5 ideas to make the most of your finances in 2026

Sorting your finances doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to put a plan in place, implement it, and let the benefits flow through. Here are five ideas to make a fresh start with your finances in 2026.

Take stock of your finances in 2026

At the mid-point of the 2020s, there is a general sense of change globally. A lot of old certainties that were with us at the start of the decade are under threat.

But the range of possible outcomes for investors is wide. Investors need patience, diversification, and a plan they could have confidence in executive. Now’s an ideal time to re-evaluate investment and pension plans, critique your fund choices, and maybe your appetite for risk too.

How Moneycube can help: in 2025, we developed tactical allocations to emerging markets and Europe within equity portfolios, navigated the ‘Liberation Day’ market crash, and identified the potential for gold early.

If you’d like our help to review your investments, just let us know.

Benchmark your current pension

It’s January – but unlike most recent years, your tax band has not been raised.

If you have a significant birthday this year (one ending in 0 or maybe 5), then you can claim tax relief on more of your income however.

And we’re all getting older: is your pension fund choice right for where you are in career and time to retirement? Your pension has a lot of moving parts, so give it a service now and then.

How Moneycube can help: if you’ve lost contact – or faith – with your pension advisor, we can give your pension a health check.

Lastly, if you’ve no pension, there’s a good chance you’ve just been auto-enrolled.

Consider your cash position

The European Central Bank cut interest rates four times last year, and four times the year before.  It’s now  likely they’ll remain at the current 2% for some time.  If you want to see your money grow, you’ll need to consider investing it.

So if you have a significant lump sum – more than, say, 6 months’ income, sitting in cash in the bank, it is likely worth looking at putting it to work for you, to generate wealth and stay ahead of inflation over the medium term.

How Moneycube can help: We can help you invest a lump sum, whatever its size and shape.

We can also put a regular direct debit plan in place for you, with automated monthly investments into a professionally managed investment fund in line with your requirements for risk and reward.

From multi-asset funds which give your money exposure to many opportunities for growth in a single fund, to large bespoke portfolios in line with your investment preferences, Moneycube can navigate the investment world for you in 2026 and beyond.

Plan for the unexpected with your finances in 2026

We all know how quickly things can change. What would happen you and your dependents financially if you could no longer work?

If you and others depend on your income, you probably need some protection to cover the gap if something happened to you.

How Moneycube can help: we can arrange cover critical illness and life assurance cover, insuring against these risks, whether as part of your pension plan, or on a standalone basis.

Plan for new pensions rules

Two big changes to pension rules have recently taken effect.  Firstly, your pension lifetime limit has increased by €200,000 to €2.2 million. This will continue annually for four years, reaching €2.8 million in 2029.  From then on, it will rise in line with inflation.

If you’re planning to seriously fund your pension, you now have increased scope.

The second change is to PRSAs – and goes in the opposite direction. Since last year, there are restrictions the amount that employers can pay into PRSAs for members of staff. The cap is 100% of the employee’s salary.

If your employer, or your business, has been contributing more than your salary into your pension, you’ll need to review your plans to avoid unexpected taxes.

How Moneycube can help: We’ve been working with affected clients to consider different pension structures, time when they will draw down pension income, and take advantage of the increased Standard Fund Threshold from 2026.

If you’d like our help to review your pension for these changes, just let us know.