€249,000 more in retirement from 3 years working in Dublin
Ditch the earn-more, spend-more trap
This newsletter helps ambitious professionals take control of their money and build real financial freedom without stress, jargon or overwhelm.
Subscribe here to get new stories and strategies every week.
You’ll also be the first to know when coaching and workshops become available.
A message landed in my inbox this month.
A German Account Executive. Used to work at Salesforce Ireland. Now back in Germany.
He’d spotted one of my posts and had a question.
“I think I might have a pension somewhere in Ireland. I contributed like €2,000 years ago. Is it worth tracking down?”
Worth tracking down?
Let me tell you what we found.
The numbers
When you work for Salesforce you contribute 2% and Salesforce contributes 8% to your pension.
His original contribution: €2,210 + €1,473 that the Irish government paid for with a tax refund.
Salesforce matched his contribution with €14,733.
Total contributions: €18,417.
And because he’d left it alone for three years, compound growth had pushed that pot to €28,566.
More than €10,000 growth since he left in 2022!
What happens next
We jumped on a call. Walked through how it all works. Got it set up properly for long-term growth.
The best part?
He can access that money at 50. Wherever he lives in the world.
But if he leaves it untouched until he turns 65, at the market average of 7% annually?
That pot grows to €249,000.
Here’s what struck me about this story
He didn’t even try.
€2,210 was a fraction of what he could have contributed.
He wasn’t maxing out his pension.
He wasn’t thinking strategically.
He just put in a small amount, left Ireland, and forgot about it entirely.
And that “forgotten” contribution is now on track to become a quarter of a million euros.
So let me ask you something
If a small contribution by someone in their early sales career can turn into €249,000…
What could you build if you actually paid attention?
If you’re currently contributing to an Irish pension, this story should wake you up a bit. Most people I speak to are leaving serious money on the table:
→ Not maximising their employer match
→ Not optimising for tax relief
→ Sitting in default funds that are costing them thousands in returns
The biggest reason that money will grow into that amount is because of time.
Time in the market is the biggest opportunity to build wealth.
Before you know it, it will be 2026. Will that be the year that you take control?
The bottom line
These benefits are not unique to Ireland. There are tax advantaged ways to invest in most countries.
The question is whether you’re making the most of it.
If you want my help, I will have a few spots for 1:1 coaching opening next week. Click to button below to be the first to find out:
That is it for this week. I am off to bring some kids to see Sinterklaas in Dutch school.
To your financial freedom,
Sjoerd
P.S. I have my home studio set up now to make shooting content easier.
Keep an eye out for more tips on my instagram.
Sjoerd Bak
Become a Millionaire Ltd
www.bamillionaire.com
