Savings for child education

chases0102 · 06-09-2020 7:46pm #1

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice.

Wish to start saving for child's education - return from Post Office/Credit Union/bank is pitiful, so looking at a saving/investment plan from Zurich, who will manage it for an annual fee.

Is this wise? Insofar, as I'd be a bit nervous with anything regarded as "investments" when talking about saving for my child's education, but it will lose value if it just stays in a PO account.

Thanks folks

blindside88 · 06-09-2020 7:52pm

chases0102 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice.

Wish to start saving for child's education - return from Post Office/Credit Union/bank is pitiful, so looking at a saving/investment plan from Zurich, who will manage it for an annual fee.

Is this wise? Insofar, as I'd be a bit nervous with anything regarded as "investments" when talking about saving for my child's education, but it will lose value if it just stays in a PO account.

Thanks folks

Generally speaking this type of investment it’s a very good idea depending on how far the child is from needing access to the funds. You can go relatively low risk

EL_Loco · 06-09-2020 8:06pm

yer man on the telly was only on about this a few days ago. In a nutshell match the investment product with the timeline of when you'll want to use it. You'll beat a short term interest rate. Long term goal matched with a long term investment product was the main advice.

Other stats from the program were
12,000 a year for college if your child moves out to attend.
7,000 if they stay at home and attend.

Not sure if it's college you meant. Regardless, investing the children's allowance (140 a week) in the longer term product yielded ~48k

edit: "how to be good with money" season 2, episode 8 you'll get it on the rte player.

chases0102 · 06-09-2020 8:13pm

Thanks for replies folks.

Yeah, I suppose in my head it's for their third level education, if they are that way inclined. Even if they wanted it for a car, or what have you.

Children are only 3 and 6 months at this rate, so yeah, long term goal (by the time they are 17/18/19 etc.) would be what I have in my head.

Fairly clueless when it comes to this stuff, so just looking for a little bit of reassurance that I wasn't being irresponsible by looking outside of Credit Union or Post Office.

Mantis Toboggan · 07-09-2020 11:49am

EL_Loco wrote: »

yer man on the telly was only on about this a few days ago. In a nutshell match the investment product with the timeline of when you'll want to use it. You'll beat a short term interest rate. Long term goal matched with a long term investment product was the main advice.

Other stats from the program were
12,000 a year for college if your child moves out to attend.
7,000 if they stay at home and attend.

Not sure if it's college you meant. Regardless, investing the children's allowance (140 a week) in the longer term product yielded ~48k

edit: "how to be good with money" season 2, episode 8 you'll get it on the rte player.

I wish the Children's allowance was 140 a week!! It's 140 per month.

EL_Loco · 07-09-2020 9:09pm

I see. I see. Guess who hasn't any children ;-) Universal wage can't be far off, maybe 2022 it'll be weekly :-p

chases0102 · 07-09-2020 10:02pm

Cheers folks!

chases0102 · 14-09-2020 7:47pm

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with a Zurich Prisma 4 fund? This is what I am looking at putting the education fund for the kids....as I said, I am not too au fait with investments etc., but if it is for a long term gain, I hope that this fund will at least beat inflation.

nqtfarmer · 24-06-2021 9:39pm

Recently went to a financial advisor who advised us the benefits of the Zurich education scheme. There are plenty of pros etc but also the warning ‘you may lose some or all of your investment’ How likely is that your investment would lose money and how could it happen?

Mantis Toboggan · 24-06-2021 9:56pm

nqtfarmer wrote: »

Recently went to a financial advisor who advised us the benefits of the Zurich education scheme. There are plenty of pros etc but also the warning ‘you may lose some or all of your investment’ How likely is that your investment would lose money and how could it happen?

Maybe ask the advisor?

nqtfarmer · 24-06-2021 11:15pm

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Maybe ask the advisor?

I will but I’m also aware he’s a salesman. Just looking for independent opinion

Static M.e. · 25-06-2021 9:58am

nqtfarmer wrote: »

Recently went to a financial advisor who advised us the benefits of the Zurich education scheme. There are plenty of pros etc but also the warning ‘you may lose some or all of your investment’ How likely is that your investment would lose money and how could it happen?

