6 steps to take in 2026 towards financial freedom
As we hurtle towards 2026, many households are looking for ways to strengthen their finances, reduce any money-related stresses, and make real progress toward long-term goals. After several years of pretty buoyant markets, higher inflation and some important tax changes, it’s a good time to take stock and reset.
Financial freedom doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when you take a series of well-chosen steps consistently. Below are six high-impact actions you can take in 2026 to help you on your path towards financial freedom.
Top up your emergency fund
An emergency fund provides stability and reduces the need to borrow at expensive rates if something unexpected happens.
Your goal should be to have a war chest of 3-6 months’ essential expenses, that is immediately accessible. However it’s important to remember that tax on savings remains at 33% (DIRT), so even high-interest savings accounts usually underperform inflation. This reinforces the need to hold only what you truly need in cash, while investing the remainder with a view to beating inflation.
2. Build a structured investing habit
Long-term investing works best when you continue your investing, irrespective of how markets are performing. In 2026, continue to invest monthly into a diversified fund that has aligned the risk levels with your investment time horizons.
Talk to us to find the optimal investment solution for you. Depending on your circumstances, we will help you navigate the best path between investment funds that are taxed on exit at 38% and CGT based investments that are taxed at a lower rate of 33%.
3. Make your pension work harder
Pensions remain the most tax-efficient long-term wealth vehicle available to Irish savers. The essential actions are to review your existing arrangement, increase contributions where possible and to ensure your fund choice matches your appetite for risk.
However you also need to be aware of some rule changes in recent years that require your attention and our advice. Different rules apply to occupational pension schemes and PRSAs – your specific circumstances will determine the best path for you. Also, if you are building up a sizeable pension fund, there has been good news in that the Standard Fund Threshold (SFT) was increased in recent years, giving more scope for long-term contributions without breaching limits.
Pensions are an area where advice adds substantial value. Small changes now can transform your long-term financial health.
4. Optimise your tax position early
While we are not tax consultants, we always advise our clients that tax planning is not just a year-end task, instead it needs your regular attention. Some of the areas that we highlight includes the importance of reviewing your tax credits, allowances and reliefs, and ensuring your investments are structured efficiently. We also advice clients to strategically plan your transfer of family wealth, making full use where appropriate of the Small Gift Exemption.
Tax efficiency is one of the most controllable parts of financial planning, and sometimes one of the most overlooked.
5. Get your household finances running smoothly
When day-to-day finances are organised, everything else becomes easier. These might include simple actions such as,
Reviewing your mortgage - rate changes have stabilised but switching may still save money.
Eliminating any high-cost debt.
Reviewing your life, mortgage protection and income protection policies to ensure you have appropriate cover levels at the most competitive rates.
Automating savings and investments, while also ensuring that charges are not taking an outsized chunk from your hard-earned funds.
6. The key to it all – have a clear financial plan
A structured financial plan ties all the previous steps together into a coherent roadmap. A good plan takes account of your specific circumstances, your own goals and ambitions and your different financial time horizons. It then sets out appropriate investment and pension strategies to help you achieve your goals.
However, we’re always at pains to point out that this only gets you to the starting line. The real magic happens over the future years to come as we work alongside you, helping you stay on track. Sometimes this might be tweaking your investment approach, at other times it might be gently reminding you to shut out the constant market noise and to stay on your best investment behaviour by sticking to the plan and avoiding any knee-jerk reactions.
Financial freedom comes from consistent, purposeful actions. With the right guidance, smart tax planning and a clear structure, 2026 can be a breakthrough year for your long-term financial wellbeing.
If you'd like help implementing any of the steps above or want a full financial review, we’re here to support you every step of the way.