Ireland’s wealth advisers confront a quieter shift in how money is held, not just made
Ireland’s wealth story remains outwardly strong. Growth continues, multinational capital flows remain steady and entrepreneurial exits are still feeding a new generation of high net worth individuals. But beneath that surface, advisers say the conversation has shifted.
See Ireland’s Top Advisors and Managers list from Citywealth
The publication of Budget 2026, framed by government as a “pro-investment” package, signals a more deliberate approach to how capital is taxed, structured and retained. For private clients, the implications are less about headline tax rates and more about how the system is evolving in detail.
“There is a clear direction of travel towards simplification, but also towards visibility,” says one Dublin-based tax partner from this year’s Citywealth Top 15. “Clients are less concerned about rates than they are about how rules are applied across borders.”
Tax reform: less about rates, more about structure
A central theme is the reform of Ireland’s interest deductibility and investment regime, now moving through consultation and phased implementation. For advisers, this matters not just for corporates but for family offices and holding structures.
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Several on this year’s list, including senior figures at KPMG, EY and Matheson, point to increasing demand for integrated structuring advice, particularly where private wealth intersects with operating businesses.
John Gill, who leads private wealth at Matheson, notes that Ireland’s appeal remains intact but more conditional. “Clients are still choosing Ireland, but they are doing so with far more scrutiny around how structures will hold up over time.”
Ireland’s continued absence of a broad wealth taxremains a defining advantage, particularly for internationally mobile clients.
But advisers caution that this does not mean a light-touch environment. Reporting obligations, data sharing and enforcement have all intensified.
Housing, liquidity and the reallocation of capital
Property continues to dominate both public debate and private balance sheets. Budget measures aimed at increasing housing supply, including tax incentives for development and changes to VAT and construction reliefs, reflect the scale of the issue.
For private clients, however, the question is shifting. “We are seeing clients actively reconsidering their exposure to Irish residential property,” says a senior adviser from one of the Big Four firms represented on the list. “Not necessarily exiting, but rebalancing.”
Partners at firms including Crowe, BDO and Grant Thornton describe a noticeable move towards diversification into private assets, funds and international structures, particularly as domestic property becomes more politically and fiscally sensitive.
The rise of the family office mindset
One of the clearest structural changes is the growing formalisation of wealth. Where Irish wealth was once managed informally, advisers now describe a steady move towards family office frameworks, governance structures and long-term planning models.
Keith Young, who heads family office services at BLG, points to a generational shift. “The first generation is still focused on building. The second is focused on protecting. The third is asking different questions entirely, about purpose, control and continuity.”
That shift is reflected across the list, from boutique firms such as O’Connell Brennan and Gartlan Furey to larger platforms within PwC and EY.
A more demanding client, a more complex brief
Across the board, advisers describe clients who are better informed, more internationally exposed and less tolerant of uncertainty. “There is no single issue anymore,” says one Dublin-based partner. “It is tax, but it is also regulation, reputation, family dynamics and geography. Everything overlaps.”
This is particularly evident in cross-border work, where Irish-based clients increasingly hold assets, businesses or residency positions across multiple jurisdictions. Advisers such as Duncan Reoch at EY and Cian Liddy at KPMG point to a sharp rise in multi-jurisdictional planning, often triggered by relocation, liquidity events or succession.
Quiet work, visible consequences
What emerges from this year’s Citywealth Top 15 is not a market driven by dramatic change, but by accumulation.
Tax rules are being refined rather than rewritten. Property remains dominant but less certain. Wealth itself is becoming more mobile, more structured and more closely watched.
For the advisers at the centre of it, the work is less visible than the outcomes. As one senior private client lawyer on the list puts it: “By the time something becomes obvious in this market, it is usually too late to fix it.”
Key Takeaways
- Ireland’s wealth story appears strong with steady growth and capital flows, yet advisers note a shift in client concerns regarding tax structures.
- Budget 2026 introduces changes focused on simplifying tax systems and increasing visibility, affecting both corporates and family offices.
- Clients are diversifying away from Irish property towards private assets, reflecting changes in housing policy and potential risks in the property market.
- A family office mindset is rising, with a generational shift towards structured governance and long-term planning in wealth management.
- Clients become more complex and demanding, requiring advisers to navigate overlapping concerns in tax, regulation, and multi-jurisdictional issues.
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