The Irish FIRE Podcast

In this episode Michael is joined by Dan Malone, founder of Honest.ie and creator of a popular YouTube channel "Dan Malone Money", which is focused on making personal finance simple and accessible. Recorded in front of a live audience, Michael and Dan explore financial education in Ireland, investing, pensions and the decisions that can help people build long-term financial security. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including what someone starting their financial journey at 30 should consider, the impact of government spending and investment on inflation, and how Irish pension fees compare with those in the UK. Dan also shares his thoughts on using personal investment accounts alongside pensions, making the most of the small gift exemption to invest for children's futures, and his recent interview with Albert Dolan. Finally, Michael and Dan explore the FIRE movement, discussing Dan's perspective on financial independence and whether early retirement should really be the ultimate goal. With questions from the live audience throughout, this episode brings together practical financial education, different perspectives and plenty of food for thought. Links & Resources Dan's conversation with Albert Dolan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwCB5xtRFqk Dan's YouTube video about FIRE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVfQgX235oA Visit Honest.ie: https://www.honest.ie Learn more about the 2027 FI Retreat: https://www.firepodcast.ie/retreat

What if retirement wasn’t the goal, and the focus was instead on building a life where work fits around what matters most? In this episode, Michael welcomes Brian Herriot, author of Time Freedom, to explore a different way of thinking about work, money and freedom. Brian’s book explores how people can shape their work and finances around the life they want to live, creating more flexibility and choice along the way. Rather than waiting for retirement to enjoy life, the conversation considers what it means to make work part of a fulfilling life today, on their own terms. Having enjoyed an advance copy of the book, Michael brings his own perspective as he prepares to take the leap into early retirement. Together, they explore how time freedom might change the way people think about financial independence and what comes next. Show Notes: Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ie/Time-Freedom-Rethink-Money-Create/dp/1774587122/ Visit Brian's website: https://timefreedom.life Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter This episode is supported by Moneycube, one of the sponsors of the Irish FIRE Podcast. Moneycube is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Could becoming a contractor help you earn more, gain flexibility and build towards financial independence? In this episode, Michael is joined by Sarah Flynn from Fenero to discuss contracting in Ireland and the reasons you might consider making the move from permanent employment. They explore how tax works for contractors, the expenses you may be able to claim and why understanding the rules matters when working for yourself. Whether you’re considering your first contract or already self-employed, this conversation will help you think about the bigger financial picture. They also discuss retirement planning and the tax reliefs that may be available to eligible business owners when selling or winding down their business. If early retirement is your goal, understanding these options and their qualifying conditions could be an important part of your plan. Show Notes Follow Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahflynnireland/ Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahflynn_ie/ Visit Fenero: https://www.fenero.ie Join the newsletter: https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode, Anders Skagerberg returns to the show three and a half years after his first appearance as “The Coast FI Guy”. Back then, Anders was embracing Coast FI while Michael was still firmly in the accumulation and grinding phase of his own financial independence journey. This time, the roles have almost reversed. Anders is no longer coasting. After upgrading his lifestyle, returning to full-time work and increasing his income again, he discovered that going back to the grind wasn’t necessarily the answer either. The conversation explores the balance between coasting and grinding, frugality and deliberate lifestyle inflation, and the constant tension between building more wealth and actually enjoying the life that wealth is supposed to create. It’s a thoughtful discussion about how financial independence can evolve over time, why “enough” is rarely a fixed number, and how the real goal may simply be creating the freedom to choose how much - or how little - you want to work. Show Notes: Anders original interview: https://www.firepodcast.ie/coast-fi-with-anders Contact Anders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-skagerberg-cfp%C2%AE-ea-631089158/ Coast FI Guy on Substack: https://andersskagerberg.substack.com Subscribe to the Irish FIRE Newsletter: https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter This episode has been sponsored by Martina Murphy Solicitor. Legal services with a personal touch.

After a recent radio interview left very little time to explain the realities of financial independence and early retirement, Michael Houghton takes a deeper look at some of the questions people most often ask about FIRE. Does retiring early mean never working again? Where does fulfillment come from without a traditional job? And how is it possible to build enough wealth to step away from full-time work in less than a decade? Michael discusses the intense saving years behind his family's journey, the role of investing and property, and how compound growth eventually began doing more of the work. He also looks at the idea of "enough" - why building a larger portfolio is not necessarily better if it comes at the cost of another decade of work, and why the real goal of financial independence has always been greater control over time. Finally, Michael explains why budgeting will remain part of life in retirement and why FIRE, for his family, has never really been about becoming rich. It has been about building enough wealth to have the freedom to choose how they spend their time. Show Notes: The FYI - Top 10 FIRE Podcasts: https://the-fyi.com/money/podcasts-for-the-fire-community/ Original interview on Claire Bryne: https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/how-would-like-to-retire-early-YTYzZTQ0NTBlZGYwOTM3ZWU3MmM2YzNmNDAxOTQ1ZmY=  View our monthly FI progress: https://www.firepodcast.ie/progress Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter This episode is supported by Moneycube, one of the sponsors of the Irish FIRE Podcast. Moneycube is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.