skip to content

pension funds

lower-risk pension funds.

Every fund has a risk rating from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest), based mainly on how much its value has gone up and down. These are the funds rated 1 to 3: cash, bond and cautious funds that aim for a steadier ride, at the cost of lower expected growth.

funds
121
providers
10
typical risk
2–3/7
middle 5-yr return
+1.4% a year

Of the 102 lower-risk pension funds with a five-year record, the highest average yearly return was +8.4% (Zurich Life Dimensional World Allocation 80/20, Zurich Life) and the lowest −6.8% (New Ireland Indexed Eurozone Long Bond, New Ireland). 19 funds are under five years old and listed after, by 3-year return.

ranked by 5-year return

Lower-risk pension funds ranked by average yearly return over five years
#fundrisk1 yr3 yr avg5 yr avg10 yr avg
1Zurich Life Dimensional World Allocation 80/20Zurich Liferisk 3/7+17.1%+12.8%+8.4%—
2Acorn Life ManagedAcorn Liferisk 3/7+15.1%+11.3%+6.7%+6.6%
3New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2041 OnwardsNew Irelandrisk 3/7+15.7%+12.1%+6.7%+7.3%
4New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2040New Irelandrisk 3/7+15.4%+12.0%+6.6%+7.2%
5Zurich Life Dimensional World Allocation 60/40Zurich Liferisk 3/7+12.9%+10.4%+6.3%—
6New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2038New Irelandrisk 3/7+13.9%+11.4%+6.3%+7.0%
7New Ireland InnovatorNew Irelandrisk 3/7+18.2%+7.9%+6.3%+9.2%
8New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2037New Irelandrisk 3/7+13.2%+11.0%+6.0%+6.9%
9Irish Life Amundi European Equity ConservativeIrish Liferisk 3/7+4.1%+7.2%+5.9%—
10New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2036New Irelandrisk 3/7+12.5%+10.6%+5.7%+6.8%
11New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2035New Irelandrisk 3/7+11.8%+10.1%+5.3%+6.5%
12Irish Life Protected Consumer Markets FundIrish Liferisk 3/7+11.4%+8.7%+5.1%+4.1%
13New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2034New Irelandrisk 3/7+11.2%+9.7%+5.0%+6.3%
14New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2033New Irelandrisk 3/7+10.4%+9.3%+4.6%+6.0%
15Irish Life Multi-Asset Portfolio 3Irish Liferisk 3/7+8.8%+8.1%+4.4%+4.2%
16Zurich Life Dimensional World Allocation 40/60Zurich Liferisk 3/7+8.7%+7.8%+4.3%—
17New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2032New Irelandrisk 3/7+9.8%+8.8%+4.3%+5.8%
18New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2031New Irelandrisk 3/7+9.1%+8.4%+3.9%+5.5%
19Mercer Aspire Retirement Fund (ARF)Mercer Aspirerisk 3/7+8.2%+6.5%+3.8%+3.8%
20Zurich Life Prisma 3Zurich Liferisk 3/7+6.5%+6.7%+3.8%+3.7%
21Irish Life Portfolio Pension 3Irish Liferisk 3/7+8.0%+7.6%+3.8%+4.2%
22New Ireland ElementsNew Irelandrisk 3/7+9.2%+7.3%+3.6%+2.6%
23Irish Life Retirement Portfolio 3Irish Liferisk 3/7+8.7%+7.3%+3.6%—
24Mercer Aspire Low GrowthMercer Aspirerisk 3/7+7.3%+6.0%+3.5%—
25New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2030New Irelandrisk 3/7+8.3%+8.0%+3.5%+5.1%
26New Ireland iFunds 3 AlphaNew Irelandrisk 3/7+7.3%+6.2%+3.5%+3.5%
27Irish Life Diversified CautiousIrish Liferisk 3/7+6.8%+5.9%+3.2%+3.5%
28Zurich Life Dynamic Diversified Growth (BlackRock)Zurich Liferisk 3/7+13.9%+8.2%+3.2%+3.5%
29Irish Life Multi-Manager Target ReturnIrish Liferisk 3/7+9.3%+6.6%+3.1%+1.6%
30New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2029New Irelandrisk 3/7+7.5%+7.5%+3.1%+4.8%
31New Ireland PRIME 3New Irelandrisk 3/7+6.4%+5.4%+3.0%+2.8%
32New Ireland iFunds 3New Irelandrisk 3/7+8.4%+6.3%+3.0%+2.3%
