The National Pension Helpline is proud to announce the launch of the Pension Fund Explorer, Ireland’s first fully comprehensive, free-to-use pension fund comparison platform. With real-time data on 597 Irish pension funds, this groundbreaking tool marks a major leap forward in transparency, empowering savers to take control of their retirement investments.
A Landmark for Pension Transparency
For decades, pension investors in Ireland have faced a daunting hurdle: to make informed fund decisions, individuals needed to navigate through countless documents, provider disclosures, or rely on brokered advice. That ends today.
The Pension Fund Explorer offers:
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A complete database: Access to all 597 pension funds available in Ireland—maintained continuously with real-time performance, risk exposure, fees, asset allocations, and fund managers.
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Side-by-side comparison: Users can select up to five funds and instantly view performance graphs, cost data, asset exposure, and historical returns in an intuitive interface.
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A unified platform: Funds across major providers, Zurich, Irish Life, Aviva, New Ireland, Standard Life, Mercer, Acorn, Royal London, BOI, and AIB, are visible under one digital roof.
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No registration required: The Explorer is openly accessible and free, with no personal data needed to start comparing.
“This new platform is a major milestone in making the pension industry more transparent and easier for the public to navigate,” said James Dorrian, Managing Director of the National Pension Helpline. “We believe that this data should be freely available, without people having to trudge through hundreds of documents.”
Why Comparing Pension Funds Matters
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Performance Differences Have Long-Term Impact
Even small annual returns gaps—just 1 or 2%—can translate into tens of thousands of euros over a multi-decade pension life cycle. -
Understand Fees and Charges
Comparing management fees across funds helps savers identify lower-cost options—critical for maximizing net returns over time. -
Risk and Asset Allocation Clarity
Different funds carry different risk profiles and asset mixes. The Fund Explorer indicates how a fund’s assets are spread between equities, bonds, property, and more. -
Within-Provider Fund Choices
Many pension providers offer multiple funds with varying strategies. Now users can compare offerings side by side—with their own provider or between providers. -
Informed Conversations with Advisors
While the tool doesn’t offer personal financial advice, it equips users with data to have more productive discussions with regulated financial advisers. As Dorrian notes, “Investing in the wrong fund can cost you in retirement, and smart investments have a compounding effect.”
A First for Ireland and the Road Ahead
While similar comparison platforms exist for other financial products, the Pension Fund Explorer is a first-of-its-kind resource in the Irish pension landscape. No previous resource has offered the same breadth, interactivity, and accessibility.
Development of the tool took over six months—and this is only the beginning. Future enhancements planned include:
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A dedicated section for standard PRSA comparisons.
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Functionality to compare auto-enrolment fund performance.
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Insightful articles that highlight the most suitable funds for savers at various life stages—tailoring to goals, risk appetite, and age.
Importantly, the platform will remain free to use for everyone. User feedback will drive ongoing improvements, ensuring the tool evolves in line with savers’ needs.
How the Fund Explorer Guides Better Pension Decisions
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Discover fund performance trends
Evaluate short- and long-term performance metrics to understand consistency and volatility. -
Assess fee impact
Compare explicit and implicit charges—what truly goes into the fund, and what leaves your returns diminished. -
Evaluate risk profile
See at a glance which funds lean conservative (bonds, cash) versus aggressive (equities, global assets). -
Track your provider’s offerings
Compare your current fund with alternatives from the same provider to ensure alignment with your retirement goals. -
Make sense of fund managers and holdings
Dig deeper into who manages your money—and how they’re investing it.
About National Pension Helpline
Established to be a free and reliable source of pension information, the National Pension Helpline provides:
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Central Bank–regulated pension advisor access,
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Free consultations,
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A vast knowledge base, calculators, assessments, and now the Fund Explorer to help Irish citizens take control of their pension and financial future.
Final Note
Retirement investing is a long journey—and the early decisions you make can significantly shape your financial security down the line. With the Pension Fund Explorer, the National Pension Helpline puts 600+ fund data points at your fingertips—finally delivering the clarity, choice, and control that modern pension savers deserve.
