Gerard O’Brien has built a distinctive and invaluable background in law and international financial advisory, allowing him to employ financial strategies and methods that are unique to the financial services industry in Ireland today.
For the past 16 years, he has been guiding clients globally through the various complexities associated with financial planning and wealth management. Gerard has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality advice and excellent results for clients. He was most recently a Senior Advisor at Bank of Ireland Private Banking for 8 years, where he advised clients in all areas of investment management, retirement and succession planning.
Up until 2007, Gerard was a Senior Advisor for 7 years to clients based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, where he advised on investment opportunities, estate succession and tax efficient structures with the leading global advisory firm, HSBC Private Banking. Gerard is qualified to the highest levels in law and finance, both in Ireland and Internationally. He recently obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation, considered to be the world’s most prestigious financial planning qualification. Gerard is a member of the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB Ireland) and The Institute of Banking.
Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney A Power of Attorney is a legal arrangement in Ireland that can be set up by a person (the donor) during his/her life when he/she is in good mental health. It allows another specially appointed person (the attorney) to take actions on the donor's behalf if he/she [...]
What is Responsible Investing? A growing focus for many investors is the area of Responsible Investing and the consideration of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) factors in their investments. Within the investment sector, there is also a clear recognition of the importance of ESG factors in terms of delivering sustainable longer-term returns for investors, particularly [...]
Here are 5 practical strategies to help you to do just that. From Warren Buffet to Howard Marks, the very best minds in the investment world all dispense similar advice during times of market volatility: Don’t sell in panic, hold your nerve and stay focused on the long game. But even the brightest investment minds [...]
If you have invested in a pension and have reached retirement, you may be under the impression that your planning for retirement is now complete. However, the accumulation of your pension fund is just the first stage of the process. You now face critical decisions on how best to avail of your retirement funds and, [...]
In one of his famous fables, Aesop told us of the grasshopper who spent his Summer singing in the long grasses and generally having a wonderful time, whilst his neighbour the Ant spent that same summer industriously storing up food for winter. As with most fables, the end of the tale came with a clear [...]
Can you still reduce your 2018 income tax liability? Yes, it’s that time of the year again. This note details, with some examples, the Revenue rules around backdating relief for pension contributions and how you can reduce your 2018 income tax liability through your return in 2019. Self-Assessment 2019 - Important Dates Individuals who both [...]
Traditional Pensions Schemes v Self-Administered Pension Schemes There are several different pension products available in the Irish market. A lot of people get confused when trying to understand the difference between traditional insured pensions and self-administered pensions. This week I am going to look at the key similarities and differences between the two main types [...]
Can you purchase a property with your pension? With the combination of historically low deposit rates, high taxation along with rising property prices and rents, many investors have considered using a portion of their pension funds to purchase a property. Because of the generous tax exemptions within a pension fund, investors can often get a [...]
Exit Strategies for Business Owners At a certain time in the business cycle and as people approach a certain age, they must begin to plan for their exit from the business. Organising a successful exit from your business is a process, and one that needs to be planned carefully, whether you make your exit through [...]
Retirement & Pension Planning in Ireland Whether you’re saving for retirement, preparing for retirement or living in retirement, a comprehensive financial plan will provide you with peace of mind, clarity and focus. We operate 3 distinct stages to our retirement and financial planning process. Stage 1: Find out what’s important to our clients Firstly, we need [...]