Martin Murray speaks to the Sunday Business Post

Martin Murray is the chief executive and majority shareholder of online marketing agency Interactive Return, which is based in Dublin. The company works with clients in Ireland, Britain and the US to help them achieve their online business objectives, such as increasing their website's ranking in search engines such as Google, driving traffic to their website and achieving online sales. Martin is a former director of the Irish Internet Association. He also worked for Eircom and Ericsson before setting up his own business.

What's the best investment you ever made

The seed capital I invested in Interactive Return. I didn't realise it was an investment in my education at the time.

What's the worst investment you ever made?

Same as everyone else - Elan shares.

Which investment option(s) do you currently favour?

I'm hoping that the long-expected bursting of the property bubble is still some years off.

Do you own your own home and and/or any other investment property?

My own home and investment property are all owned by the bank and will be for a very long time.

What's the best financial advice you've ever received?

“Buy a house,” from my aunt Betty when I was 17 and had just started in my first job. If only I had listened to her . . .

What financial advice would you give to someone starting off in their career?

Neither a borrower nor a lender be, unless you're going to borrow lots and lots, and invest it in property.

If you were armed with the financial knowledge you now possess, would you have done things differently?

Yes. I would have become a plumber.

Do you have a pension plan? >

Yes. It's delivering an excellent negative rate of return.

Do you invest in equities or equity-based funds?

No.

Have you opened an SSIA? If so, what type?

Yes. A share investment type.

Are you a saver or a spender?

I use to be a saver (with the communion money to prove it) , but now I have a 14-month-old daughter.

What's your top financial priority?

To retire early.

How would you describe your attitude to your personal finances?

I can resist anything, except temptation.

If you had all the money you could wish for, name three things you would purchase.

Time off, some more time off and a gym membership that I would actually use.