Take control of your retirement savings with flexible, tax-smart pension options for sole traders and freelancers.
01 5267770
Self-employment gives you freedom, but it also brings financial responsibility. Without a company pension scheme to rely on, you’re in charge of planning your own retirement.
From navigating income tax, USC, PRSI, and fluctuating income — setting up a pension as a self-employed individual in Ireland takes initiative and the right guidance.
What it is:
A flexible, accessible pension option for anyone regardless of employment type
Key Benefits:
Limitations:
Note:
New SAPs can no longer be issued as of 2024, but they are worth understanding.
Overview:
Strategy:
Convert from sole trader to limited company structure to unlock:
Sole Trader ➝ Limited Company ➝ Employer Contributions ➝ Bigger Pension Fund
Your Age | Max Income % for Pension Tax Relief |
|---|---|
29 or younger | 15% |
30–39 | 20% |
40-49 | 25% |
50-54 | 30% |
50-54 | 35% |
60 or older | 40% |
Example Box:
If you’re 35 and earn €50,000 per year, you could contribute €10,000 to a pension and save up to €4,000 in income tax.
Reminder:
These limits apply to income up to €115,000 per year.
Yes — as long as you make enough Class S PRSI contributions.
These are paid as part of your annual self-assessment.
You may qualify for the state pension at 66, but eligibility depends on:
Decision tree or flowchart:
Pension planning is not one-size-fits-all. We’ll help you structure the best plan for your business and retirement goals
Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns
Investments can go down as well as up
There is no guarantee your pension will reach a specific income level
Peace of Mind for Families Across Ireland
After so many years working and building up my Pension it was quite daunting when the time came to access my Pension. There were lots of different options available to me and I wanted to make sure I was fully informed. Michael in Guardian Wealth helped me to understand the immediate and long-term implication of the options available to me and guided me through the process. I would have no hesitation recommending Guardian Wealth.
Trying to make a decision between keeping my existing Defined Benefit Scheme or taking a transfer value was not a clear decision for me. I needed to take advice from somebody with experience so was very happy when I reached out to Michael in Guardian Wealth. Once we weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of each option it became clear to me what I needed to do. I would recommend Guardian Wealth to anybody trying to make a similar decision.
I have been receiving advice from Jim Doyle in Guardian Wealth for 3 years. I was advised by a friend to use Guardian Wealth and so I contacted them when the time came to access my pension. Jim has been very good to me and has given me great advice over the years. He keeps in touch to give me updates on my pension and he is always available by phone if I have any questions. I am delighted that I am dealing with Guardian Wealth. They are a professional outfit and very straightforward to deal with.
I contacted Guardian Wealth as I was looking to get advice on how best to transfer my UK Pension back to Ireland. I met with Michael a few days later and he explained the process to me, and we got the documentation completed to enact the transfer. I don’t think it was something that I could have completed myself, so I am more than happy to recommend Guardian Wealth to anybody looking to transfer their UK Pension back to Ireland.
Trying to get my UK Pension transferred to Ireland was a confusing process. I was getting different advice and opinions from different sources. Michael reviewed my circumstances and was able to explain exactly what my options were. He also contacted the UK pension provider to make sure the process went smoothly. I would have no hesitation recommending Guardian Wealth.
Many thanks for all your help in making the transfer so seamless. I have to say I thought you did an excellent job and I am lucky to have landed on your website when I first started looking for someone to help me on this.
I had been researching the possibility of transferring my UK Pension back to Ireland for quite some time. However, it wasn’t clear to me what steps I had to take to get it done. Once I contacted Guardian Wealth Jim was able to explain the process to me, organise the paperwork and deal with my UK Pension provider. I am happy to recommend Guardian Wealth to anybody who needs help with their UK Pension transfer.
Drawing down my Pension was a big financial decision and I was very happy I chose Guardian Wealth. Michael clearly explained my options to me and dealt with my insurance company to make sure it went smoothly. I now meet with Michael every year to make sure my retirement plans are on track. I have no hesitation in recommending Guardian Wealth’
I have experienced the ups and downs of Pension funds over many years. As I got closer to retirement, I needed to get advice regarding the risk profile of my pension funds as I didn’t want to see it fall in value at this stage of my life. Michael was able to provide practical steps to make sure this risk was reduced for me and I am happy that I am on the right road. They are always at the end of a phone & very accommodating to meet at short notice to discuss any queries that we may have. I do recommend Guardian Wealth to anybody worried about their pension.
I had my Pension with my Bank but as the fund grew, I was becoming more and more concerned that I was always dealing with somebody different. I wanted to have a direct line to somebody who could advise me and meet with me as my circumstances changed over time. Michael is my Pension Advisor now and is always at the end of the phone whenever I need him. I am happy to recommend Guardian Wealth.
Trying to map out a personal financial plan is not an easy task. As most business owners know we spend so much of our time making sure our business is successful, we don’t always have the time or the ability to understand what our personal finances will look like 20 or 30 years from now. Michael, in Guardian Wealth, was able to show me what I needed to do now to ensure I was going to be financially independent when I am older. We meet every year to review progress and I am more than happy to recommend him and Guardian Wealth.
Like most business owners I put most of my energy into making sure my business is successful. Very often that leaves little time to stop and look at my bigger picture financial position, and plan for the future. I have been working with Michael in Guardian Wealth for a number of years now and it’s great to know that he has a financial plan in place for me, and meets with me regularly to make sure I am on track. I am happy to recommend Guardian Wealth.
My husband and I contacted Guardian Wealth seeking advice and help with our pensions. I am an ex Aer Lingus employee and I found it very difficult dealing with Mercer. We met with Jim Doyle in Guardian Wealth. He gave us straightforward advice and clearly explained the options available and the process to me. Jim and his team were very efficient and easy to deal with. They dealt directly with Mercer on my behalf and got everything sorted for me. I am more than happy to recommend Guardian Wealth if you are looking for pension advice.
I would like to sincerely thank you and the rest of the team at Guardian Wealth for the professionalism and due diligence in facilitating my pension transfer from the U.K. You yourself & Stefan carried out your duties in an exemplary manner, always returning calls and emails (a rare thing unfortunately these days but one to my mind which sets Guardian Wealth and yourself particularly high in customer relations). I would have absolutely no hesitation in using yourselves again or recommending you to others.
