What O'Leary Life does

O'Leary Life Limited is an independent financial services brokerage headquartered in Blackrock, Cork, Ireland, founded in 1973 by Tim Goggin and Arthur O'Leary. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services across three pillars: investments, pensions, and protection (life insurance, serious illness cover, income protection, mortgage protection, and inheritance tax planning). It serves individuals, families, SMEs, and corporate entities across Ireland, with offices in Cork City and Mallow, and holds agency agreements with all major Irish providers including Zurich Life, Royal London, Irish Life, Aviva, and New Ireland. The firm is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and operates on a commission-based revenue model, charging clients no broker fees while offering a best-price guarantee.

The company's product offering includes personal savings and investment plans, group pension schemes, corporate investments, business protection (key person, partnership/shareholder cover), and specialized inheritance tax planning via Section 72 policies. It operates a sales-led GTM combining phone consultations, video conferencing, online appointment scheduling, and in-person meetings across two physical offices. The company is a founding member of the Expert Pensions coalition of Irish pension advisers and has won multiple Brokers Ireland awards including Best Broker in Munster, Best Investments Broker, Best Overall Broker, and Life and Pensions Broker of the Year, plus Pensions Broker Expert recognition in 2023 and 2024.

Ownership and leadership are concentrated within the Goggin family and long-tenured management, with Ronan Goggin as Managing Director, Tim Goggin as Founding Director, Brian Goggin as Operations Director, and Helen Kenny as Director & Head of Group Pensions. The team of approximately 17 professionals is credentialed with QFA, LIA Fellowship, Pension Trustee Practitioner, and Registered Stockbroker designations. The firm relies on human advisory services rather than proprietary technology, using digital tools for proposals, scheduling, and document signing to support client experience.

Name

O'Leary Life

Legal name

O'Leary Life Limited

Website

https://olearylife.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

O'Leary Life is an independent Irish financial brokerage founded in 1973, offering advisory and intermediary services in investments, pensions, and protection products to individuals, SMEs, and corporate clients across Ireland from offices in Cork City and Mallow.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory and Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Life Insurance (6311), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Level Term Life Insurance (FSAIAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Annuity & Insurance-Based Retirement Solutions Advisory (FSAEABAH), Group Term Life Insurance (FSAIAAAJ), Universal Life (UL) Insurance (FSAIABAB), Whole Life / UL Policy Riders & Add-ons (e.g., Waiver of Premium, Accidental Death, Child Term, LTC/Chronic Illness) (FSAIABAK)

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• Life insurance brokerage
• Pension planning
• Investment advisory
• Protection insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cork

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Commission-based brokerage fees: O'Leary Life operates as an independent financial broker earning commission from insurance companies and investment providers. They do not charge clients broker fees for setting up policies, instead earning commissions from product providers. The company explicitly states 'We happily price match the lowest market rate and never charge you a fee to set up your policy.'

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

O'Leary Life is an independent financial services brokerage that distributes life insurance, pensions, savings, investments, and protection products from every major Irish provider to individuals, business owners, and corporate entities. The firm earns commissions from product providers rather than charging clients broker fees, and offers tailored advice across personal savings, group schemes, life and illness cover, mortgage protection, income protection, inheritance tax planning, business protection, pensions, and corporate investments.

Product overview

O'Leary Life is a financial services brokerage offering a comprehensive suite of advice and products organized around three pillars: investments, pensions, and protection. The core offering includes Personal Savings & Investing (lump sum and regular monthly savings plans), Group Schemes/Employee Benefits (pension and death in service benefits), Life & Illness Cover, Business Protection (Key Person and Partnership/Shareholder cover), Pensions & Retirement Planning, Corporate Investments, Mortgage Protection, Inheritance Tax Planning (including Section 72 policies), and Income Protection. The company acts as an independent broker with access to the entire Irish insurance market (Zurich Life, Royal London, Irish Life, Aviva, New Ireland), offering tailored solutions rather than a single software product. They also participate in the Expert Pensions coalition of leading Irish pension advisers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Savings & Investing
• Group Schemes / Employee Benefits
• Life & Illness Cover
• Business Protection
• Pensions & Retirement Planning
• Corporate Investments
• Mortgage Protection
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Income Protection

