The Wealth Hack You're Probably Sleeping On

We are officially halfway through the year, and you still have not hit the savings goal you set for yourself in January. You feel disappointed. Maybe even like a failure.

But what if I told you that you could make up that money in just 30 minutes? Without getting a raise, working overtime or picking up another side hustle. Just by sending one email.

I know these sounds like one of those 419 emails promising to double your money if you hand over a hundred euro first. But I promise this is different.

This is real and is the tool a significant portion of the wealthy Irish leverage to grow their wealth. And it might be exactly what helps you reach your financial goals before the end of the year.

The answer? Pensions.

Yes. That boring word no one ever really explained to us properly. The thing most of us associate with old age, long forms and HR paperwork. However, it is actually one of the most powerful tools available to you right now as a professional in Ireland.

If you are already contributing to one, well done. You are way ahead of the curve. If not, this is your sign to stop ignoring it. Because your pension could be the wealth hack that helps you build serious financial momentum, even while you're sleeping.

Here is what your pension actually does:

• It lowers your income tax

• It allows you to invest your money for the future

• Your employer may also add money to it (this is free money)

• Your investments grow tax-free over time

• You build long-term wealth without needing to actively do anything

  
  

Let me put this into numbers.

If you contribute €100 into your pension, it might only cost you around €60 because of tax relief. If your employer matches that contribution, now you have €200 invested. So your €60 just turned into €200 of long-term wealth.

That is over three times the value of what you actually gave up.

Now you might be wondering, how do you actually set this up?

It depends on your company, but here are the steps:

1. Find out if your employer has a pension scheme. Ask HR or check your employee handbook. Most companies in Ireland offer some form of workplace pension, even if it is optional.

   
   

2. Check your current contribution.Log into your pension portal (e.g. Irish Life, Zurich, etc.) or ask HR to confirm what percentage you are currently contributing. Many people are automatically enrolled at a low rate, like 2 or 5 percent.

   
   

3. Ask if your employer matches contributions. Some companies will match up to a certain amount,for example, if you contribute 6 percent, they might also contribute 6 percent (cha-ching). This is money you do not want to leave on the table.

   
   

4. Increase your contribution if you can. Even a 1 or 2 percent increase can make a big difference over time. You can usually update your contribution through HR or by submitting a short form.

   
   

5. Make it automatic.Once it is set up, it comes out of your salary before tax. You do not have to think about it again.

   
   

That is it. That is the email. That is the 30-minute move. And that could be the decision that 

The truth is the best ways to build wealth are not flashy. They are not trending on TikTok. They are not always some secret side hustle.

They are things like your pension. Quiet. Boring. Effective.

If you are in your twenties or thirties, your biggest advantage is time because compound interest is that girl. You do not need to be on six figures. You just need to start early, start small, stay consistent, and let compound interest do what it does best.

So stop ignoring pensions.Stop thinking investing is only for rich people.Stop leaving free money on the table.

This might just be the year you take control of your financial future, and all it takes is 30 minutes of your day today.