Insights and Market Commentary

The second quarter began amid fears that conflict in the Middle East would trigger a major energy supply shock, driving both inflation and weaker economic growth. Such supply-side shocks are particularly difficult for central banks to manage, as they must balance controlling inflation against supporting growth. However, the anticipated surge in oil prices failed to materialise. Brent crude has since fallen back well below $100 per barrel, reducing inflationary pressures and i

There’s a saying that nothing worth having comes easy. In personal finance, it’s just as true. Put simply: “No Pain - no Champagne”. Nobody accidentally ends up with a chilled bottle of vintage Krug at home. It’s deliberate, it’s earned and it’s a reward. The same goes for financial security. Wealth doesn’t arrive by accident. It’s built through planning, discipline, and deferring some of today’s pleasures for tomorrow’s freedom. The Discipline of Deferral We live in an age o

Towards the end of the first quarter, the life insurance companies announce high level information about the claims they paid in the previous 12 months and usually they give those numbers some historical context. The primary areas they cover are the core areas of life assurance lump sums, specified illness lump sum payouts and income replacement for individuals who are out of work longer term due to illness or injury. The information is usually supported by webinars and a re

Investment management used to be described in fairly simple terms: passive or active. That distinction still matters, but it no longer captures the full picture. Today, a firm’s competitiveness may also depend on how well it uses AI, and whether that AI is being applied to investing, technology, or client service. A lot of the discussion around AI in finance is still vague. In practice the big firms are using it in three quite different ways and so the same AI label can descr

We are delighted to announce the launch of the new TierOne website. Our goal in redesigning the site was to create a modern, user friendly platform that makes it easier for clients, partners, and visitors to access financial insights in Ireland, connect with our team, and stay informed through timely market commentary and business updates. As our business continues to evolve, we wanted our online presence to better reflect who we are: professional, accessible, and forward th