Ireland’s Low-Cost PRSA – Execution-Only
For investors who prefer selecting their own pension investment funds, a low-cost PRSA can help manage long-term retirement savings.
One Quote Financial Brokers has partnered with Royal London Ireland to offer a PRSA with a low Annual Management Charge (AMC) and 100% allocation, available on an execution-only basis. We operate this PRSA service option, on a nil-commission model, with the AMC fixed for the term of your PRSA. Royal London Active Funds are 0.40% AMC, whereas the BlackRock Index Passive Funds (bar Cash) are 0.35% AMC.
There are no early-exit, fund switching, or policy fees. A direct broker fee will apply, as this is a nil-commission model.
How This Execution-Only PRSA Works
This is an execution-only service:
- No personal financial advice is provided
- Clients are fully responsible for all investment decisions, including fund selection, contribution levels, and assessing suitability for their risk tolerance and retirement objectives
This PRSA is made available for individuals who:
- Are comfortable researching and selecting their own funds
- Prioritise low pension charges
- Can afford to Contribute €500/month or more to their pension
- Prefer control over their investment decisions rather than ongoing advice
It may particularly suit self-employed professionals, contractors, or AVC contributors supplementing an existing occupational pension, although our full advisory options remain available.
Why PRSA Charges Matter
A low-cost PRSA with an AMC starting from 0.35% per annum can provide a significant advantage, particularly when the typical charge in Ireland is at least 0.75% AMC. While a typical AMC may seem small at first, applied annually over decades it can meaningfully reduce retirement savings. Lower-cost PRSAs allow a greater proportion of your contributions to remain invested, enhancing the potential effect of compound growth over time
Typical Charges vs Execution-Only Option
| PRSA Option | AMC |
|---|---|
| Typical minimum execution-only PRSA | 0.75% |
| Royal London Active Funds | 0.40% |
| BlackRock Index Passive Funds (excluding Cash) | 0.35% |
Reducing PRSA charges is one of the few elements of pension investing that clients can control.
Royal London’s Fund Range is accessible here.
How Lower Charges Can Grow Your Pension
Retirement savings grow through a combination of:
- Regular contributions
- Investment returns
- Compound growth over time
Illustrative Scenario (Age 35–65):
- Starting contribution: €500/month
- Annual contribution indexation: 5%
- Step-ups: +€200 at ages 40, 50, 60
- Lump sums: €3,000 at ages 45 and 55
- Net investment return: 6% per year (after AMC)
- Compounding: Monthly
Estimated Fund Value at 65
| PRSA | Monthly Contribution | Fund at 65 | Fee Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher fee (0.75%) | €500+, step-ups & lumps | €1,080,000 | – |
| Lower fee (0.35%) | €500+, step-ups & lumps | €1,140,000 | +€60,000 |
⚠️ Assumes consistent contributions, hypothetical growth, and does not guarantee returns. Figures are illustrative only and are not a projection or recommendation. Past performance and hypothetical scenarios are not indicative of future returns.
Worked Example – Impact of Charges Over Time
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Start age | 35 |
| End age | 65 |
| Initial monthly contribution | €500 |
| Contribution indexation | 5% per year |
| Step-ups | +€200 at ages 40, 50, 60 |
| Lump sums | €3,000 at ages 45 and 55 |
| Net investment return | 6% per year |
| Compounding | Monthly |
| PRSA A | 0.75% AMC |
| PRSA B | 0.35% AMC |
⚠️ Values are illustrative only. They assume consistent contributions, the specified growth rate, and AMC over 30 years. They are not a projection or guarantee of future results.
Royal London ValueShare
Royal London PRSA policies may receive ValueShare bonuses when company performance allows:
- Added annually (usually April)
- Once added, it compounds alongside your pension
- Past three years (including April 2025) added ~0.13% per year
⚠️ Past allocations are not guaranteed and may be zero in any given year.
Investment Risk & Sustainability
- ESMA Risk Rating: 1 (lowest) – 7 (highest)
- SFDR Classification: Shows how strongly ESG factors are integrated
You can review individual fund factsheets to help understand risk and sustainability.
Fund Options Available – Making Your Choice
This Royal London Non-Standard PRSA provides access to a wide range of funds, allowing investors to tailor a portfolio to their risk profile and investment philosophy.
| Fund Type | AMC |
|---|---|
| Active Funds (Royal London Asset Management) | 0.40% per annum |
| Passive Funds (BlackRock, excluding cash funds) | 0.35% per annum |
To assist with fund selection, clients can use the online Suitability Tool, which includes:
- Risk profiler – assess tolerance for investment risk
- Sustainability questionnaires – consider ESG factors
Clients may choose to complete both assessments, or just the risk profiler.
Access Royal London’s suitability tool and review fund factsheets.
⚠️Clients may review this online tool for informational purposes only; it does not constitute advice or a recommendation. All investment decisions remain the client’s responsibility.
Optional Features
Portfolio Rebalancing
- Automatically adjusts holdings to maintain your chosen allocation
- Reduces the need for manual intervention
Automatic De-Risking (Lifestyle Strategy)
- Gradually moves investments from higher-risk growth funds into lower-risk funds approaching retirement
- You select: initial risk, de-risking period (5, 10, 15 years), and target allocation at retirement
Optional features provide flexibility while keeping the service execution-only.
Professional Broker Setup Fees
- €750 personal or €950 one-man employer sponsored arrangement
- Covers setup, documentation, fund access, and contribution administration
- No ongoing advisory fees or commissions
- Where existing pension funds are transferred at setup, a minimum transfer value of €10,000 is required for 100% allocation.
- Transfers below €10,000 will receive 98% allocation, in line with Royal London terms.
Paying a direct broker fee of €750 (individual) or €950 (one-person employer) now gives you the option of a low-cost PRSA. This structure provides access to a low-cost PRSA, which may reduce overall charges over the lifetime of the plan, depending on contribution levels, investment returns, and time horizon.
- Lump sum transfers at setup incur an additional broker administration fee of €250 per transfer, there are no additional broker fees for payment of any new single premium lump sums thereafter.
Who This PRSA is Best Suited For
This information is provided to explain typical usage; it does not constitute advice or a recommendation for any individual.
- Self-employed professionals and contractors
- AVC contributors supplementing an existing pension
- Financially literate investors who manage their own funds
Learn more about our advisory PRSA options.
Flexibility for the Future
- This execution-only PRSA does not lock you in
- You can transfer to another provider or move to a fully advised PRSA if circumstances change
Total Cost Transparency
- AMC includes Additional Investment Expenses (AIE):
- RL active funds max AIE: ~0.18%
- BlackRock passive funds max AIE: ~0.08%
Additional Royal London costs are outlined in fund factsheets
Take Control of Your PRSA Costs
For investors who value low charges, transparency, and control, an execution-only PRSA can be a cost-efficient structure.
- Comfortable choosing your own funds?
- Contributing €500/month or more?
This approach can reduce long-term pension costs while retaining flexibility for future advice if needed.
⚠️This is factual information about charges and contributions; it is not personalised advice.
⚠️ For existing Royal London PRSA plan holders, any client decision to cancel and replace an existing PRSA is at the discretion of Royal London Ireland.
Contact One Quote Financial Brokers today to arrange your professional execution-only PRSA setup: Request Application Pack
Blog Author
Ken O’Gorman – Director, CB, QFA, RPA, SIA – Retirement Planning Specialist
One Quote Financial Brokers is authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland. Our execution-only PRSA services fully comply with the Consumer Protection Code. Established in 2008, we deliver clarity, transparency, and financial solutions designed for your needs.
