
Peter had run his own Engineering company since he was 28. When he met with a planner he was 71 and his concerns were clear. He believed that he simply had not yet reached a point where he could retire and safely meet all of his and his wife’s future expenditure commitments. During the initial discovery meeting it was clear that they had spent their years working every hour possible and saving hard. They had not enjoyed working in the business for many years but felt they could not get out. This was their one overarching objective, to be free of the business and enjoy their retirement.
Using Financial Planning Software, we were able to show how much money they needed to allow them to meet their spending requirements and mains goals, to retire today, to take a cruise each year and to buy a property in Portugal so they could spend 3 months of the winter there.
We then went about crunching the numbers to ascertain future expected spending levels in both early and later retirement. We were then able to provide Peter and Mary with their ‘Number’. The amount of money they would need, using agreed assumptions, to do all the things they wanted to do.
An analysis of their finance quickly showed they had accumulated significant saving and investments over the years. The planning process enabled us to see what investment strategy was needed and these were re-structured accordingly. Most importantly, by knowing their ‘Number’ we cold calculate the exact sale price which they needed to receive in a sale of their business. This meant that they would not need to hold out for a long period of time to try and achieve the highest possible price, but instead proceed with the sale and live the life they had been waiting to for 15 years.
The planning process showed that Peter and Mary could have in fact retired 5 years earlier but without the advice received

More than 99% customer satisfaction is our success.


It is a complete review of your financial life — pensions, investments, protection, tax, income and goals — looked at together rather than in isolation. The aim is a clear written plan that tells you where you stand, where you need to get to, and what actions will get you there.
Our clients are typically business owners, professionals in the 10–15 years before retirement, and families with meaningful financial complexity. We also provide specialist planning for individuals and families navigating the ADM / Ward of Court transition. We work with a small number of clients and for this reason we operate a minimum asset threshold in investable assets.
We are clear on charging. For our holistic planning service, we charge an initial Planning set up fee. This can range from €1,500 to €2,500 depending on the complexity of the case (this fee is either partially or fully waived where initial commissions are received from insurers on set up of financial products, if these are required). Our ongoing planning fee is 0.5% of assets under advice per year. This covers your financial planning reviews, updates, meetings, and all advice in between. Where financial products are arranged, we may also receive commission from a product provider — this will always be disclosed to you clearly in advance and is set out in the ‘Statement of Suitability’ which we provide to you.
Having products is not the same as having a plan. Most people we speak to have accumulated pensions, cover and savings over time — but have never had anyone look at how they all fit together. A plan answers the question no product can: is what you have enough, and is it working as hard as it should be?
Yes. Northstar Financial Planning Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (no. C190060). We are bound by the Consumer Protection Code and act in accordance with our regulatory obligations at all times. Full details are available in our Terms of Business.
The first conversation is introductory and obligation-free. We want to understand your situation and what you are looking to achieve. You will get a clear sense of how we work and whether we are a good fit. There is no sales pitch and no commitment required at that stage.
We meet with clients at least once a year for a full review, and more frequently when circumstances require it — a business event, a change in income, a family milestone. In between, we are available by phone and email as needed. Our clients are not passed to an admin team.
Yes — this is a specialist area of our practice. We work with families and solicitors on the financial planning aspects of transitions from the Ward of Court system to the new Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act framework. We have a clear compliance process for these cases and understand the specific requirements involved.
Not at all. While we are rooted in Inishowen, Northstar operates as an online financial planning practice and works with clients right across Ireland. The majority of our client meetings take place by video call, which works excellently for ongoing planning relationships. If you would prefer to meet in person, we can arrange that too.
Use the contact form on our Get in Touch page, or call us directly on 074 93 26125. We ask a few short questions upfront to make sure we are the right fit before we speak — it saves time on both sides.