€2M ARF in Ireland: What You'll Actually Keep — And How to Keep More

You've built a €2 million pension. Now here's the question nobody asked you: how much of it will you actually keep? In this episode, Paddy runs the real numbers on what a €2 million ARF looks like in Ireland in 2026: mandatory drawdowns, income tax, USC, PRSI, and the phased strategy that could save you tens of thousands every year in the early stages of retirement. What this Episode covers: Why a €2M ARF triggers a mandatory €120,000 income. Whether you need it or not The real net income after tax: €72,614 at a 39.5% effective rate How phasing your drawdown across two crystallisation events drops your annual tax bill from €47,386 to €8,088 What happens to the deferred pot if it grows at 6% for 8 years, and how that interacts with the Standard Fund Threshold The couple scenario: why joint assessment changes everything SFT mechanics at each Benefit Crystallisation Event and where the margin gets tight The numbers are stark. The structure matters. And getting this wrong (or not thinking about it at all) is one of the most expensive planning gaps we see. Discover the full blog post and show notes on informeddecisions.ie