Pat Lardner
CEO, Irish Funds
Building understanding and trust to help Irish households plan for the long term.
Irish households make financial decisions in a changing world.
Planning for the long term
Day-to-day needs come first, but most people are also thinking about how to plan for the future — retirement, supporting a family or maintaining financial security.
Saving plays an essential role, particularly for short-term needs. However, over longer horizons, saving alone is often insufficient to meet future goals, as inflation erodes the real value of money over time.
Why confidence matters
For many people, investing still feels remote. Markets can seem volatile, and it is not clear where to begin. That lack of confidence is a key barrier. Without a solid foundation, people may disengage or leave money in cash, missing chances to build financial security.
Financial literacy is not about turning everyone into an expert. It is about confidence — understanding core ideas such as saving and investing, risk and return, inflation and starting early.
Ireland is a global leader in funds and asset management, yet participation remains relatively low. Research shows uneven confidence, with gaps by age and gender. Younger adults are often less certain in financial decisions, and in some cases, take on higher‑risk investments, while many women report lower confidence despite strong saving habits.
Improving financial literacy must begin early. Clear, accessible information — delivered through trusted programmes in schools, workplaces and public initiatives — can demystify investing. Small steps taken early can make a meaningful difference over time.
Without a solid foundation, people may disengage or leave money in cash, missing chances to build financial security
Making investing simpler
As the Government explores Personal Investment Accounts, international experience shows that approaches work best when they are simple, understandable and trusted. People should be able to see clearly what an investment product does, what it costs and the level of risk. Empowering more people to engage confidently with their finances supports both individual security and broader economic resilience. Aligning Ireland’s global leadership in funds and asset management with a system that works better for Irish households would be a positive step for people and for the wider economy.
