New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2012

Retirement Fund 2012 (3) invests through underlying State Street equity, fixed income, property and cash strategies, together with the LGIM Diversified Fund. Its asset exposure can include equities, bonds, property, cash and alternatives across regions such as the UK, North America, Europe, Japan, the Pacific Basin and emerging markets. This means the fund is broadly diversified across different markets and asset types.

Retirement Fund 2012 (3) is designed primarily for pension investors who expect to take a retirement lump sum and invest in an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) at retirement. It is part of the IRIS lifestyle strategy, which is built around an investor’s expected retirement year. The fund is meant for people who want a managed approach as they move toward retirement.

Retirement Fund 2012 (3) follows a glide path that gradually switches money from a higher-risk investment strategy in the earlier years to a medium/low-risk strategy as retirement approaches. This is intended to protect more of the pension pot as the retirement date nears. In plain language, the fund becomes more cautious over time rather than staying invested in the same way throughout.

Retirement Fund 2012 (3) is not risk-free: its value can fluctuate over time, even over the medium to long term. The factsheet highlights sustainability risks, which means environmental, social or governance factors could affect how the underlying investments perform. It also notes that securities lending may be used in some underlying funds, which can increase risk while aiming to add extra return.

Retirement Fund 2012 (3) is recommended for a medium to long-term holding period of at least 5 to 7 years. That time frame is intended to help reduce the impact of short-term market ups and downs, though the fund can still lose value over time. The fund is therefore more suited to investors who are building toward retirement rather than those needing quick access to their money.