33New Ireland BNYM Absolute Return BondNew Irelandrisk 3/7+1.0%+4.9%+2.9%+0.9%
34Irish Life Multi-Asset Portfolio 2Irish Liferisk 2/7+5.2%+5.7%+2.4%+2.3%
35New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2027New Irelandrisk 3/7+5.8%+6.4%+2.3%+4.0%
36Zurich Life Dimensional World Allocation 20/80Zurich Liferisk 2/7+5.0%+5.2%+2.3%—
37New Ireland Sentinel FundNew Irelandrisk 3/7+6.3%+5.3%+2.0%—
38New Ireland Sentinel II FundNew Irelandrisk 3/7+6.5%+5.3%+2.0%—
39New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2026New Irelandrisk 3/7+5.0%+5.9%+2.0%+3.7%
40Royal London BlackRock Euro Environmentally Aware Cash FundRoyal Londonrisk 1/7+2.1%+3.1%+2.0%—
41Mercer Aspire Cash PortfolioMercer Aspirerisk 1/7+2.0%+3.1%+1.9%+0.7%
42Zurich Life Prisma 2Zurich Liferisk 2/7+2.4%+3.8%+1.8%+1.5%
43Irish Life Retirement Portfolio 2Irish Liferisk 2/7+5.2%+5.2%+1.8%—
44Irish Life Portfolio Pension 2Irish Liferisk 2/7+4.4%+5.2%+1.8%+2.4%
45Aviva Multi-Asset ESG Active 3Avivarisk 3/7+6.1%+5.5%+1.7%+1.9%
46New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2025New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.4%+1.7%+3.4%
47New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2024New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.2%+1.5%+3.1%
48Acorn Life Cautiously ManagedAcorn Liferisk 2/7+5.3%+5.1%+1.5%+1.8%
49New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2023New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+2.9%
50Mercer Aspire StabilityMercer Aspirerisk 2/7+2.4%+3.3%+1.4%—
51New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2022New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+2.6%
52New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2012New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.4%
53New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2013New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.4%
54New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2014New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.4%
55New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2015New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.4%
56New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2016New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.4%
57New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2017New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.4%
58New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2018New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.6%
59New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2019New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+1.8%
60New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2020New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+2.0%
61New Ireland Retirement Fund (IRIS) 2021New Irelandrisk 3/7+4.5%+5.1%+1.4%+2.3%
62Zurich Life Prisma LowZurich Liferisk 2/7+1.8%+3.5%+1.4%—
63New Ireland Income & GrowthNew Irelandrisk 3/7+3.7%+4.2%+1.4%+2.7%
64Zurich Life CashZurich Liferisk 1/7+1.6%+2.5%+1.3%+0.2%
65Irish Life CashIrish Liferisk 1/7+1.1%+2.0%+1.3%+0.6%
66Standard Life Cash FundStandard Liferisk 1/7+0.9%+1.9%+1.3%+0.6%
67Aviva L&G Multi-Index III FundAvivarisk 3/7+5.7%+4.9%+1.2%—
68New Ireland CashNew Irelandrisk 1/7+1.3%+2.3%+1.2%+0.0%
69Standard Life MW Euro Global LiquidityStandard Liferisk 2/7+1.4%+2.3%+1.2%+0.0%
70Zurich Life Short Duration Corporate BondZurich Liferisk 2/7+1.7%+3.5%+1.2%—
71Aviva Cash FundAvivarisk 1/7+1.1%+2.1%+1.0%-0.2%
72Irish Life Inflation-Linked BondIrish Liferisk 3/7+3.3%+2.6%+1.0%+1.8%
73Standard Life Euro Global LiquidityStandard Liferisk 2/7+1.1%+2.1%+0.9%-0.2%
