Financial Planning Services in Cork

Book Your Free Financial Discovery Call

Taking control of your financial future starts with a simple, no-obligation conversation. At Forsythe Financial Planning, we believe you shouldn’t have to pay just to find out if an advisor is the right fit for your family or business. Our 15- to 20-minute discovery call is completely free, highly confidential, and designed entirely around your goals.

financial planning services in cork
Personalised financial advice and guidance

Hi, I’m John Forsythe. I guide families, individuals, employees, retirees and business owners toward true financial clarity.https://scheduleacallback.as.me/?appointmentType=53191431

Managing wealth can feel overwhelming, especially when traditional financial institutions treat you like just another account number. I founded my practice on a different principle: your financial plan should fit your life, not the other way around. As an independent advisor, I answer only to you—offering unbiased, transparent guidance without the pressure of corporate sales quotas.

What I do

With over 35 years of experience working as a Financial Advisor, I can help you navigate everything from your retirement strategies and investment portfolios to protecting what matters most. We will cut through the market noise together, building a clear, actionable roadmap so you can face the future with absolute confidence.

Qualified Financial Advice & Guidance

I am a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA), a Fellow of the Life Insurance Association (FLIA) and a Retirement Planning Advisor (RPA). Forsythe Financial Planning is a member of Brokers Ireland, the Financial Broker Network, and the LIA and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

Financial Review

Book a Financial Review and take control of your financial future.

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Pension Review

How much do you really know and understand about your pension?

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Investment Review

Make your money make money. Beat the Banks.

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Protection Review

Protect what matters most and get financial peace of mind.

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Business Owner Services

Talk to us about your own pension and your employees’ benefits.

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Retirement Planning

If you are about to retire, then you need financial advice.

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Why Choose Forsythe Financial Planning?

When it comes to your life savings, pensions, and family security, credentials and transparency matter. We build our practice on strict professional standards so you can look ahead with complete clarity.

  • Qualified Expertise: John Forsythe, QFA, FLIA RPA, is one of Ireland’s most experienced Financial Advisors. John has been involved in the financial services industry since 1991 and has a proven track record of delivering robust research-based financial solutions to a wide and varied client base.
  • Decades of Experience: By developing lasting relationships, John has helped his clients navigate diverse market cycles and changes in pension and financial services legislation, ensuring that they are fully aware of any issues which may impact their financial plans.
  • Objective, Independent Guidance: As a non-aligned financial broker, John’s firm, Forsythe Financial Planning, is not tied to any single bank or insurance provider, so our advice focuses on what serves you best.
  • Regulated Security: Forsythe Financial Planning is fully regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, ensuring the highest level of consumer protection and regulatory oversight.

What to Expect on Your 20-Minute Discovery Call

This initial conversation is a relaxed, two-way assessment conducted via a secure video link or a standard phone call. There is absolutely no high-pressure sales pitch.

  • Identify Your Priorities: We will discuss what you want to achieve, whether that is early retirement, restructuring old pensions, reducing your tax liability, or investing a lump sum.
  • Assess Compatibility: We will outline how our wealth management process works to ensure our services align perfectly with the complexity of your financial needs.
  • Transparent Fee Overview: We will explain exactly how our fee-based or commission structures work, ensuring total clarity before you ever spend a euro.
  • Clear Next Steps: If we are a good fit, we will explain how to transition to a formal financial planning review; if not, we will happily point you toward the right resources.

How to Prepare (No Homework Required)

You do not need to dig out decades of paperwork or exact bank statements for this initial chat. To get the most out of our time together, simply come ready with:

  • A Rough Overview: A broad, rounded estimate of your current pensions, savings, or investment values.
  • Your Core Goals: The main financial milestones or worries currently on your mind.
  • Your Questions: Any specific questions you have for us regarding our qualifications, investment philosophies, or ongoing client care.

Is there really no fee for the discovery call?

No, our financial discovery call is 100% free with absolutely no obligation to commit. We believe you should never have to pay just to find out if an advisor is the right fit for your financial future.

Why is this initial consultation free?

Compatibility Check: It ensures your financial needs align with our specialised financial planning services before any formal relationship begins.
No Advice Is Given: Because we do not provide specific product recommendations, fund selections, or actionable advice during this brief introductory chat, no regulatory or advisory fees apply.

Will I be pressured into buying anything?

No, there is zero sales pressure. Forsythe Financial Planning is built on trust and transparency. If we both feel there is a mutual fit at the end of the 20 minutes, we will explain how our formal planning process works. If not, we will happily point you in the right direction.

What documents should I have ready?

For a 20-minute introductory discovery call, you do not need to gather a mountain of paperwork or exact statements.

The main goal of this initial chat is to discuss your high-level goals and see if there is a mutual fit. Having exact numbers is not necessary yet, but having a general sense of your financial landscape is highly beneficial.

Case Studies: How I Help Clients Secure Their Financial Future

Please Note: To protect client confidentiality and comply with privacy regulations, all names, specific dates, and identifying personal details in these case studies have been fully anonymised. While these scenarios reflect actual strategies implemented and real financial outcomes achieved, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Individual financial planning profiles vary, and strategies should be tailored to your unique financial situation.

  • Retirement Planning & Wealth Extraction
    Case Study 1: The Business Owner
    Medical professional sole trader with an underperforming pension plan invested in a cash fund alongside several personal pension funds with various providers.
Read More …
  • Retirement & Lifestyle Cashflow Planning
    Case Study 2: Retiring Pharma Worker
    Early retiree availing of a redundancy package from a multi-national pharma company. The client had substantial pension assets, including AVCs and a large ex-gratia payment and was unsure where to start.
Read More …
  • Investment Portfolio Restructuring
    Case Study 3: The High-Earner
    Company director with substantial pension and investment assets but no coherent long-term financial strategy in place. No concrete business exit strategy apart from wanting to retire at 60.
Read More …

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear, transparent answers about how I work.

I hold Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) status. I am also a Fellow of the Life Insurance Association(FLIA), and I am a Retirement Planning Advisor (RPA). I am fully registered and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. To maintain these credentials, I actively participate in mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) annually to keep my practice fully up to speed on all market, product and legislative changes that may impact my clients’ pension and investment plans or any issues which may impact their family or business protection provisions.

Yes. As a non-aligned financial advisor, I operate under strict guidelines set out in the Consumer Protection Code 2025, as set out by the Central Bank of Ireland. This means I am legally and ethically obligated to put your best financial interests ahead of my own at all times. You may choose to work with me on a fee or commission basis. Details are set out on the ‘Our Remuneration’ page.

I believe high-quality wealth management should be accessible. While many large institutions restrict their services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, I work with clients at various stages of their financial journey. Whether you are looking to optimise a single retirement pension bucket or require comprehensive lifestyle cash flow planning for a complex estate, we can design a service tier that fits your needs.

Your data security is my highest priority. I utilise institutional-grade, end-to-end encrypted financial planning software and secure client portals to manage all documentation. Furthermore, in strict alignment with data protection acts and privacy regulations, all public-facing data—including my published case studies—is completely anonymised to ensure client identity is fully protected.

Ready to Take Control of Your Financial Future?

Whether you are looking to secure your family’s protection, structure a tax-efficient pension, or grow your long-term investments, expert guidance makes all the difference.
Independent Expertise: Unbiased, market-wide comparison tailored to your unique goals.
Local & Trusted: Serving clients across Carrigaline, Cork City, and County Cork with decades of experience.
Regulated Peace of Mind: Fully regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Next Steps
Schedule a Review: Arrange a comprehensive financial review to evaluate your current setup and future needs.

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