Performance is   
powerful

Make the most of your pension contributions 

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Zurich. Performance Counts.

Track record of strong returns*

Local team of investment experts

Award-winning investment performance^

 
Quick links

How to top-up your pension


Existing customers

If you are an existing Zurich customer, you can request a top-up online through the Zurich Life Client Centre. Login here.


Corporate customer

If you are a member of a company scheme, you can reach out directly to your HR representatives with regards to topping up.


Not with Zurich?

A pension plan can be a great way to maximise your savings, leading up to retirement. Find out more about your options.

Why top up?

Boost your retirement income

Making additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) can be an excellent way to boost your pension savings, increase your retirement income, and achieve your long-term financial goals; all while taking advantage of the tax benefits of pensions.

Login to the Client Centre to use our Pension Projection tool. This tool will show you how topping up could benefit the projected value of your pension pot at retirement, similar to the options shown below.

This chart assumes an investment growth rate of 4.6% per annum based on the Prisma 4 fund. This rate is for illustration purposes only and is not guaranteed. Actual investment growth will depend on the performance of the underlying investments and may be more or less than illustrated. A normal retirement age of 66 has been assumed for the 45 year old example customer. The figures for the Projected Values are based on: a) the Gross Investment Returns stated. The assumed Gross Investment Returns are not forecasts because, the value of units may grow at a faster or slower rate than assumed and the value of units may be expected to fall from time to time as well as rise;  and b) an annual management charge of 1%.

Tax deadline


With the tax deadline of 31 October (or 14 November if you are filing online) fast approaching, now is the time to take action and consider topping up your pension with Zurich. If you’re self-employed or file your own tax returns, you can make extra contributions to your pension fund which are tax efficient, meaning you can claim tax relief against them (subject to Revenue limits). 

Performance counts

Over the past 10 years, our most popular multi-asset fund, Prisma 4 has grown to €4.3 billion assets under management (Source: Zurich, August 2024). It has delivered 7.2% average returns each year, compared to the market average of 5.6% per year*.

Over this time period, the market average return on an investment of €100,000 would have given you a return of 52.8%, or €52,800. Over the same time period, the return from the Prisma 4 Fund would have given a total return of 77.5%, or €77,500. Figures assume a €100,000 Single Premium, 100% allocation rate and an Annual Management Charge of 1.25%. Source: Zurich and MoneyMate, August 2024*.

Prisma 4 returns

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Not with Zurich?

There are a range of options depending on your situation. Your financial advisor can help work through these options so you can maximise your retirement funds with Zurich.

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Track record
 Over the past 10 years, our popular Prisma 3, 4 and 5 Funds have outperformed the market average and delivered positive returns*.

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Investment expertise
Our investment team, based in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, has been managing our customers’ investments for over 40 years.

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Award-winning
 The Investment Provider and Pension Provider Excellence Awards from Brokers Ireland, 2023 are just some of the recent awards we have won^.

FAQs

My pension is with another company, what are my options?

There is a range of options, depending on your situation. You could be eligible for a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) or a Personal Retirement Bond (PRB). Everyone’s financial situation is different so it’s important to speak with a financial broker or a Zurich Financial Planner to look at options and find the right one for you and your circumstances.

Are there limits to topping up?

There are no limits, however there are age-related contributions limits that apply to the income tax relief available against pension contributions made by you (whether you are self-employed or a member of a company pension scheme), as follows: 

Age attained in relevant tax year: 

Age-related percentage limits:

Under 30 years

15%

30-39 years

20%

40-49 years

25%

50-54 years 

30% 

55-59 years 

35%

60 years or over 

40%

The age-related limits only apply to your earnings up to €115,000, which means there’ll be no income tax relief on earnings over this amount, if you’re maximising your percentages.

When can I access my pension funds?

In Ireland you can generally only access your pension at your minimum normal retirement age, which will depend on the type of pension arrangement. If you are retiring due to ill-health, then you can access your pension at any age.

  • Personal Pensions: Access is permitted from age 60.
  • Occupational Pensions: Early retirement is possible from age 50 on leaving employment, otherwise access is from ‘normal retirement date’.
  • PRSAs: normally 60, but this is 50 where it relates to a period as an employee. You must be ‘economically inactive’ i.e. retired from all employment (both employed and self-employed)
My pension plan is with Zurich. How can I change my fund choice?

Fund switches may seem confusing, but you can get advice from a financial advisor who can take you through the funds available and help you select the one that suits you. Details of all the funds you are invested in are on the Client Centre, and if you decide to make a fund switch yourself, you can email us with the request.

I'm part of a Zurich corporate scheme. How do I top up?

You can make regular or one-off additional contributions. Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) are extra contributions you can make alongside your existing pension plan to increase your pension fund. To make AVCs, or to increase your regular contribution rate, contact your scheme advisor or your HR department.

How much should I top up by?

How much you may need in order to be financially secure in retirement depends on the lifestyle you would like to have. Our pension calculator can show you how much you need to put away for later in life.

There are age-related contributions limits that apply to pension contributions made by individuals (whether you are self-employed or a member of a company pension scheme), as follows:

Age attained in relevant tax year: 

Age-related percentage limits:

Under 30 years

15%

30-39 years

20%

40-49 years

25%

50-54 years 

30% 

55-59 years 

35%

60 years or over 

40%

The age-related limits only apply to your earnings up to €115,000, which means there’ll be no income tax relief on earnings over this amount, if you’re maximising your percentages.

Where can I access my pension funds?

With 24/7 access to our online Client Centre you can see how your pensions funds are performing. You can check the value of your pension, review your investment choices, see how your funds are performing and where you can make extra contributions to your existing pension.

How much is my current pension plan worth?

If you want to find out how much your current pension plan is worth, login to the online Client Centre. Here you will be able to view all aspects of your pension and gain real-time information on the value of your funds, their performance, future projections and important policy documents.

*Source: Zurich and MoneyMate, August 2024. Prisma 3 Fund has 3.7% annualised returns over 10 years, compared to a market average of 2.8%. Prisma 4 Fund has 7.2% annualised returns over 10 years, compared to a market average of 5.6%. Prisma 5 Fund has 10.2% annualised returns over 10 years, compared to a market average of 8.0%. The constituents of the Market Average are multi-asset funds available from Life Company peers in the Irish market (Irish Life Assurance Company, Standard Life Assurance Company, New Ireland, Aviva), which target a similar level of volatility to Prisma 4. Where a provider has multiple fund ranges we use the most prominent, and where risk targeting methodologies differ we seek to use the most comparable fund. All unit price information is sourced from Fund Focus Performance figures and based on close of markets prices 31/07/2024, based on best available information. Annual management fees apply. Returns are based on offer to offer performance and do not represent the return achieved by individual policies linked to the funds.

^Investment Excellence Award, Brokers Ireland, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023. No awards held in 2020. Pension Provider Excellence Award, Brokers Ireland, 2023, 2022. Fund Management Company of the Year 2024 Award, Business and Finance Financial Services Awards. Life Assurance and Pensions of the Year, InBUSINESS Recognition Awards, 2024.

3 Citizens Information: Contributory State pension.

The information contained herein is based on Zurich's understanding of current Revenue practice as at 1st September 2024 and may change in the future. 

Warning: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.
Warning: This product may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates.
Warning: The value of your investment may go down as well as up.
Warning: If you invest in these products you may lose some or all of the money you invest.
Warning: The income you get from this investment may go down as well as up.
Warning: These figures are estimates only. They are not a reliable guide to the future performance of your investment.