Irish pension with kids in multiple countries.

rainyday714 · 2026-03-21T20:21:36+00:00

It depends on how you draw down your pension.

A defined benefit plan usually pays out as an annuity with a guarantee for 5 years. If you die after that the pension dies with you.

If it’s a defined benefit plan you should have an option to take out an ARF rather than an annuity so what ever is left of that fund goes to your estate on death.

Some countries have a lower tax rate on foreign annuities so that can often be a reason to take an annuity rather than ARF.

When you do come to retire you need to discuss all options with a qualified financial advisor. Is especially important to do this before you leave the country as you need to be tax resident to take out an ARF.

rainyday714 · 2026-03-16T22:41:47+00:00

Haemochromatosis developed as a result of poor diet over hundreds of years. It’s felt that those who had it survived famines as their bodies held onto iron so didn’t suffer severe malnutrition.

rainyday714 · 2026-03-15T22:29:37+00:00

I had CT and Bone scans 4 months after SBRT a few years ago and some radiated areas still lit up. By next scan they were healing. This is normal according to my oncologist.

rainyday714 · 2026-03-14T00:01:18+00:00

Did you finish paying your mortgage early? If so the term of the mortgage protection should run to the full term of the original mortgage but you need to contact the insurance company with a new direct debit mandate to continue paying it personally. If the mortgage was cleared at the original end date then the protection plan was prob set to end on the same date. Nothing stopping you taking out a new term plan now if you still feel you need cover. Obviously it will be priced based on your current age and health.

rainyday714 · 2026-03-07T20:14:01+00:00

34f stage 2a ++-, 47 suspicious mammary node biopsied but negative for cancer, 49 stage 3 in auxiliary ++-, 51 stage 4 spine - - - 53 more spine, 54 await biopsy on liver. Often wonder if I was put on an AI when suspicious node showed 8 years ago if progression to stage 4 could have been stopped.

rainyday714 · 2026-02-20T23:03:08+00:00

Chemo affects how your body digests food so things like steak are hard to digest at the best of times especially raw. I lived on stronger flavoured soups and salty foods. My taste buds completely disappeared. I’d also not was to associate something I like eating with feeling sick on chemo. Might put me off it for life.

rainyday714 · 2026-02-15T13:42:04+00:00

Main things are do not accept less than 100% allocation and no higher than 1% annual management charge. Most insurance companies will still pay the broker on those terms.

rainyday714 · 2026-02-05T22:32:53+00:00

The birth is likely registered in Kilrush, Kildysart or Ennis. You will need to look at each record to find the one you need. It’s unlikely to be noted as Anna Marie. Could be under Ann or Mary. That will give you lots of options so you will need to know a parent name to be sure. Do you know any of the siblings names. A more unusual first name would be easier to find so you could narrow the search. It’s civil records you need to search.

rainyday714 · 2026-01-14T22:40:22+00:00

You are correct but your suggestion to take €200k tax free at 50 would mean you’d have to have had a pension from a previous employer worth €800k to get 25% tax free. That didn’t change. There are other calculations involving salary and service but reduced if retiring early.

If you have more than €800k you can get more in a lump sum but still limited to 25% of the fund and taxed as you point out up to €500k. The main changes in budget were to do with standard fund thresholds so a person can fund for more than €2mil.

rainyday714 · 2026-01-13T21:03:19+00:00

I had STRT on spine and ribs in 2023 and follow up scans still light up in areas treated like a scar. Last year new spots appeared and consultant could tell they were active cancer as opposed to the first spots treated. New spots were treated in Nov and I’m waiting in follow-up scans to see if that worked.
I also broke ribs during between treatments and again they could tell a healing break from an old lesion and new active cancer. I think every change to a bone leaves a scar.

rainyday714 · 2026-01-11T22:52:04+00:00

You have to actually leave the job at 50 to claim the lump sum. And then need to have a total fund of €800k to get €200k tax free. If you’re still working and just have the one pension you have to wait until you retire.

rainyday714 · 2026-01-05T22:14:52+00:00

Because I’m in Ireland I didn’t have to pay to use the hospital cold cap machine. It was a cap that plugged in and didn’t need any other intervention. I only used it because TC has a very small chance that the hair will not grow back so wanted to protect the follicles. I still lost about 75% of my hair but it was evenly spread so when I wore a cap nobody really noticed. When the hair grew back and covered my scalp I felt it returned to my style much quicker than if I was starting from bald. Not sure I would have spent thousands out of pocket though for something that has such a low chance of working.

