For most Irish workers, the word “pension” still conjures up the familiar structures of occupational schemes or private PRSAs. These remain essential but, with shifting economic conditions and increasing uncertainty about what the future holds, many people are beginning to ask what other avenues might help them secure their retirement.
The answer, increasingly, lies in a blend of alternative savings and investment strategies – each shaped by the current financial climate.
The macro picture is already influencing how people think about retirement planning. The European Central Bank, while resisting pressure to cut too quickly, has kept interest rates on hold at 2.0% this autumn. Inflation is edging back towards target, but uncertainty lingers. Irish banks have also nudged down deposit rates. For savers, this means cash deposits remain safe but hardly lucrative, often struggling to keep pace with inflation.
This backdrop has pushed some to explore the property market, a long-standing favourite among Irish investors. Buy-to-let properties can generate income, and bricks and mortar still hold appeal as a tangible store of wealth. Yet the risks have grown: high entry costs, taxation on rental income and tighter regulation around tenancy all demand careful planning. Property can still be part of a pension strategy but it is no longer the easy win it once seemed.
Elsewhere, attention has turned to global commodities. Copper, in particular, has been hitting headlines. Supply disruptions at one of the world’s largest mines in Indonesia, combined with surging demand from electric vehicles and data centres, have driven prices higher. Analysts now forecast a prolonged global shortage. For Irish savers, this doesn’t mean rushing out to buy copper bars but it does underline how commodities – whether through funds, shares in resource companies or themed ETFs – can provide a hedge against inflation and diversify a retirement portfolio.
Equities also remain an important part of the story. The FTSE 100 posted gains of more than 4% in a single month this summer, buoyed by financials and energy stocks, showing that markets still present opportunities even in a slower-growth environment. Closer to home, Irish-listed companies in renewables and infrastructure offer intriguing, if sometimes volatile, prospects.
Ultimately, alternative pension savings in Ireland are not about abandoning the traditional pension pot but about complementing it. A thoughtful mix of property, equities, commodities and even business ownership can make retirement planning more resilient. In today’s shifting economic landscape, the old mantra holds truer than ever: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Diversifying wisely and keeping an eye on real-world trends can make all the difference to financial security in later life.
