At the start of the year, we published a blog about improving your financial wellbeing in 2025. The tips we provided – including taking small but meaningful steps towards your goals and avoiding scaremongering news sources – are a great place to start.

But what about your long-term future?

When you think of the priorities that fuel your long-term financial plan, the following might crop up:

• Retiring at the age you want
• Selling your business for a healthy sum
• Affording an easy and comfortable life
• Providing for your family before and after you pass away.

Underpinning all these points, and likely any others that come to mind, is the concept of happiness.

Although this word means something different to everyone, it usually encompasses a feeling of peace, freedom, contentment, and security – something that the above goals certainly imply and involve.

With the International Day of Happiness having just passed, falling on 20 March, now is a great time to start building happiness into your financial plan.

Here is how.

Attach concrete meaning to the word “happiness”

Your “happy” is unique to you. As it’s an abstract term, you need to spend some time forming your own, tangible version of it.

Perhaps your idea of bliss is taking as many exotic holidays as possible and eventually retiring abroad in the sunshine.

Alternatively, you might be someone who wants to spend as much time as possible relaxing at home away from the office and, once you retire, partaking in life’s simple pleasures and enjoying your family.

Building happiness into your financial plan requires some introspection because, taking the above two scenarios as examples, the wealth plans needed to achieve your version of happiness would be very different.

Taking the first example of jet-setting throughout the year and a sun-soaked retirement, it’s likely that you would be prepared to work extremely hard and earn as much as possible to achieve this dream. In this instance, you may prioritise saving and investing in a way that’s easy to access later while achieving the maximum possible growth. You could also explore investing for income to supplement your earnings over time.

On the other hand, someone who wants the simple life might be looking to invest over the very long term and may prioritise leaving a large legacy behind after they pass away. This person might also prioritise retiring early and maintaining a strong work-life balance.

You can see here that taking the time to think, “What would truly make me happy in life?” means you can tailor your finances to suit this. Without this crucial period of introspection, you could find yourself living on auto-pilot until retirement.

Start taking your happiness seriously from today

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

You may be wondering how to make yourself as happy as possible once you retire. But in fact, there are ways to build happiness into your life today, and your money can play a big role.

Think about:

• Prioritising meaningful spending. If you have a hobby that genuinely fulfils you, it’s worth paying to pursue it. On the other hand, reckless spending on forgettable experiences might be fun in the moment, but over time, this habit could harm your ability to go after your real goals.
• Regularly reflecting on your wellbeing. It’s easy to live with less-than-ideal circumstances for a long time, not even realising you’re unhappy. Take the time to regularly pause and think about how things are going for you, and what you might want to change.
• Remembering your money isn’t everything. While financial freedom can play a big part in a person’s happiness, nurturing your relationships and your wellbeing is fundamental to happiness.

It might sound obvious, but when was the last time you put your own happiness first? Reflecting on this might prompt you to think of happiness not just as a future goal, but as a reality you can create in the here and now.

Share your thoughts and ideas with your loved ones and professionals who can help

Nobody builds a life worth living all by themselves. It takes a team, which for you, might include:

• Your spouse or partner
• Your children
• Key people within your business
• Tax advisers and legal professionals
• A bespoke financial planner.

Now that you’re beginning to think of your happiness as an important element that drives your financial plan, start sharing your ideas with those you trust.

Your spouse might share your goals or have ambitions of their own, and together, you’ll be able to form a strategy that is both financially suitable and emotionally fulfilling.

Financial professionals come in handy here, because we can listen to you and tailor a plan that suits your time frame and goals.

Get in touch with our expert team at iQ Financial

We are here to help you achieve a fulfilling life during your career and after it comes to an end.

Email us at clients@iqf.ie, or call 353 71 915 5560.

Please note

This article is for information only. It does not constitute advice.

It describes financial planning services that iQ Financial can offer to you. Financial planning services are not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

iQ Financial is not a tax adviser and tax advisory services are not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.