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I have been sitting on about €140,000 in my current account for the past year. It’s what was left over when I sold a property. I keep reading about inflation and how banks are paying no interest and might start paying negative interest, and so on.

The phrase “Morton’s fork” can be traced back to the time of King Henry VII in the 15th century, when John Morton, then the Archbishop of Canterbury and lord chancellor, rationalised that a tax levied by the king was just.

Consider splitting investment risk and cutting tax exposure by building up your pension fund

Would-be investors have a difficult decision to make when considering their options. If they are going to increase their wealth, they will need, at a minimum, to beat inflation and whatever they are paying in charges.

No matter how far away you are from retirement, it is always a good time to start a pension or to build up your contributions. And the tax benefits are considerable, writes Siobhán Maguire

If I asked 10 people on the street how long they thought pensions had existed, what do you think they would say? Since the 1960s, the formation of the state, or Victorian times?

Q I HAVE €150,000 which I want to invest for between 10 and 15 years — with a view to using it to fund my retirement in the future. I’m 50 years old. I am interested in property investment and had considered using the lump sum to buy a property outright.

Eoghan Gavigan, a specialist investment adviser and certified financial planner at Highfield Financial Planning, has advice for those looking to start a pension, writes Siobhán Maguire

The area of pension guidance can be a minefield, but it’s one which Highfield Financial Planning is happy to negotiate for its clients