Proof that if you want to earn big money in financial services, you may need to leave Ireland

On one hand, Ireland's financial services professionals are accused of being too expensive and have apparently benefited from an 8-10% increase in their salaries in the first quarter. On the other, if you stay in Ireland you will probably never make really big money (unless you work at TVC Holdings).

Liam McGee is a case in point. The Independent reports that McGee, having left Ireland at a young age, is now earning €6.3m as CEO of US wealth management firm Hartford Financial Services. McGee joined Hartford in 2009. Before that, McGee's name had been put forward as a possible CEO of AIB, which would have paid him €500k.