Designed for Business Owners and Company Directors
Specialists in Executive Retirement Planning with decades of experience helping Company Directors and Professionals build high-value, tax-efficient pension strategies.
Tailored Strategies for Business Owners. We implement and advise on pension solutions that align with your business structure, income sources, and long-term exit plans.
Maximise your pension outcomes. We help you make the most of allowable contributions, tax reliefs, and investment growth to deliver a stronger retirement plan for you.
Work directly with a senior advisor who understands the complexities of pensions, tax, and wealth extraction.
We’re not tied to any one insurance company. We select the best pension structures and investment funds for your needs.
No jargon, just straightforward advice, clear projections, and a step-by-step path to retirement security.
We provide ongoing support & monitoring of your financial situation. We review your pension(s) and tax strategy regularly, with updates and recommendations to keep you on track.
Trusted by hundreds of professionals and business owners across Ireland.
Jim Doyle brings over 30 years of experience in financial and client advisory services. A qualified Accountant and Financial & Investment Advisor, Jim has built a career grounded in trust, expertise, and a deep commitment to client success.
Before founding his own accountancy practice in 2002, Jim held key accounting roles in multinational companies including Kerry Group and GlaxoSmithKline, both in Ireland and the UK. This diverse background has equipped him with a broad perspective and a practical understanding of both corporate and personal finance.
Jim specialises in tax and pension planning, using his extensive knowledge to deliver tailored, high-quality financial solutions. His approach is client-focused, ensuring that each individual or business receives advice that is both strategic and personal.
A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, Jim is dedicated to staying at the forefront of the financial industry and sharing that knowledge with clients and peers alike.
Outside of work, Jim keeps active playing tennis and proudly supports his three sons in their hurling and Gaelic football championships—interests that reflect his strong connection to community and family.
Qualifications:
Joanne has been with us since 2010. She has over 25 years experience in Customer Relations, Sales and Marketing in the business to business sector. Joanne, having being self employed understands the everyday challenges that business owners face and enjoys talking to several business owners every week to see if we can support them and make their financial situation better.
If you are contacting Guardian Wealth for the first time, chances are Joanne will be the first voice you hear. Joanne is responsible for all of our Marketing activity and also acts as a point of contact for our clients.
Outside of work Joanne enjoys swimming and walking her doggie “Jupi” singing in a community choir and supporting her local hurling team and Wexford Senior Teams. Joanne is passionate about her community and works with Wexford County Council to get funding for projects that benefit the community.
Qualifications:
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.
Executive pensions are company-funded plans designed to benefit senior executives and business owners.
They offer a highly tax-efficient way for companies to save for an executive’s retirement. Contributions can be made in various ways, providing flexibility for the business. They can be set up as regular monthly direct debits, or as a single lump-sum payment near the end of the year when the directors know what profits are being made.
The maximum contribution to an Executive Pension Plan in Ireland is determined by multiple factors, including age, salary, scheme rules, and employer input.
Contribution limits increase with age, allowing older employees to contribute more.
Based on earnings, length of service, and previous employment benefits.
Employers often make large contributions, boosting the total pension fund.
Tax relief is one of the most powerful benefits of executive pensions.
Personal contributions to an executive pension are allowable for income tax relief.
Company contributions to an executive pension are allowable for corporation tax relief.
It is very important to contact a pension broker for the support, guidance, and tax advice you will need for your executive pension scheme.
Ensure that the individual to be covered by the pension is a company director, senior executive, or key employee with a formal employment contract.
The contribution you make to an executive pension in Ireland is based on your age, income, and maximum limits set by the Revenue Commissioners to qualify for tax relief. This is something we calculate for all our clients.
It is very important to have a financial advisor who is not tied to any one insurance company. As a Broker, Guardian Wealth has a number of agencies with many insurance companies including; Irish Life, Aviva, Zurich, New Ireland, and many more. This allows us to have a greater selection of investment options to suit everyone and their risk tolerance. Some business owners are cautious, and others like a higher risk portfolio.
It is very important that at least once a year you review the performance, charges and fees of your pensions. Global situations and markets change constantly. If you have a pension advisor in place, then reviews, tax advice, and ongoing monitoring of your pension performance and structure should be part of their service.
Ensure that the individual to be covered by the pension is a company director, senior executive, or key employee with a formal employment contract.
It is very important to seek to contact a pension provider for the support, guidance and tax advice you will need for your executive pension scheme.
The contribution you make to an executive pension in Ireland is based on your age, income and maximum limits set by the Revenue Commissioners to qualify for tax relief. This is something we work out for all our clients.
This is where the importance of having a pension provider that is not tied to one agency is very important. As a broker, Guardian Wealth has a number of agencies with many providers including, Irish Life, Aviva, Zurich, New Ireland and many more. This allows us to have a great selection of investment options to suit all risk profiles. Some business owners are cautious and others like a higher risk portfolio.
It is very important that at least once a year you are reviewing the performance, charges, fees of your pensions for each director. Global situations and markets change alot. If you have appointed a pension provider, reviews, tax advice, and ongoing monitoring of your pension performance and structure should be part of their service.
You have spent many years building up a pension pot and understanding your options to access your pension fund will be very important. You need to give this careful consideration on how to maximise your Tax Free Lump Sum entitlement and then make a decision on putting your funds into an Approved Retirement Fund or taking out an Annuity. For full information on pension access have a look at this page.
The maximum contribution to an Executive Pension Plan is flexible, age and salary-dependent, and subject to revenue scheme rules. The contributions are eligible for tax relief, and the pension fund is protected from company creditors. These are great benefits to consider.
However, there are also other options, such as a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) that can also be used by a Company Director. For more information on that, take a quick look at our PRSA page
Usually, your first contact with us will be a short telephone call or an email with Joanne in client services. This allows us to understand your situation and let you know how we can help you. A quick phone call or email can often be the easiest way to take the stress out of these decisions.
For most of our clients that initial phone call or email is where they start to get clarity on the right steps to get the most from their Pension.
Once you are happy we can help you, Joanne will set up a phone call or video teams call with Jim or Michael to explore your situation in a little more detail. Michael or Jim will give you some tax and pension advice and solutions during the call for your specific needs. You can decide together what the next step will be. For example, it may be a face-to-face meeting.
