The seismic geopolitical shifts of recent years, of which the Iran conflict is the latest chapter, have made long‑ term planning increasingly challenging, unless one were to take the advice of Fyodor Dostoevsky in an 1838 letter to his brother: “I have a new plan: to go mad.”
Ireland, despite its affluence, has been something of a laggard in promoting wealth management solutions for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and executives seeking to preserve, grow, and transfer wealth.
However, a well-structured wealth management strategy reduces uncertainty, supports informed decision-making, and gives both individuals and families confidence to manage finances and life choices, even when circumstances shift unexpectedly.
Irish household net wealth reached €1.34 trillion as of the third quarter of last year, a €48.3 billion increase on the previous quarter, according to the Central Bank.
Despite this, investment in savings schemes has lagged that of many EU member states – Ireland’s household saving rate was 12.4% in Q4 2025, according to the CSO.
Like households, high-net-worth individuals have traditionally favoured low-risk, low-yield investments. However, policy changes could open up new opportunities, according to Michael D’Arcy, chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Managers (IAIM).
“Overall, the Irish investment sector is a €5 trillion industry,” he said. “To put that into context, going back 15 or so years, the bank guarantee was introduced to protect what was at the time a €440 billion sector. That gives you an understanding of the scale of the sector now.”
The first thing you have to figure out is what you want, and how that fits into your strategy
While the wealth management sector has matured in recent years, no two strategies are the same, D’Arcy adds. Planning an effective wealth management strategy requires thorough due diligence, and Ireland boasts a strong advisory ecosystem to support clients as they embark on this process.
“The first thing you have to figure out is what you want, and how that fits into your strategy – depending on your age, the next generation, the sectors you want to participate in, and how bold you want to be,” he says. “Due diligence is crucial.”
According to Laura Reidy, director, wealth management, at financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, the current macroeconomic environment has led to an upsurge in requests for wealth management advice, both in terms of financial outcomes as well as longer-term reassurance.
“Many come to us during periods of market volatility, like the one we’re experiencing now,” she said. “But often it’s less about the markets themselves and more about how they’re feeling in response to everything happening around them. What they’re really looking for is support at a particular moment in time – a trusted advisor who can help guide them through changing markets, lifestyle shifts, life stages, and evolving family circumstances.
Family businesses typically take a longer-term approach to investment.
“It’s about preserving the capital necessary to sustain a business through its growth stages, navigating the ups and downs that all companies face,” said John McGrane, CEO of the Family Business Network Ireland. “Unlike large multinationals in tech or pharma, family businesses need to conserve their capital and use it prudently to support current operations while ensuring future success and evolution across multiple generations.”
Succession and estate planning are essential components of family business strategy, McGrane adds.
“As generations evolve, more attention naturally turns to not just setting the right aspirations for the next decade or generation, but also documenting them appropriately,” he said. “The law is rightly becoming more thoughtful in this area.”
He points to the recent introduction of the Advanced Healthcare Directive Regulation, which aims to protect those whose decision-making capacity may be affected by age. “This ensures that decisions – such as managing the future of a family business – are guided by independent professional advice from both health and legal experts.”
