1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 The Prize Bond prize fund rate rose from 1.00% to 1.50% this month, the first State Savings increase in about three years. Almost every write-up has described that 1.5% as a return. It is not one. It is the size of the prize pool spread across the whole €4.4 billion in issue, and what an individual holder receives is decided by a draw. In this Episode, Paddy works through the NTMA's own published figures and puts a realistic number on what Prize Bonds are actually worth to a normal holding, then lines them up against what the same State will pay for certainty. What you'll learn: Why the 1.5% prize fund rate is not interest, and what it actually describes What the odds look like in practice: 0.067% per bond, and a 59% chance of a year with nothing on a €5,000 holding The new State Savings rates: 1.96%, 2.29%, 2.33% and 2.66%, all tax-free, and the one product that pays DIRT How to compare any bank rate properly by dividing the gross rate by 0.67 Why the State Savings guarantee has no €100,000 ceiling, and who that actually matters to The trap in locking a 10-year rate, and why &quot;eaten bread is soon forgotten&quot; belongs in this decision &amp;nbsp;If you are holding Prize Bonds, State Savings or cash on deposit in Ireland and want to know what those balances are really doing, this episode is for you. &amp;nbsp;🎙️ Full podcast episode and 📖 Blog: https://informeddecisions.ie/prize-bonds-ireland-what-the-rate-means/ 📊 Want to check where you are? Try our free 10-minute Retirement Readiness Scorecard: https://www.informeddecisions.ie/pension-calculator 📅 Find out how we work: https://www.informeddecisions.ie DISCLAIMER This content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Everyone's situation is different: always speak to a qualified, independent advisor before making pension or investment decisions. Tax rules and pension regulations change; figures quoted are accurate at time of recording. Informed Decisions: Ireland's Independent Retirement Planning Podcast https://www.informeddecisions.ie <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42894775/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/206266855