Advice First Financial

Advice First Financial If you need advice on Life Insurance, Mortgages, Pensions, Savings or Investments, give us a call

Advice First Financial Letterkenny provide a full suite of financial advice & Mortgage solutions – all in one place. The team you call when you have questions about Life Insurance, Pensions, Mortgages or to get investment advice

02/09/2026

She spends her days helping people take the leap into homeownership. This August, Shauna took a slightly bigger leap. 🪂

Our Mortgage Advisor Shauna jumped out of a plane in aid of Lifestart Services Donegal, a local charity supporting children and families across Donegal from birth to six years old.

Shauna, you were absolutely brilliant, and we couldn't be prouder. Thank you for being brave enough to do this for such a worthy cause. 🧡

Nine months ago, Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme went live. For hundreds of thousands of workers across the coun...
01/09/2026

Nine months ago, Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme went live.

For hundreds of thousands of workers across the country who had no pension in place, My Future Fund meant contributions started without them having to do anything. Their employer matched them. The State topped it up. On the surface, it looked like the pension problem was solved.

But here's what nine months of conversations with people across Donegal have shown me.

A lot of people don't know what they're contributing. They know something is happening on their payslip, but they haven't looked at the detail. The starting contribution rate is 1.5% of salary from the employee, matched by the employer, with a State top-up. On an average salary, that amounts to a relatively modest monthly figure going into a pension.

Some people assumed auto-enrolment replaced the need for a personal pension review. It doesn't. If you already have a pension, My Future Fund doesn't apply to you. If you're self-employed, it doesn't apply to you either.

And for those who are enrolled, the default fund and contribution level may not reflect where you are in life, how far from retirement you are, or what income you'll actually need when you get there.

Auto-enrolment is a floor, not a ceiling. It was designed to get people started, not to get people to where they need to be.

If you've been enrolled since January and haven't looked at it since, September is a good time to do that. Understand what you're contributing, what fund you're in, and whether it's enough for the retirement you're actually planning for.

If you're not sure where to start, that's exactly what we're here for.

🔗 advicefirst.ie/retirement-pensions-donegal/auto-enrolment-donegal/
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

*For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice. The value of pensions can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Tax relief depends on individual circumstances and may change. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.*
*Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.*

31/08/2026

Why timing your retirement around the market is the wrong approach.

Your mortgage should work as hard as you do, and we'll make sure it does, with impartial advice built around your situat...
28/08/2026

Your mortgage should work as hard as you do, and we'll make sure it does, with impartial advice built around your situation. 🏡

At Advice First, Pascal and the team help people across Donegal review their existing mortgage, explore switching options, and make sure they're not paying more than they need to.

30+ years of experience. Plain English. Honest advice.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 https://vist.ly/5gf9q
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice.
WARNING: Your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other loan secured on it.
WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

27/08/2026

Last week, the Advice First team decided the best way to spend a Thursday was jumping out of a plane. 🪂

All jokes aside, this one meant a lot to us. We took on a charity skydive in aid of Lifestart Services Donegal, an incredible local organisation that supports children and families right here in Donegal from birth to six years old.

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated, shared, and cheered us on, we have raised €3,065 so far for Lifestart. Every single euro stays local and makes a real difference to families in our community.

To everyone who donated, supported, or simply sent us a message of encouragement, thank you. It genuinely means the world to us.

And yes, we all made it back in one piece. 😅

If you want to watch the full video, it's available on our YouTube channel:
🎬 Pascal Curran - Advice First Financial

A GeoDirectory report published recently revealed that Donegal has a residential vacancy rate of 8.9%, more than double ...
26/08/2026

A GeoDirectory report published recently revealed that Donegal has a residential vacancy rate of 8.9%, more than double the national average of 3.7%. 🏠

Nearly 1 in 10 homes are sitting empty in a county where buyers are struggling to find properties. It's a striking contrast and it raises a real question about what's keeping those homes off the market.

Dereliction, probate, owners living elsewhere, planning issues. The reasons vary. But for buyers in Donegal, it's worth understanding what it means practically.

Supply is constrained not because homes don't exist, but because the ones that do aren't coming to market. That keeps competition high on the properties that do, which is part of why prices have risen €13,500 in the last quarter alone.

If you're planning to buy in Donegal, the lesson is the same as it's always been. Have your mortgage approval in place before you start. In a market where good properties go quickly, being ready is everything.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 https://vist.ly/5g6qy
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice.
WARNING: Your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other loan secured on it.
WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

25/08/2026

Why moving to cash too soon could cost you more than you think..

Holding your money in a traditional savings account feels safe. Mathematically, it's a guaranteed loss of purchasing pow...
24/08/2026

Holding your money in a traditional savings account feels safe. Mathematically, it's a guaranteed loss of purchasing power over a 10- or 20-year horizon.

Inflation in Ireland ran at 3.6% in the 12 months to May 2026. The average savings account isn't keeping up with that. Which means every year your money sits still, it buys less than it did the year before.

Cash is a cushion, not a strategy. It should be there for emergencies and short-term needs, 3 to 6 months of expenses as a buffer. Beyond that, it needs a job.

The market fluctuates. Inflation doesn't stop. Every year you wait is a year your money is worth less than it was.

Give your money a job. Get advice. Build a plan.

🔗 https://vist.ly/5fvzk
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Buying your first home in Donegal should be exciting, not overwhelming, and we'll guide you through every step with impa...
21/08/2026

Buying your first home in Donegal should be exciting, not overwhelming, and we'll guide you through every step with impartial advice and no jargon. 🏡

At Advice First, Pascal and the team help first-time buyers across Donegal understand exactly what they can borrow, which lender suits their situation, and what they need to have in place before they start viewing properties.

30+ years of experience. Plain English. Honest advice.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 https://vist.ly/5fkyg
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice.
WARNING: Your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other loan secured on it.
WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

It's one of the questions people find hardest to answer, because most people either guess or just take whatever they're ...
20/08/2026

It's one of the questions people find hardest to answer, because most people either guess or just take whatever they're offered without questioning it. 🏠

Here's the straightforward way to think about it.

Life cover should be enough to clear your mortgage, replace your income for a meaningful period, cover any outstanding loans or debts, and give your family financial stability while they adjust.

For most people in Donegal with a mortgage and dependants, the cover they have through mortgage protection alone isn't enough. Mortgage protection clears the mortgage. It doesn't replace the income your family was relying on.

The right amount is different for everyone. It depends on your income, your mortgage, your family's outgoings, and what existing cover you might already have through work.

What it shouldn't be is a guess.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 https://vist.ly/5fgp8
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice. You must disclose all material facts when applying or your cover may be invalid. If premiums stop, cover will cease.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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2 Port Road
Letterkenny
F92F99F

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