Services: Life Assurance - Pension Planning - Mortgages

Equities are simply shares in public quoted companies. The value of a company's shares will rise or fall depending on how well the company is doing in terms of present profitability and future growth prospects and the general market trends.
There are around 75 companies quoted on the Irish Stock Exchange and in recent years many of these with dynamic management have expanded into foreign markets in a major way and those share prices, improved significantly as a result.

New companies are continually coming to the market and these offer investors the opportunity to get in on the ground with companies which offer growth potential in the long term.
From the 1st January, 1989 Irish residents may freely invest abroad without exchange control restriction. This has opened up new and exciting investment opportunities for Irish investors.
The taxation implications of investing in equities are twofold for Irish residents. Capital Gains Tax is chargeable when shares are sold and a gain is made. However, Irish resident individuals are allowed the first £2,000 of a chargeable gain tax free (£4,000 for a married couple). Shareholders are also entitled to dividend payments. Shares in the leading Irish Banks for example if bought at current prices would yield a return of about 4.5% before tax is deducted. For people who bought these shares at prices far below their current level the percentage yield is much greater.

Exposure to the equity market can also be gained by investing in Unit Trusts, Investment Trusts and Unit Linked Funds.

Lump Sum Investments

Are you getting the best after tax return on your lump sum investment? If your investment is a deposit account with a Bank or Building Society then the chances are that you can do a great deal better by considering the alternatives.
Never before has the Investor been faced with such a wide choice of lump sum investment opportunities. The problem, however, is to pin down the right type of investment to suit your individual needs and provide you with security, potential high returns and easy access to your funds.
The choice is not easy, you must take so many things into account. The solution of course, is to have up to date information about every possible investment opportunity immediately to hand. Opportunities like Unit Linked Funds, Guaranteed Bonds, Unit Trusts, Equities, Gilts, Section Property Relief, Business Expansion Schemes.

This is the kind of investment information that many people find it difficult to get independent advice on. That's why we think it could be worth your while to contact us and have a confidential discussion on all aspects of investments.
We will help you quickly establish whether or not your money is earning the best possible return and introduce you to some of the alternative opportunities that are available. A number of these opportunities are explained in some detail below.
Naturally, should you contact us, you will be under no obligation to change your present arrangements. In fact, we might even find that you have your money invested in the best possible place. That's something worth finding out and as our time is free, it won't cost you a penny.

Managed Funds

Managed Funds are invested in a mix of Government Securities, Irish and International Equities, Properties and Deposits. All funds are managed by professional Investment Managers who manage billions of pounds and use their expertise to increase the value of your investment. There is no personal tax liability on any investment profits and investments are totally confidential. You may withdraw your funds at any time and in most cases it is possible to get a regular income. There is an annual management charge and a once-off Government levy of 3%

UNIT TRUSTS

As with Managed Funds Unit trusts are a form of pooled investment enabling investors to invest in a wide range of assets that their own resources alone would not normally provide. However, Unit Trusts differ in two important ways. While Managed Funds are fully confidential Unit Trusts are not. Investors in Managed Funds are not liable for taxation of any kind whereas, Unit Trust holders are potentially liable to a Capital Gains Tax charge. This form of Investment is very suitable for those, with Redundancy, Lump sums, Retirement lump sums, Lottery wins, Proceeds of fixed assets sales or Death benefit of Life Policies.