Investing in Ireland has always been tricky, particularly for anyone who recently relocated here, and with so many options out there it's hard to realise the benefits of your savings beyond your pension without sound advice.

In this episode of Taxbytes for Expats, I’m joined by Paddy Delaney, founder of Informed Decisions, for the first part of a really practical conversation about financial advice in Ireland. Paddy has spent over 20 years in the financial services world, and he brings a refreshingly honest perspective on how advice is given, where incentives can sit, and why it’s so important to understand who you’re dealing with before you take any financial recommendations on board.

We step through the often-confusing differences between financial advisors, brokers, and financial planners, including how banks fit into the picture and what “independent” advice actually means in practice. This is one of those areas where people assume all advice is the same — and it really isn’t.

Paddy shares real-world examples of why intent, structure, and remuneration matter, and how those factors can directly impact your long-term financial outcomes. We also talk about when you do need financial advice, and when you really don’t. Paddy is an expert on helping you make transparent and informed financial decisions.

Main Topics Discussed in this Episode:

Understanding the Different Types of Financial Advice: We break down the often-confusing distinctions between financial advisors, brokers, planners, and independent firms, and why knowing the difference really matters before taking advice.
How Incentives and Commissions Can Shape Advice: Paddy shares real-world insight into how remuneration structures can influence recommendations, highlighting why transparency and client-first intent are so important.
Banks as a Source of Financial Advice: We discuss why banks are still a common and accessible starting point for advice in Ireland, along with the limitations that come from being tied to a single provider.
When You Actually Need a Financial Planner: This is one of those areas where assumptions creep in, so we talk honestly about who benefits most from paid financial planning and when simple saving habits may be enough.
Why Pensions Are the Obvious Starting Point in Ireland: We explore pensions as a tax-efficient investment tool, common issues with underperformance, and why understanding what your pension is doing over the long term is just as important as contributing to it.

Get in touch with Paddy Delaney

Website: InformedDecisions.ie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddy-delaney-qfa-rpa-apa-73778969/
Podcast: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/podcasts

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If you loved this episode or have a similar story, we'd love to hear from you! You can get in touch with us directly at info@expattaxes.ie or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Taxbytes for Expats is brought to you by ExpatTaxes.ie. If you're considering moving to or from Ireland and would like support with your taxes, book a consultation today: https://expattaxes.ie/book-a-consult/.

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Chapters:

(00:00) Welcome to Taxbytes for Expats
(00:49) Introducing Paddy Delaney and Informed Decisions
(02:35) Why Financial Planning Is Always Forward-Looking
(02:48) Financial Planner vs Advisor vs Broker — What’s the Difference?
(04:18) When Advice Is Driven by Commission, Not the Client
(06:16) Banks as a Starting Point for Financial Advice in Ireland
(07:27) Brokers, Product Choice and Tied Providers
(08:29) What “Independent” Financial Advice Really Means
(10:35) Why Titles and Qualifications Can Be Misleading
(13:03) Do You Actually Need Financial Advice?
(15:08) Why Saving and Pensions Matter Most Early On
(18:56) Pension Performance, Underperformance and Long-Term Impact