Approved Retirement Fund (ARF)

Goodbody Stockbrokers is committed to providing you with efficient tax planning and management, specifically tailored to suit individual needs. We have created immediate and long-term benefits for those who are planning ahead and those who have already retired.

What is an Approved Retirement Fund ?

The Goodbody Stockbrokers Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) is tailored to suit people who are considering retirement or have retired, with an investment of €300,000 or more.

The ARF is supported by quality advice to ensure you are fully benefiting from the tax allowances available. The underlying funds are structured as personalised portfolios and a dedicated portfolio manager will create a tailored investment strategy for you.

Key Features

• Proprietary directors in company retirement schemes, holders of personal pension plans and AVC savers no longer have to use their retirement fund to purchase an annuity at retirement. Individuals can now take 25% of the accumulated retirement fund tax free, and invest the balance in an Approved Retirement Fund, which is structured as a tax exempt portfolio.
• Before you can invest in an Approved Retirement Fund and/or take the balance of your fund as a taxable lump sum, you must invest €63,500 in an annuity or an Approved Minimum Retirement Fund. (This requirement is waived if you are aged 75 or over, or have a guaranteed lifetime income of €12,700 per annum).

Benefits

• All investment returns from an ARF are tax-free. (Please remember that any withdrawal from your ARF is subject to PAYE at source). In the event of death the residual value of your portfolio can be passed to your dependants preserving your accumulated capital.
• You will have a dedicated Portfolio Manager with whom you can agree a tailored investment strategy and you will have control over how your retirement fund will be managed.
• Your Portfolio Manager is supported by a team of over 300 people and we offer quality advice to ensure that you benefit from the maximum tax efficiencies available.
  

Eligibility

You can invest the following funds in an ARF:

• The proceeds of a personal pension plan.
• The value of retirement benefits not taken as a tax free lump sum at retirement, arising from an occupational pension scheme provided by a company of which you are a proprietary director, i.e. be able to control more than 5% of the shares in the company at any time within the three years prior to retirement.
• The value of AVC benefits at retirement not taken as a tax free lump sum.
  
• The ARF is suitable for investments of €300,000 or more

Communications

Retirement Asset Services clients will receive current and appropriate advice for personal circumstances. The service level of your choice, either Discretionary or Advisory Portfolio managed accounts will underlie the Retirement Asset service.

All clients can expect that their contact with us will be with suitably qualified and experienced staff. They should experience professionalism, integrity and trust in their relations.

At any stage during normal working hours, clients should be able to access their Portfolio Manager or an appropriate supportive staff member to assist them with their requirements.

Operational Communications

Clients will receive:

• Valuations every year
• Contract Notes for every transaction processed on behalf of the client, within 3 working days
• Holdings Movement Report
• Consolidated Tax Voucher
• An annual Certificate of Deposit Interest
• Fees Notification of fees as they are applied to your account.
  

Security

Deciding who to trust with your investment is not a decision to be taken lightly. That's why, as part of the biggest Private Client stockbroking firm in Ireland and supported by AIB, Ireland's largest retail bank, your money couldn't be in safer hands.

Clients should be confident that their investments and information are secure. We will be compliant to IFSRA regulations and undergo regular internal and external audits of accounts, systems and procedures.

Services Available

• Secured online access to your accounts via our Goodbody WebAccess, which will enable you to view your account transaction, account history and portfolio holdings
• Mobile Markets - latest share prices, foreign exchange rate or index performances via text messages to your mobile phone or email.
• www.goodbody.ie - Our main website provides a range of emedia services such as publications produced by our various in-house departments, comprehensive learning sector, market information and clients can also subscribe to receive regular email updated through our subscription services - Monday Thought's & Morning Call.
• Investor Magazine - Quarterly magazine providing stock recommendations, news, data, question and answers and investor education features.
  

Pricing

The Goodbody Stockbrokers ARF charges a management fee of up to 1% depending on amount invested and stockbroker commission on the purchase and sale of assets. There are no entry or exit charges, surrender pensions or bid/offer spreads

Further Information

•  View/download the Goodbody Approved Retirement Fund pdf document.

Contact

Clients or potential clients are advised to seek professional advice, should they wish to act on the above. Taxation legislation is subject to change without prior notice and the above is based on our understanding of the law, tax and revenue practice at time of publication.

Goodbody Stockbrokers do not provide taxation advice.