I don' think anyone can answer that for you. If you invest money in the stock market and it has a massive crash, you could \ will lose some \ all of your investment. There *could* be a 10 year period where the stock market never recovers to todays levels... It's the Risk you pay for the the returns you are getting. Do I think it is likely? No not at all but no one knows...My personal viewpoint is that I will lose money 1 year in four, if I do better than that I will be happy.

ineedeuro · 25-06-2021 10:42am

IM in the process of doing the same and have the exact same questions :-)

I was looking around and just can't get a good saving account. Now I had a chat with guy in Zurich. You do nee to save a lump sum up front, 7500 I think to reduce the rates they charge. Then you have multiple options if you want to go high/medium/low

My question is, does anyone else provide this type of setup? Thanks

25-06-2021 1:03pm

ineedeuro wrote: »

I was looking around and just can't get a good saving account. Now I had a chat with guy in Zurich. You do nee to save a lump sum up front, 7500 I think to reduce the rates they charge. Then you have multiple options if you want to go high/medium/low

My question is, does anyone else provide this type of setup? Thanks

You can buy a 'better' version of that product elsewhere on an execution only basis (you won't get advice on the funds).

By 'better' I mean - a lower SP up-front (€5K), 101% allocation on all contributions (Regular/Single), 1% AMC on up to 35 funds and no exit charges. No exit charges also means you can add SPs of (min €500) when you want.

If you didn't have the SP and just wanted to save (min) €100 pm the allocation rate would be 100% but rest of features would be the same.

Rustyman101 · 25-06-2021 4:20pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You can buy a 'better' version of that product elsewhere on an execution only basis (you won't get advice on the funds).

By 'better' I mean - a lower SP up-front (€5K), 101% allocation on all contributions (Regular/Single), 1% AMC on up to 35 funds and no exit charges. No exit charges also means you can add SPs of (min €500) when you want.

If you didn't have the SP and just wanted to save (min) €100 pm the allocation rate would be 100% but rest of features would be the same.

Any chance of a PM on where ? Currently have zuirch funds but AMC is 1.5% on some products

plasmin · 26-06-2021 12:54am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You can buy a 'better' version of that product elsewhere on an execution only basis (you won't get advice on the funds).

By 'better' I mean - a lower SP up-front (€5K), 101% allocation on all contributions (Regular/Single), 1% AMC on up to 35 funds and no exit charges. No exit charges also means you can add SPs of (min €500) when you want.

If you didn't have the SP and just wanted to save (min) €100 pm the allocation rate would be 100% but rest of features would be the same.

Very interesting, thanks
Would you please indicate where/which funds?
I am sure like me few people on this forum would be curious to know.
Thanks

Bass Reeves · 26-06-2021 12:57am

Start a small business and become a sole trader

j1d2c3 · 11-01-2022 1:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117516038#Comment_117516038

Any insight on the Zurich alternative?

11-01-2022 7:45pm

Why not just open an Degiro account and buy an accumulating global ETF like VWCE? Is there an advantage to going through Zurich and the likes and paying them fees?

kennyb3 · 24-01-2022 6:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117516038#Comment_117516038

Plus 1, in the exact same boat.

Looking to invest 100pm and looking for highest allocation/lowest fee (AMC) option.

If anyone has an advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Shedite27 · 30-01-2022 9:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118527037#Comment_118527037

Open a Degiro account, there's lots of ETF's for 0.07% - 0.2% which is way below what you'll get for investment companies in Ireland.

Going through Zurich etc you'll pay a fee to the life company (1%), levy to the government (1%) and get the same results

jimmythesulk · 30-01-2022 9:59am

Buy shares is my advice. Pick safe company's like tesla, Google and tesco. You can't go wrong.

downtheroad · 30-01-2022 10:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118553215#Comment_118553215

Deemed disposal after 8 years and a 41% exit tax. If somebody says they have no idea on whether to leave it in a post office or invest, they'll certainly have no idea on the tax implications of an ETF.

AndrewJRenko · 30-01-2022 10:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118553227#Comment_118553227

Don't invest in shares on the basis that 'you can't go wrong'. You probably won't go wrong in the long term with blue chip companies, but it possibly could happen.

Diversify very well, or buy a fund and let them diversify.

Shedite27 · 30-01-2022 5:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118553241#Comment_118553241

Every option requires some research. Original poster was looing for an ETF option

Savings for child education

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