Colm Power Director, Financial Planning
Fergal Roche Financial Planning Manager
06th May, 2025
As Ireland’s pensions landscape evolves, Colm Power & Fergal Roche look at how business owners and senior executives in Ireland can secure their financial security in retirement through our first-of-a-kind, self-directed master trust.
For business owners and high-earning senior executives in Ireland, the journey to retirement is becoming increasingly complex. Recent legislative changes to pensions rules have redefined the retirement landscape. The new measures, aimed at simplifying and modernising Ireland’s pensions system, have also created new challenges. Business owners and executives are now seeking effective ways to efficiently save for retirement given the following key developments to traditional options;
Master trusts have emerged as the key alternative in the Irish pensions market for 2025 and beyond, for individuals transitioning from existing single-member pension schemes and those seeking greater flexibility.
With traditional options either no longer available or less attractive, master trusts present an appealing alternative. These modernised occupational pension arrangements pool resources from multiple employers while maintaining flexibility and tax efficiency. Our master trust offers business owners and executives continuity and provides access to a pension scheme that aligns with their unique requirements.
Our self-directed master trust is the first of its kind in Ireland, and differs from traditional schemes in three important ways:
The Davy self-directed master trust includes access to personalised advice, ensuring that business owners and executives receive guidance on how their pension investments aligns with their broader wealth management plans, considering personalised retirement planning, succession planning, and broader tax efficiencies.
Self-directed master trusts offer access to a wider range of funds than traditional group pension schemes and more tailored investment opportunities, including directly investing in shares, private equity, and other asset classes, aligning pension strategies with overall financial planning objectives.
Master trusts are explicitly designed to meet regulatory requirements, ensuring long-term compliance. They provide scalability and administrative support, making them suitable for the modern pensions landscape.
Ireland’s evolving pensions market presents a new set of opportunities but requires careful navigation. Recent changes to rules have highlighted the importance of choosing the most suitable retirement structure, especially for business owners and executives.
Owners of family businesses and SMEs are grappling with significant restrictions to traditional options such as single member pension schemes or PRSAs. In larger corporates and partnerships, the needs of the senior management or partners in the firm may not be met by a traditional group pension scheme.
Business owners and executives should focus on solutions that offer flexibility around contributions, access to diverse investment opportunities, and integrated financial advice to align their pensions with their broader wealth management goals.
A self-directed master trust may be the solution to these problems.
By taking proactive steps now, business owners and executives can implement a pension structure that meets their specific needs and supports their long-term financial objectives. If you would like to learn more about our self-directed master trust, please contact your adviser. If you are new to Davy, why not book a consultation.
Let us help you plan for your retirement.
Learn more about how our self-directed master trust can offer you an effective way to efficiently save for your retirement.
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Warning: The information in this article is not a recommendation or investment research. It does not purport to be financial advice and does not take into account the investment objectives, knowledge and experience or financial situation of any particular person. There is no guarantee that a financial or investment plan will meet its objectives. You should speak to your advisor, in the context of your own personal circumstances, prior to making any financial or investment decision.
Warning: Tax information discussed in this article is provided for Irish Resident investors only by way of general guidance only and is neither exhaustive nor definitive and is subject to change without notice, including potentially retrospectively. It is based on Davy’s understanding of Irish Tax legislation, provided by Revenue as at january 2025. It is not a substitute for professional tax advice. Please note that Davy does not provide tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisor about the rules that apply in your individual circumstances.
Warning: The value of your investments may go down as well as up.
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6 May, 2025
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