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of employees state benefits impact their job satisfaction; 29% cite benefits package as top reason to look for new position; 32% unlikely to look for new role if happy with benefits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Expert PensionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert Pensions is a coalition of top pension advisers in Ireland. O'Leary Life is a founding member of this coalition, which aims to provide better engagement, education, and access in the Irish pensions market. The coalition pairs clients with local expert pensions brokers and emphasizes transparency of fees, retirement projections, tax relief, and fund choice.
• Zurich LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary life insurance and pension provider. Mentioned as available provider for life cover, serious illness cover, pension schemes, and investment products. Referenced in multiple blog posts and service pages.
• Royal LondoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLife insurance provider offering products including Section 72 inheritance tax planning policies with guaranteed whole of life options. Specifically noted for best-in-class Section 72 product with 'Life Changes' flexibility option.
• Irish LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Irish life insurance and investment provider. Available for all product lines including life cover, pensions, and investments.
• AvivacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor insurance provider available for mortgage protection, life insurance, and income protection products. Referenced in multiple blog posts including claims statistics.
• New IrelandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish life insurance company available through O'Leary Life for all product lines including life and illness cover.
• Trusted Advisor GroupminorOthersProfessional network/membership organization for financial advisors in Ireland. O'Leary Life is a proud member.
• Brokers IrelandminorOthersLeading trade association for insurance brokers in Ireland. O'Leary Life has won multiple awards through this organization including Best Broker in Munster, Best Investments Broker, Best Overall Broker, and Life and Pensions Broker of the Year.
• The LIA (Life Insurance Association)minorOthersProfessional association for life insurance professionals in Ireland. Multiple team members hold Fellowship designations from the LIA. O'Leary Life is a proud member.
• Mallow ChamberminorOthersLocal business chamber organization for the Mallow area in Co. Cork. O'Leary Life maintains membership as part of local business community engagement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Irish Life (direct channel): Ireland's largest life and pensions provider, offering products directly to consumers and through brokers including O'Leary Life. A broad incumbent whose direct distribution channel competes with independent brokerages for life cover, pensions, and investment business.
• Brokers Ireland (member firms collectively): Trade association whose member brokerages directly compete with O'Leary Life across life, pensions, and protection products in Ireland. Member firms collectively represent the same independent brokerage model, multi-provider access, and commission-based revenue structure that O'Leary Life operates in.
• Royal London Ireland: Provider of life insurance and pensions in Ireland, including the Section 72 whole-of-life product specifically referenced by O'Leary Life. While currently a partner, Royal London is a structural competitor on product and brand for inheritance tax planning and life cover customers.
• Aviva Ireland (direct channel): Major Irish life and pension provider offering protection, investment, and pension products via direct and broker channels. Direct competitor to O'Leary Life in mortgage protection, income protection, and pension products in the Irish market.
• Zurich Life (direct channel): One of O'Leary Life's key provider partners, Zurich Life sells life insurance, pensions, and investment products both directly and via brokers. Represents the tied-agent/channel-direct competitive pressure that independent brokerages like O'Leary Life compete against for life and pension customers in Ireland.

Direct peers

• Cornmarket Group Financial Services: One of Ireland's largest specialist financial brokerages focused on public sector and corporate employee benefits, pensions, and group schemes. Direct competitor to O'Leary Life in the SME/corporate group scheme and pension advisory market across Ireland.
• Newcourt Retirement Fund Managers: Irish independent financial advisory and retirement specialist offering pension advisory and group scheme services similar to O'Leary Life. Both serve SMEs and corporates in Ireland, compete for the same Auto Enrolment-driven group scheme pipeline, and operate via commission-based advisory models.
• Independent Trustee Company (ITC): Irish pension and investment advisor providing corporate pension administration and trustee services. Comparable to O'Leary Life's Group Schemes and Pensions & Retirement Planning offerings, particularly for SMEs and corporates seeking outsourced pension expertise.

Emerging players

• Moneycube: Irish digital wealth and pension advisory platform offering automated investment and pension advice online. Represents the emerging robo-advice and digital-first competitive threat to traditional advisory brokerages like O'Leary Life in the Irish savings and pensions market.
• Pension Planet: Online pension and investment comparison/advisory platform operating in Ireland. Competes with O'Leary Life for digitally-engaged consumers seeking pensions and investment products, representing the self-service/digital threat to traditional broker-led pension advisory.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OLearyLandP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about O'Leary Life