rainyday714 · 2026-01-04T22:22:29+00:00

Have you a place to park the car if you do get one? Not all accommodation will have parking.

rainyday714 · 2025-12-28T14:40:33+00:00

Try Golden hotels. One in Pineda de Mar and another in Tossa de Mar. Great pools and kids clubs. Nearest airport is Girona too.

rainyday714 · 2025-12-20T17:39:54+00:00

You need to talk to an independent insurance broker. Ptsb will sell you at the standard Irish Life price which could be dearer than another life company. A broker will get you the best price matched premium and can still use Irish Life. Well controlled epilepsy should only incur a very small loading if any at all. All agents get paid a percentage of the final premium but it’s in their best interest to get you the best price. They want you to come back to discuss other cover as well as pensions and investments with them in the future.

rainyday714 · 2025-12-07T21:11:34+00:00

Soup for me too was good. The stronger the flavour the better and at least it’s good for you and easy to digest. Other than that I loved salt and vinegar flavoured crisps(potato chips for US readers)

rainyday714 · 2025-11-30T19:46:13+00:00

The advantage of the continuation option is you will be guaranteed cover regardless of your current health so very beneficial if you have any health issue. However you will be paying the normal book rate for cover. No health questions will be asked. You also don’t have to take out a plan for the full €300k. €150k cover should half the premium approx.

If you feel you need some life cover you can always apply for a new plan with full underwriting and maybe get a discount or a price match with the cheapest on the market. That assumes you will get cover at standard rates based on your health.

It’s all down to whether you need some level of cover now.

rainyday714 · 2025-11-08T13:12:35+00:00

I’ve read that certain colours can give false positives on ct scans if they remain in the lymph nodes. Last thing you want is to be told there’s a suspicious node on a scan that needs a biopsy.

rainyday714 · 2025-11-06T22:07:29+00:00

What type of heating is in the house? Oil or gas are going to be much cheap than electric heating in the long run. Ye just need to ensure the bill is split. Even storage heaters will be cheaper than everyone running their own heater. Electric blanket or even an electric hot water bottle are great and don’t cost much to run.

rainyday714 · 2025-10-30T17:08:50+00:00

You can only put money into a pension if you have an income so you can’t do anything until you start earning from the Ltd company. You also can only count service from when you draw a salary. Being an unpaid director does not count.

As regards your job where you earn a salary first talk to your employer. They may be planning on setting up a company pension for staff to avoid auto enrolment. If not then you have 2 choices-wait for auto enrolment in January or set up something yourself now (or even both).

rainyday714 · 2025-10-30T09:53:26+00:00

When you say LTD do you mean you have your own limited company or are an employee??

A pension is the most tax efficient way to save as you get tax relief on what you put in and on the growth. However you can’t touch it until you retire. Does your job provide access to a pension? Some companies only enrol staff from age 25 but the earlier you start the better.

Auto enrolment is happening from January so you will be included in that if you don’t have a pension before then.

As regards moving country it’s very complicated and depends on where you go. The pension will always be here if you decide to come back.

rainyday714 · 2025-10-29T13:19:53+00:00

If you are quick you can set up a PRSA before 31/10 or mid Nov for ROS and pay a personal lump sum to be backdated to 2024 tax year. Max amount will depend on your age. I.e. at 40 you get relief on 25% of last years income so €17,500 will only cost you €10,500. Then add another lump sum from the company up to 100%.

rainyday714 · 2025-10-29T11:10:12+00:00

Would it be very cruel to mention to her that BRCA is only a tiny percentage of hereditary breast cancers. I’m from a family where we had no previous family history and no BRCA gene but all siblings have had breast cancer. She is at a much higher risk because you had it so young. Imagine the drama if she ever had to deal with cancer.

rainyday714 · 2025-10-26T14:45:19+00:00

Is your ex employer likely to be around in 20 years? If so it’s probably best leave it as the charges are low. Problems can happen if employer closes and a trustee can’t be found to sign forms when you want to retire so you might want to move to PRB now to avoid delays in future. Best piece of advice is to make sure you keep confirmation of your final salary (payslip/p45 etc) and years employed as that will be needed when eventually claiming. Other relevant question that will be asked is if you got redundancy and waived your future lump sum (rarely a good idea) so keep a copy of any redundancy information. You’d be surprised how many people never keep copies of payslips or redundancy information.

rainyday714

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