Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC)

Most commonly known as Pension top-ups, AVCs allow you to boost your pension savings beyond mandatory contributions, enhancing retirement income and securing a more comfortable financial future.

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What is an AVC?

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) are tax-efficient extra payments you can make in addition to your existing pension. Whether you started your pension later in life, or have extra cash to put away, an AVC is a pension option for you. When you retire, you can use the money you invested into an AVC to buy additional pension benefits you want.

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Parth S.
Parth S.
When it comes to insurance, we are always skeptical whether its a good deal or not. Also we feel if we could get a deal suited to our custom requirements and not a generic one. I would like to give a shoutout to Low Quote for being direct and patient with me when i explained my situation. They are great and recommended if you wanna get an honest quote. Massive thanks to Shawn (or Shaun) Young in Health insurance department being the life saver (pun intended).
Shemeena S.
Shemeena S.
I had a great experience with Low Quotes, especially working with Alan Broderick. Alan was very professional, patient, and took the time to clearly explain all the options available to me.I chose mortgage protection, life cover, and income protection, and he made the whole process simple and stress-free. He answered all my questions and helped me find the right cover to suit my needs and budget.I really appreciate the honest advice and excellent service. I would definitely recommend Low Quotes and Alan Broderick to anyone looking for reliable insurance advice.
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Niel I.
It was a great pleasure doing business with LowQuotes. Alan Broderick was very thorough, and walked me through every step of the way to help me and my wife get sorted with my Life Insurance and Serious Illness Cover. Alan was very knowledgeable, always followed up with me, and made sure I get the best plan suitable for me and my family. I will definitely recommend LowQuotes to anyone looking for Life Insurance and Serious Illness Cover. Thanks again Alan!
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klaids B.
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Shane O.
Shane O.
​As a first-time buyer, buying as a single applicant, I had a million questions, and Niamh McCaul answered every single one with patience and expertise.She went above and beyond to make sure I felt comfortable and confident with my decisions. It’s rare to find someone so dedicated to her client's success.​I cannot recommend Niamh highly enough! From our very first phone call, she made the entire mortgage process feel seamless and stress-free. As someone who was quite overwhelmed by the paperwork, Niamh’s ability to explain everything in plain English was a lifesaver.She was always one step ahead, keeping me updated at every turn and securing a fantastic rate. If you want a mortgage advisor who is professional, proactive, and genuinely cares about her clients, look no further.Thank you, Niamh, for making my dream home a reality!Shane.
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I had a great experience arranging my mortgage protection through this broker, especially with Cormac helping me along the way. He was very proactive and followed up multiple times while I was sorting things out with the developer, which really helped keep everything moving.Cormac Logue was always keen to help and very flexible in arranging calls at times that suited me, making the whole process much easier. He also managed to get the policy arranged very quickly once everything was in place.Overall, a very smooth and professional experience.
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Great experience with LowQuotes. Everything was quick and easy thanks to Cormac Logue - he was very helpful, professional, and easygoing throughout the whole process. He made everything straightforward and stress-free. Highly recommend!
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Cormac was a pleasure to deal with very professional and had great knowledge, he helped us organise our mortgage income protection. I would highly recommend him. Thanks for the help.
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I really want to commend the work of Cormac Logue. He's been amazing and helpful through my insurance pursue and even guidance.i will keep recommending low quotes because of this dude to friends and family. Keep him st all costs please.
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If I could give 10 stars to Tiernan Brennan and Low Quotes, I would happily do so. If it wasn't for Tiernan, and the amazing team, we would not be owning a house today. We were first time buyers, with no real idea of what to do, or who to contact, when Low Quotes were recommended to me. Tiernan was a pleasure to deal with from Day 1, his knowledge and professionalism put our minds at ease, his advice was always timely and appreciated, and the speed that we were approved for a mortgage was fantastic. Tiernan was a presence every step of the way, from start to very enjoyable finish, and now that we are in our new home, I'm nothing but thankful to everyone at Low Quotes!!
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Niamh from LowQuotes was absolutely outstanding throughout my entire mortgage journey. From start to finish she was professional, patient, responsive, and incredibly supportive during what turned out to be a very complex purchase. She consistently chased updates, explained everything clearly, and genuinely cared about getting the best outcome for me. She truly went above and beyond at every stage of the process. I honestly don’t think I would have gotten through this without her. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
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Sarah H.
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Would recommend LowQuotes, Colin dealt with our mortgage protection application with us, and made sure we got the best outcome and price for our insurance making the process was as smooth as possible, we cant thank him enough!
Kumar D.
Kumar D.
I had a great experience securing my policy with Low Quotes. Cormac Logue was exceptionally helpful throughout the entire process, providing various quotes and patiently clarifying all my questions, .The process was quick, and I appreciated the follow-up on the final terms . Highly recommend working with Cormac .
Akbar M.
Akbar M.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We cannot recommend Berni highly enough! Over the course of a year, she guided us through an incredibly challenging home-buying journey with absolute professionalism, patience, and dedication.Initially, we bought a house, but the vendor failed to vacate, creating a very stressful situation. Berni immediately took responsibility, worked closely with the bank, and expertly managed to reverse the mortgage. She then arranged a new mortgage, and thanks to her knowledge and negotiation skills, we even received €5,000 cashback! Ultimately, she helped us purchase our dream home.Berni’s persistence, expertise, and genuine care for her clients go above and beyond. She made a stressful process smooth and reassuring. If you want a mortgage advisor who truly delivers and supports you every step of the way, Berni is the one!
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What are the advantages of AVCs?

