Blueprint Blog
July 1, 2024
Blueprint Financial Planning was founded in 2018 and over the last 6 years has grown significantly both in client numbers and assets under management. The company was founded on the principals of honest, integrity, impartiality with a client centric approach. I have been the sole adviser since inception and have often thought of adding an […]
February 24, 2024
Introduction Serious illness cover, also known as critical illness insurance, provides a lump sum payment to policyholders upon the diagnosis of a specified serious illness. This report examines the claims statistics for serious illness cover in Ireland for the year 2024, drawing on data from leading insurance providers such as Zurich and Aviva. Key Findings […]
December 1, 2023
In the vast landscape of finance and investment, certain figures rise above the rest, not just for their wealth but for their profound influence on the principles that govern success. One such luminary was Charlie Munger, a man whose name became synonymous with wisdom, rationality, and the art of intelligent investing. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, […]
October 10, 2023
Today, Michael McGrath TD (Minister for Finance) and Paschal Donohoe TD (Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform) delivered the Budget for 2024 to the Dáil. So what were the main takeaways? Pension Changes There were no changes in relation to private pensions in Budget 2024, although we expect some small pension […]
September 11, 2023
"The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel is not your typical finance book filled with complex investment strategies or financial jargon. Instead, it delves into the intricate relationship between money and the humanpsyche. Housel skillfully weaves together anecdotes, research findings, and practical wisdom to provide readers with a profound understanding of how our behaviors and […]
February 6, 2023
The wheel of life is oft used in the area of personal development by such luminaries as Jack Black and Tony Robbins. I have subsequently adapted it to a financial wheel of life comprising what I believe to be the 8 core components to a person’s financial life/wheel, namely: Income, Savings, Banking, Tax, Retirement Planning, […]
September 12, 2022
I am partial to a good quote, here I have assembled some of my favourites pertaining to finance: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’’ "If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail" Benjamin Franklin, renowned politician on knowledge and planning “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing’’"The stock market is a device […]
June 22, 2022
We as Financial Advisers often talk to our clients about "Rainy Day" funds, the need to have a sum of money put aside for the "God forbid" or "What if" scenarios that may arise. Whilst I fully endorse the need for these Rainy Day / Emergency funds I recently had a different and somewhat enlightening […]
September 10, 2021
You should never use a short-term savings vehicle for a long-term financial goal, that is why I always recommend parents to invest the children’s allowance in a long-term savings plan with an exposure to equities in order to pay for the expected cost of 2nd and 3rd level education. With deposit rates at an all […]
April 1, 2021
Hopefully we are about to emerge soon from one of the greatest setbacks we have all had to endure. The following are some thoughts on how we might move on from here. Resilience is our ability to recover well from setback and disappointment. Fast recovery is the best measurement of physical fitness so perhaps it […]
January 11, 2021
It’s that time of year again when people start making new years’ resolutions and writing their list of goals, you know the usual · Lose weight · Run a marathon · Increase your savings · Buy a house etc etc Research has shown that about half of all adults make New Year’s resolutions. However, fewer […]
November 10, 2020
You often hear the term Blueprint bandied about in popular culture, it can be used to describe a successful sports team i.e. “Dublin have found the blueprint for winning the All Ireland” or musicians have found the blueprint for a successful album , even politicians have claimed to have found the blueprint for extra jobs […]
April 2, 2020
Any financial adviser worth their salt will build a robust plan for their clients ensuring sufficient savings on hand for short term and medium term needs whilst planning prudently for their retirement, that plan is more important than ever now. There can be no denying the impact the Coronavirus has had on global stock markets […]
January 7, 2020
So, as we head into a new year and indeed a new decade people are setting their goals and resolutions, gym memberships are being purchased as well as healthy cooking books. Not being the bearer of bad news but did you know that according to a recent study the failure rate for new years resolutions […]
October 14, 2019
“Have you a Pension”? “A pension? Nah, I’m still young, I'll get the old age pension so I'll be grand. Surely I will own a few houses by then.” This was the gist of a recent chat I had with a client’s son. My clients were encouraging him to start a Pension but he didn’t […]
August 27, 2019
A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique used to help a person or organization identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is a highly effective way of improving many areas of your life, particularly your finances. At Blueprint Financial Planning we undertake a SWOT analysis when creating someone’s financial plan, it gives a clear, easy to understand […]
April 10, 2019
(If you ever want financial freedom). As advisers one of our main tasks is to improve people's attitudes towards money and enforce better habits, not always easy but a worthwhile task nonetheless. Once people adopt better financial habits the difference it can make is huge, it can help reduce stress and worry about impending bills, […]
September 28, 2018
Mike Tyson, one of boxing’s most infamous and ferocious competitors once uttered this rather chilling sentence – “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”, one can only imagine what a punch from one of the most successful heavyweight boxers of all time would feel like….. People get “punched in the mouth” […]
April 26, 2018
Have you ever had a conversation with your “future you”? That little voice or person on your shoulder that tells you – the future you will achieve that. You know the way….. right? The little voice that that tells you tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow I will definitely get up earlier. Tomorrow I will definitely […]
March 2, 2018
“Don’t have all your eggs in the one basket — Warren Buffett Recently I attended a seminar hosted by a major life assurance company in the beautiful surrounds of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, there was an expert panel discussion, an investment update and an Economic outlook, overall I found it a very interesting and thought provoking event. […]