National Pension Helpline - July Newsletter

This month, we dive into pensions in the Roman Empire, unveil our new auto-enrolment calculator, explore ethical pension investing, and explain what happens to your workplace pension when you change jobs. Plenty to unpack — let’s get started.

July 09, 2025

Hi ,

Falling birth rates and rising life expectancy have created top-heavy population pyramids across Europe — placing increasing pressure on pension systems and forcing governments to rethink how we’ll fund retirement in the future.

But where did pensions begin?

We’ve taken a journey through history — from the military pensions of the Roman Empire to the arrival of auto-enrolment in Ireland — to uncover the origins and evolution of the pension.

A history of the Pension – From Roman origins to Auto-enrolment.

Join us on a journey through the centuries as we trace the evolution of pensions — from their origins in the Roman Empire’s military system to the modern rollout of auto-enrolment in Ireland.

nationalpensionhelpline.ie/pensions/a-history-of-the-pension-from-roman-origins-to-auto-enrolment/

Starting in January 2026, Ireland’s new auto-enrolment scheme will give hundreds of thousands of employees automatic access to a workplace pension for the first time.

But do you qualify? Will your employer enrol you automatically? How much of your salary will be contributed — and what kind of pension pot could this build by the time you retire?

Our new Auto-Enrolment Calculator helps you answer these questions and see what the future of your retirement savings might look like.

Auto Enrolment Calculator.

This calculator is designed for employees to quickly find out if they’ll be automatically enrolled, how much of their salary will go towards their pension and how much pension they will receive upon retirement.

nationalpensionhelpline.ie/pension-calculators/auto-enrolment-calculator/

But what if you already have a pension in place?

Whether you're just starting out or have been paying into an occupational or personal pension for years, you might be wondering where your money is actually going — and whether it aligns with your values.

Ethical pension investing is a growing trend that prioritises environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns — like sustainability and climate impact — alongside financial returns when choosing how and where to invest your pension savings.

In the article below, we explore what ethical investing really means, why it matters, and how you can make more informed choices about your pension’s impact.

Ethical Pension Investing – Is your Pension Funding War and Global Warming?.

Is your pension invested in companies that are not in alignment with your ethics or values?

nationalpensionhelpline.ie/pensions/ethical-pension-investing/

A question we get asked more and more is what happens if you are leaving employment that offers an occupational pension scheme to move to another employer or to become self-employed, what happens to the pension you’ve built up?

Do you just leave it there? Do you bring it with you?

In the article below, we break down your options when leaving service, helping you understand what you can (and should) do with your pension to stay on track for retirement.

Leaving Service Options.

What will happen to your pension when you leave your employer? The key mistake people make is failing to seek advice.

nationalpensionhelpline.ie/pensions/leaving-service-options/

As always, we’re here to help you make confident, informed decisions about your pension. If you have questions or want to dive deeper into any topic, just hit reply.