QuayStone
Life & Pensions
Clear, practical pension advice.
Helping individuals, business owners, and companies plan confidently for retirement.
QuayStone Life & Pensions Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
How we can help
Retirement & Pension Planning
Advice at every stage of life, from starting out to retirement.
Personal & Company Pensions
Including personal pensions, company, corporate and executive pension solutions.
Pension Reviews & Consolidation
Reviewing existing pensions and helping you bring everything together.
Clear guidance. Steady progress. No pressure.
Why choose QuayStone?
Independent, client-focused advice
We’re not tied to any provider, so our recommendations are based entirely on what’s right for you and your long-term goals.
Ongoing support at every stage
From first pension to retirement and beyond, we’re here to guide you with regular reviews and practical next steps.
Clear explanations in plain English
No jargon, no confusion, just simple, honest advice so you can feel confident about every decision you make.
Straightforward advice you can trust
Who We Are
Meet Brendan Cooke
Brendan Cooke AITI, FIIPM, FLIA, QFA is a pensions and financial services professional with over 43 years’ experience, specialising in corporate and group pension solutions.
Brendan provides clear, practical advice grounded in deep industry knowledge, strong governance, and a focus on delivering positive long-term outcomes for clients.
FAQs for Pension & Retirement Planning
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A PRSA (Personal Retirement Savings Account) is a personal pension that you can take out yourself, independently of an employer. It’s flexible and portable, meaning it stays with you if you change jobs or move between employed and self-employed work.
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A company pension is set up through your employer and may include an employer contribution alongside your own. A PRSA is a personal arrangement that you control yourself. Many people have a combination of different pension arrangements throughout their working life.
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Contributions you make to a pension can qualify for income tax relief, subject to age-related limits set by Revenue and based on your earnings. The amount you can contribute with tax relief generally increases as you get older. An adviser can help you understand the limits that apply to your individual circumstances.
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Auto-enrolment is Ireland’s new workplace pension system, designed to automatically enrol eligible employees who aren’t already contributing to a workplace pension. Contributions are made by the employee, employer and State. The rules and eligibility criteria can change, so it’s worth checking how the system applies to your circumstances.
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The age at which you can access a pension depends on the type of pension and the scheme rules. In some circumstances, it may be possible to access pension benefits before the standard retirement age. There are also specific exceptions, including certain cases involving ill health. An adviser can help you understand the options that apply to your pension.
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There’s no single figure that everyone should have saved by a particular age. It depends on your income, when you started saving, your contributions and the retirement lifestyle you want. A personalised pension projection can give you a much clearer picture of whether you’re on track.
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When you change jobs, you may have several options for your existing pension, including leaving it where it is, transferring it to a new employer’s scheme, or moving it into a PRSA or another personal arrangement. The right option depends on your circumstances and the terms of your existing pension.
I’d leave the AVC question out for now. It’s useful, but these seven give you a better spread of high-value topics without making the FAQ unnecessarily long.