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) are discretionary payments individuals can make to supplement their pension savings beyond regular contributions to workplace or personal pension schemes. AVCs offer flexibility, allowing individuals to enhance their pension pot by contributing additional funds, providing financial security for retirement. These contributions are voluntary, empowering individuals to decide the amount and frequency of payments based on their financial situation. Moreover, AVCs may offer tax efficiency, potentially reducing overall tax liability through qualifying contributions. This flexibility and potential for increased retirement income make AVCs valuable for optimizing pension planning and ensuring a comfortable retirement.

With AVCs, you have control over your investment, enabling you to adjust contributions according to your evolving needs. Whether increasing, decreasing, stopping, or restarting contributions, this adaptability ensures your investments align with changing priorities. Eligibility for an AVC Plan typically arises upon becoming a member of your employer’s Superannuation Scheme, with contributions subject to Revenue-set limits and a minimum monthly contribution of €75 (or equivalent).

Tax Relief

Investing in an AVC allows you to benefit from tax relief on your investments,  For example: If your marginal rate of tax is 40% and you invest €100, the actual cost to you is €60 as you get 40% (€40) in tax relief. This makes it much more tax efficient compared to a savings account as you can also maximise your tax-free lump sum on retirement.

Retire Early

Every investment you make into your AVC will grow your Pension fund, gaining you closer to your ideal estimated fund value. Meaning you could be retiring sooner than you think. The state pension retirement age is ever increasing, why not personally take control of when you retire?

Flexibility

flexibility to modify your Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) at your discretion. You can increase, decrease, stop, or restart your AVC contributions as needed. This adaptability allows you to align your pension strategy with changing financial circumstances, ensuring that you have control over the level of contributions based on your preferences, life events, or evolving priorities. 

Start a Retirement Planning today to have the future of your dreams!

Planning for retirement is a significant milestone. Whether you’re just starting to think about retirement or are already well into your retirement journey, this guide will help you make informed decisions and create a retirement plan that aligns with your financial goals. And it’s totally FREE! Don’t wait, download now!

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After you download your guide, one of our expert Financial Advisors will be in touch shortly to provide you with guidance and further relevant information to build you a customised retirement plan.

What are my investment options?

This is entirely your own choice and dependent on your risk profile, it is usually invested in a range of unit linked funds. You’ll have access to a wide range of different assets with varying degrees of risk, so you’ll be sure to find a solution that works for you.

Retirement options with AVCs.

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Your Questions Answered

We’re living longer than previous generations. Upon retirement, on average we will have 20-30 years of retirement. A pension plan will make sure you’re financially sound for these years. Whether you wish to travel, retire to the country, or spend time with your children & grandchildren.

The amount you will receive per month entirely depends on how much you’re willing to pay per month, the length of time you’ve been making contributions, the type of pension plan and its investment return. You can also choose to receive a lump sum upon retirement or not.

As of today, the State Contributory Pension is about €240 per week. For most people, during their 20-30 years of retirement, this simply isn’t enough. When you pay into a pension plan, you will receive both the state pension (If available to you) and your Pension Plan.

Tax relief reduces the actual cost of your pension. You do not have to pay tax on money that you put into a personal pension (This falls within the limits set out below). This is calculated at the highest rate of tax you pay (Currently 20% / 40%)

Example:
Monthly contribution = €100
Tax Relief (40%) = €40
Cost to you = €60

Warning: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.      

Warning: The value of your investment may go down and up.      

Warning: If you invest in this product, you will not have any access to your money until you retire.   

Warning: If you invest in this product, you may lose some or all of your investment.     

Warning: This product may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates. 

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