Q. What is an ARF?
A. An ARF is an Approved Retirement Fund which is a pension investment plan that you enter following your retirement from certain types of pension plans. It lets you invest it in a wide range of investments and it can be taken out with an insurance company or with an independent Qualified Fund Manager. We offer both services at Paul Ryan IPFC. You can access the ARF in retirement and draw down money as you need it in the form of income from the investment. Important investment decisions need to be made with every ARF and we would always advise that you work closely with our team in Paul Ryan IPFC who are heavily experienced when selecting a fund for your ARF. In our opinion INDEPENDENT ADVICE is essential when contemplating an ARF at retirement.
 

Q. Who is eligible for an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF)?
A. In the past all controlling directors of companies and self-employed persons were in a position to control their pension funds in retirement, now all employees have ARF options if this is the right advice, no longer do employees have to buy an annuity (Fixed Pension) from an Assurance company. The ARF allows individuals to leave funds invested in a tax-free manner and then draw income (taxable in the normal way) as they wish. If you die an unused portion of your funds are transferred and made available to the next of kin. We believe that the legislation will be changed to allow all individuals access to ARF benefits in the coming years. However if you feel you would like to explore the possibilities of an ARF then we also offer pension products called PRSA's that will give you access to ARF benefits. You really need the right advice when you are considering a pension and especially at retirement and therefore we would strongly suggest you contact our INDEPENDENT ADVICE TEAM in Paul Ryan Independent Pensions.
 

Q. What are the benefits of an ARF?
A. The benefit of an ARF is that it currently allows an individual the freedom of not having to lock in returns like you do in other pensions in retirement. It also gives people the freedom to control their pension in retirement. There are a number of benefits associated with taking out an ARF, they are as follows:

• Capital Preservation, you only have to access 3% of your fund per annum.
•  Income Flexibility: Income can be varied between 3% and 100% giving you more control of your income in retirement.
• Defer Annuities (income for life): You can defer the purchase of an annuity to a later date. Annuity rates can differ and the ARF option allows for flexibility. At Paul Ryan IPFC we don’t believe the majority of annuities are value for money. However we assess the merits of an annuity on a case by case basis.
• Capital and Income are rolled upwards on a tax free basis. Only when you decide to draw income will you be taxed at the normal way.
• You have the flexibility to access property and investment deals
• An ARF allows you to some degree to control your own destiny in retirement.