74Bank of Ireland Life CashBOI Liferisk 1/7+1.1%+2.1%+0.9%-0.3%
75Irish Life Global Cash FundIrish Liferisk 1/7+1.1%+2.0%+0.9%—
76Irish Life Indexed CashIrish Liferisk 1/7+0.3%+1.3%+0.8%+0.4%
77Irish Life Amundi Multi-Asset Sustainable FutureIrish Liferisk 3/7+3.1%+4.0%+0.8%—
78Bank of Ireland Life Managed SecurityBOI Liferisk 3/7+2.2%+3.2%+0.5%+0.6%
79Standard Life Prosperity Euro Global LiquidityStandard Liferisk 2/7+0.6%+1.6%+0.5%-0.7%
80Irish Life Amundi Absolute Return Multi-StrategyIrish Liferisk 3/7+6.5%+4.5%+0.3%—
81New Ireland Investment for SecurityNew Irelandrisk 3/7+1.5%+2.4%+0.2%+0.3%
82Irish Life Indexed Inflation-Linked BondIrish Liferisk 3/7+2.3%+1.7%+0.1%+0.9%
83Mercer Aspire Passive Corporate BondMercer Aspirerisk 3/7+1.8%+4.6%+0.1%+0.8%
84Standard Life Global Real EstateStandard Liferisk 3/7+3.5%-1.1%-0.2%—
85Zurich Life Medium Duration Corporate BondZurich Liferisk 3/7+1.5%+4.6%-0.5%—
86Irish Life Indexed Euro Corporate BondIrish Liferisk 3/7+0.9%+3.9%-0.5%+0.4%
87New Ireland Indexed Euro Corporate BondNew Irelandrisk 3/7+1.0%+3.8%-0.7%+0.3%
88Irish Life Indexed Euro Short Dated BondIrish Liferisk 2/7-0.4%+1.6%-0.8%-0.8%
89Aviva Corporate Bond FundAvivarisk 3/7+0.5%+3.6%-0.8%+0.2%
90Standard Life ARGBSStandard Liferisk 3/7+1.0%+3.0%-0.9%-0.9%
91Zurich Life Global Corporate Bond (JP Morgan)Zurich Liferisk 3/7+1.9%+3.2%-1.4%+0.4%
92Standard Life GARSStandard Liferisk 3/7+7.4%+3.3%-1.4%-0.7%
93Mercer Aspire Euro BondMercer Aspirerisk 3/7+0.2%+2.9%-1.6%-0.0%
94Standard Life Vanguard Global Bond IndexStandard Liferisk 3/7+0.9%+1.7%-1.7%—
95Mercer Aspire PRB Retirement (Annuity)Mercer Aspirerisk 3/7-0.9%+1.7%-2.1%-0.7%
96Zurich Life Active Fixed IncomeZurich Liferisk 3/7-1.3%+1.3%-2.2%-0.8%
97Zurich Life Indexed Eurozone Government Bond (BlackRock)Zurich Liferisk 3/7-0.3%+2.0%-2.6%-0.6%
98Standard Life PropertyStandard Liferisk 3/7-0.9%-3.5%-2.7%-1.5%
99Zurich Life Global Government Bond (JP Morgan)Zurich Liferisk 3/7-1.1%+0.1%-2.7%-1.1%
100Standard Life Fixed InterestStandard Liferisk 2/7-0.8%+1.7%-4.4%-1.5%
101Irish Life Indexed European Gilts FundIrish Liferisk 3/7-2.1%+1.1%-4.6%-1.6%
102New Ireland Indexed Eurozone Long BondNew Irelandrisk 3/7-4.1%-1.4%-6.8%-2.9%
103AIB Life Multi-Strategy AlternativesAIB Liferisk 3/7+15.2%+9.8%——
104AIB Life Fusion 3AIB Liferisk 3/7+10.6%+9.1%——
105AIB Life Indexed Multi-Asset 3AIB Liferisk 3/7+9.1%+8.7%——
106Acorn Life Moderate SelectAcorn Liferisk 3/7+9.6%+8.3%——
107Irish Life Forum 3Irish Liferisk 3/7+7.1%+7.1%——
108AIB Life Fusion 2AIB Liferisk 2/7+6.4%+6.5%——
109Royal London Multi-Asset Defensive FundRoyal Londonrisk 3/7+8.2%+6.5%——
110Acorn Life Cautious SelectAcorn Liferisk 2/7+6.1%+6.1%——
111Irish Life Setanta Multi-Asset Active 3Irish Liferisk 3/7+6.0%+5.9%——
112AIB Life Indexed Multi-Asset 2AIB Liferisk 2/7+5.0%+5.7%——
113Aviva Multi-Asset ESG Passive Plus 3Avivarisk 3/7+6.0%+5.5%——
114AIB Life Euro Corporate BondAIB Liferisk 3/7+1.8%+4.5%——
115Aviva Fixed ESG 20Avivarisk 3/7+3.6%+4.4%——
116New Ireland PruFund CautiousNew Irelandrisk 3/7+3.7%+4.1%——
117Irish Life Amundi Protect 90Irish Liferisk 2/7+3.2%+3.4%——
118AIB Life Cash FundAIB Liferisk 1/7+2.0%+3.0%——
119AIB Life Euro Government BondAIB Liferisk 3/7-0.3%+2.4%——
120AIB Life Goodbody Multi-Asset 3AIB Liferisk 3/7+2.3%———
121Standard Life Short Dated BondStandard Liferisk 2/7————

average yearly returns as published by the national pension helpline fund explorer, updated 9 Nov 2026, 06:01. your own return also depends on the charges on your policy. past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.