Mercer Aspire – for a smarter defined contribution pension scheme
Defined contribution pensions in Ireland
There’s a lot going on when it comes to defined contribution (DC) pensions in Ireland today. With more and more people depending on DC savings in retirement, having access to the right solution has never been more important.
We’re passionate about helping individuals save for retirement, and we know that DC pension scheme members in Ireland want a solution that makes it easier to save, delivers appropriate support, and provides security and peace of mind.
Employers and trustees, concerned with managing the rising costs and risks associated with new governance requirements, are also keenly aware of what’s at stake for them and their individual members.
As a leader in DC pension savings, we can assure that our clients and their members are in good hands. Globally, Mercer has more than 2,200 clients with more than $17 trillion in assets under advice[1], and in Ireland specifically, our innovative DC solution, Mercer Aspire, now has more than 80,000 members covering more than 450 plans – representing assets with a value of c. €10billion[2].
We understand that now, more than ever, people need to save for their retirement in smarter ways.
DC and Master Trust Leader; Mercer Ireland
Talk to us about Mercer Aspire today
About Mercer Aspire
Mercer Aspire is an integrated DC investment, communications, governance, and administration solution that is built around your members’ needs. It evolves to reflect new ideas, opportunities and changing market conditions.
We’re proud of the positive impact that Mercer Aspire is having on member retirement outcomes in so many ways.
Sustainability is a central consideration of our default growth portfolio, so members can be assured that their money is invested with the future in mind. In addition, we continue to successfully partner with trustees to provide pension scheme members with timely and relevant communication to help them navigate their retirement savings journey. This has been particularly important in recent years given the turbulence caused by the global pandemic and rising geo-political tensions.
A solution built around your specific members’ needs
- 1 Investments
- 2 Communications
- 3 Governance and Administration
Mercer Aspire offers a multichannel communications programme. It helps individuals identify the choices that will have the biggest influence on their retirement, making it as simple as possible to act on those decisions.
The programme combines digital experience and multi-media content with face-to-face support in the form of group presentations and individual advice. We are constantly evolving and expanding our communications programme to reflect Marsh’s best thinking and international experience.
Talk to us about Mercer Aspire today
Reduce the burden of trusteeship with the Mercer Aspire Master Trust
The job of being a DC pension scheme trustee is becoming more complex and time-consuming. New EU legislation, in the form of IORP II, presents challenges for trustees and plan sponsors alike. This is in addition to ECB reporting regulations and the Irish Pension Authority’s previously published investment guidelines, codes of governance and regulatory checklist.
Most employers continue to choose the benefits of the trust-based approach to DC provision, but many would prefer not to have to manage the burden of trusteeship themselves.
Mercer Master Trust: defined contribution pension solution Ireland
The Mercer Aspire Master Trust offers plan sponsors the advantage of a strong governance capability but with generally lower operating costs and greater simplicity than a single-employer scheme, which requires its own trust deed and trustees.
Find out more about the Mercer Master Trust and how we can help you fulfil your trustee obligation.
Regulatory Information
Footnotes
1 As at December 2025
2 As at August 2025