Ireland’s consumers are swapping risky investments for a steady approach to retirement planning, according to Hibernian Aviva Life & Pensions.
Ireland’s consumers are swapping risky investments for a steady approach to retirement planning, according to Hibernian Aviva Life & Pensions. The insurer recently hosted the Hibernian Aviva "Opportunity Knocks" investment roadshow for brokers and financial advisers throughout the country.
The roadshow provided a platform for Ireland’s financial advisers and intermediaries to look to the future and discuss pensions and investment opportunities as investors seek a smoother investment journey.
The seminar also revealed some interesting research findings on investors attitudes to savings and investments.
According to Hibernian Aviva’s research, investors are risk averse and are focused on financial security with nearly half of investors saying they are taking the steps now to ensure they have an adequate level of income for their retirement years. A further 50% of investors say they are less likely to take financial risk now than they were five years ago.
Commenting on the research findings, Michael Gordon of Hibernian Aviva Life & Pensions said: “Regular saving and investing is the best approach to accumulate funds for retirement. A long-term perspective to pension and retirement planning coupled with regular saving or investing is the best way to secure the future.
"Those who make the mistake of freezing their pension contributions face an icy reality as it will actually cost them more to top up their fund in the future than they will save in the short term.
“Over the last few months, pension investors that contribute to their pension on a monthly basis have been pleasantly surprised to see that they have benefited from what is called Euro Cost Averaging.
"Essentially by regularly contributing to their pension, these investors have bought at a lower price as markets fell and are now benefiting from the strong equity market rally that has occurred since March.”
For pension investors looking for a smooth investment journey Hibernian Aviva has launched the Aviva Irl BlackRock European Absolute Return Strategies Fund (EARS).
“With the absolute return fund we are helping investors smooth out the bumps in the financial market and avoid the risks associated with making once-off lump sum investments. It is so important that investors realise they can still make money and increase the value of their retirement fund despite the recent economic turmoil by making regular investments.”
For further information on pension and retirement planning please visit www.hibernianaviva.ie or talk to your financial adviser.
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For further information please contact:
Maura McBride
Hibernian Aviva
Telephone: 01 898 5574
Notes to editors:
About Hibernian Aviva
- Hibernian Aviva has been part of Ireland’s insurance industry for the last hundred years and has grown to become one of the largest and most successful organisations in the country with businesses in General Insurance, Life & Pensions and most recently the health insurance sector.
- Part of the world’s fifth largest insurance group Aviva plc, the company has approximately 1.2 million customers in Ireland and offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway with a branch network in 27 other locations.
- Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance group, serving 50 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
- Aviva's main business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £51.4 billion and funds under management of £381 billion at 31 December 2008.