What is a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA)?
A PRSA is a highly flexible long-term retirement arrangement designed to allow you to save for your retirement in a manner that suits you.
There are two types of PRSAs:
- a Standard PRSA which has a narrow range of investment options with maximum charging; and
- an Advisory PRSA, also referred to as a Non-Standard PRSA, which has a wide range of investment options without maximum charging.
Who can set up a Personal Retirement Savings Account – PRSA?
Anyone can set up a PRSA with an authorised PRSA provider, regardless of their employment status. PRSA contracts (self-administered or insured) are issued by investment firms and life assurance companies who are authorised as PRSA providers.
A PRSA is a tax efficient individual retirement arrangement which enables you and / or your employer to make regular and / or once-off contributions which are tax deductible. If you are a member of an Occupational Pension Scheme through your company, you can only pay Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to the PRSA.
What can a self-administered PRSA invest in?
The investment choice is ultimately down to you. Some of the assets clients invest in are:
- Property (geared and ungeared);
- Personalised Equity Portfolios;
- Corporate and Government Bonds;
- International Funds;
- Private Equity; and
- Deposits.
When can you access the pension benefits of a PRSA?
You can normally take benefits from a PRSA when you are aged between 60 and 75.
In certain circumstances you can take your pension benefits before age 60 such as:
- on retirement from employment at age 50 or over;
- certain self-employed occupations from age 50; or
- at any time in the event of serious ill health / permanent incapacity.
For more information, or to arrange a meeting to discuss the suitability of a PRSA for your retirement provision needs, please contact us on 01 2375500 or email justask@harvestfinancial.ie.
Warnings: If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. If you invest in this product you will not have any access to your money until you retire. The value of your investment my go down as well as up.
The legislative information contained herein is based on Harvest Financial Services Limited’s understanding of current practice as at July 2020 and may change in the future.
Please take special care to satisfy yourself that this arrangement meets your needs. Please make sure that you are aware of the financial consequences of replacing your existing arrangement and the possible financial loss as a result of the transfer. Please note that transfers to circumvent Revenue rules are not permissible. Please contact your financial advisor if you are in doubt about any of this. The material is not intended to provide advice and is provided for general information purposes only.
