridge, Kilcullen, Kildare town, Sallins, Clane and Johnstown. And we work with clients throughout Ireland who prefer to meet by video call. Being local matters more than it sounds. Pension decisions tend to get made properly when somebody can sit across a table from you.
Gwen Clarke Financial Services Ltd
2 Rathasker Square, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co Kildare, W91 W290
Frequently Asked Questions about Pensions in Kildare
How much pension tax relief can I get in Ireland?
Tax relief on pension contributions in Ireland is linked to your age and your level of earnings. Revenue sets age-related limits that determine what percentage of your net relevant earnings you can contribute and claim relief on in any given tax year. Younger contributors work with a lower percentage, while that allowance rises as you get older, recognising that those who start later need room to build a fund more quickly. A separate earnings cap also applies, which means very high earners cannot claim unlimited relief regardless of what they contribute. The practical result is that understanding both your age band and your earnings level is essential before deciding how much to put in each year. Getting that calculation right, rather than guessing, is one of the most straightforward ways to make a pension work harder for you.
What age can I claim the State Pension in Kildare and Ireland?
The State Pension Contributory is currently payable from age 66 for those who have built up sufficient PRSI contributions over their working life. The number of qualifying contributions required and how they are averaged across your record can affect both your eligibility and the rate you receive, so it is worth checking your PRSI record with the Department of Social Protection before you approach retirement age. Some people choose to defer drawing down the State Pension beyond 66, which can increase the weekly payment they receive. However, deferral is not the right choice for everyone, and it does not remove the need for private pension planning. Even where a State Pension is expected, the gap between that payment and the income most people want in retirement means a personal pension arrangement remains important.
Is a PRSA the same as a workplace pension?
No, they are different arrangements that serve different purposes. A Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) is an individual contract taken out directly between you and an authorised PRSA provider. You own it, you manage the contributions and it stays with you regardless of where you work. A workplace pension, by contrast, is set up through your employer and usually involves contributions from both you and the company. Employer contributions are one of the main advantages of a workplace scheme, and where a scheme offers matching contributions, opting out means leaving part of your overall remuneration unclaimed. A PRSA tends to suit those who are self-employed, between jobs or in employment where no occupational scheme exists. Both structures have a role, and in some situations a person may hold both at the same time.
Do I need a pension review if I already have one?
In most cases, yes. A pension is not a set-and-forget arrangement. The fund you put in place five or ten years ago was built around your circumstances at that time: your income, your tax position, your expected retirement date and your attitude to investment risk. Any of those factors can shift significantly over time. A promotion, a career change, a period of self-employment, a change in family situation or simply the passage of time can all affect whether your current contributions and investment strategy are still on track. A review looks at whether your fund is growing at a rate that supports your retirement goals and whether your contributions are structured as tax-efficiently as they could be. It is also an opportunity to consolidate any pension pots from previous employment that may be sitting with different providers and doing less than they should.
Can I still improve my pension if I started late?
Yes, and it is worth being clear that starting later does not mean starting without options. Those who begin contributing in their 40s or 50s can still access meaningful tax relief, and Revenue's age-related contribution limits are specifically designed to allow higher percentages for older savers. The strategy for a later starter naturally looks different to that of someone who began in their 20s. It tends to focus on contribution levels, making full use of the available tax relief in each year, considering the tax efficiency of how contributions are structured, looking at any other assets that may form part of the retirement picture and thinking carefully about retirement timing. None of those conversations require a large existing fund to be worthwhile. What matters is working with what you have and making informed decisions from this point forward.
These FAQs are for information purposes only and do not constitute personal financial advice. For guidance tailored to your individual circumstances, contact our team.
Reviewed by Gwen Clarke, CFP, QFA
Principal, Gwen Clarke Financial Services Ltd
Gwen is a Certified Financial Planner and a Qualified Financial Adviser and has been advising clients on pensions, retirement planning and protection from Naas, Co Kildare since 2007. Her work focuses on helping people understand what they already have before deciding what to do next. Gwen Clarke Financial Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, reference C49856, and is a member of Brokers Ireland.
Last reviewed 17 July 2026.
Warning. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Suitability depends on your own circumstances. Gwen Clarke Financial Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Always seek independent advice before acting.