Private pensions

If you want to ensure that you have adequate income in retirement, and the State pension will not meet your needs, you should be aware of the pension options open to you.

Your pension options will depend mainly on your work situation, although you may still be able to choose which option is best for you.

If you are employed, you may be covered by an employer-sponsored occupational pension scheme or relevant public sector scheme.

If you aren’t covered by these or if you are not an employee, you may be able to take out your own personal retirement savings account (PRSA) or retirement annuity contract (RAC).

Public sector occupational pension schemes are statutory plans set up by legislation or trust-based arrangements…

Also known as company pension plans, these are set up by employers and can provide benefits including a tax-free lump sum (within certain limits)…

Your rights as a member of a pension scheme are valuable and important to you and your dependants…

Final salary defined benefit (DB) schemes are occupational pension schemes that provide a set level of pension at retirement…

Career average defined benefit (DB) schemes are a variation of the traditional defined benefit design…

A significant number of pension schemes make an allowance for the State pension when providing a pension from the scheme…

Defined contribution (DC) schemes are occupational pension schemes where your own contributions and your employer’s contributions are both invested…

A hybrid pension scheme is one which is neither a full defined benefit (DB) scheme nor a full defined contribution (DC) scheme…

A retirement annuity contract (RAC) is the formal name for what is more commonly called a personal pension…

Personal retirement savings accounts (PRSAs) are pension savings accounts, normally paid for by personal contributions, although employers can pay contributions to these plans…