Her Money Matters

41 Support Teal Ribbon Day: The Dangers of Ovarian Cancer and Being Prepared Financially

SUPPORT OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS: BUY YOUR TEAL RIBBONS FROM ANY TERRY WHITE CHEMIST OR THE OVARIAN CANCER WEBSITE
In this important episode, we shine a light on Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Teal Ribbon Day, observed in Australia on 26 February. Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal female cancer in Australia, with around 1,500 women diagnosed each year and a five-year survival rate of just 49 percent. Despite these confronting statistics, awareness remains low, and there is currently no reliable early detection screening test.
Joining me for this conversation is Dianna Pecherczyk, Partner at MBS Insurance and Senior Financial Adviser specialising in personal insurance. Together, we explore the dangers of ovarian cancer, the known risk factors, and the critical role that financial protection plays when serious illness strikes.
What We Cover
Understanding the Risk of Ovarian CancerWe unpack the key data points around ovarian cancer, including the impact of increasing age, hereditary factors, and family history. We also clarify common misconceptions, including the fact that routine cervical screening does not detect ovarian cancer.
Turning February TealWe explain the purpose of Teal Ribbon Day, how you can get involved, and why starting conversations about ovarian cancer matters. Awareness is the first step. Preparation is the next.
Personal Insurance OverviewWe provide a clear recap of the four key types of personal insurance and how they respond in the event of a cancer diagnosis. We also discuss what may be available beyond a payout, including support services and treatment-related benefits.
The Financial Reality of Serious IllnessThrough two case studies, Dianna shares real-life examples of clients who claimed across life insurance, Total and Permanent Disablement insurance, trauma insurance and income protection policies. We explore what those claims meant for their families and how having protection in place created options, breathing space and dignity during extraordinarily difficult times.
Wear the teal ribbon this February and support Teal Ribbon Day with us on 26 February.   Please start conversations with the women in your life so we can raise awareness, know your body and seek medical advice if something feels persistent or unusual, and understand your family history.  
 
Also, take the opportunity to review your personal insurances. Check what you have inside your super, confirm whether you have life cover, TPD and income protection and consider whether you need additional cover outside super, and ensure the amounts are still appropriate for your stage of life.
If you are unsure, seek advice.
To contact Dianna Pecherczyk at MBS Insurance:dianna.pecherczyk@mbsinsurance.com.auhttps://mbsinsurance.com.au/

40 Build Your Investment Portfolio on Diversification and Open Up a World of Options

Most women are already investors however many don't actually realise it. If you have a super fund, you are invested. The real question is whether your investments are structured in a way that supports what is important to you and where you are comfortable investing.
In this episode, we unpack one of the most important principles in investing: diversification. Before you start choosing specific investments, before you explore themes or trends, this is where it all begins. Diversification is the foundation. When you build on the right foundations, everything else becomes clearer and more intentional.
Once you understand diversification, you open up a world of options. Investing becomes less about guessing and more about designing a portfolio that reflects your goals, timeframe and values.
In this episode, we cover:
• What diversification really means • Why diversification is the first step in building a strong portfolio• The psychology behind diversification and understanding the importance of learning to invest outside cash and property• How to diversify across different types of investments• How to diversify within investments, not just between them• The growing range of investment options now available to everyday investors
For those who would like to explore the data further, I reference Global X’s publication The Australian ETF Landscape, which provides a detailed snapshot of how the ETF market has evolved in Australia and the breadth of investment options now available. You can access the report here:https://www.globalxetfs.com.au/australian-etf-landscape/
In this episode, I also refer to understanding your investment risk profile as part of building a diversified portfolio. If you would like a copy of a simple investment risk profile questionnaire to help guide your thinking, send me an email at naomi@hermoneymatters.com.au and I will happily send one through.

39 Considering a Career Change Later in Life? You Have the Experience, Now Design the Direction

At some point in midlife, many women begin to feel unsettled in their career.  It may start with a little bit of restlessness, maybe it's a shift in energy drawing you towards something else, or even a sense that the career that once fit so well no longer reflects who you are today.
In this episode of Her Money Matters, Naomi is joined by Pamela Lynn, Founder of The Pivot Space, to explore what it really means to consider a career change later in life.
Together, they unpack:
Why job satisfaction often dips in our late 40s and 50s, just as our experience peaks
The impact of burnout, redundancy and career goals that may not have materialised
How women can feel overlooked in midlife, even when they have the most to offer
The confidence gap that emerges despite decades of capability
The difference between chasing “more” and wanting something “different”
How to turn 20–30 years of experience into a strategic advantage
What an “Encore” career really means, and why it is definitely not about starting from scratch
Practical steps to move from reflection to a clear, achievable plan
When you have clarity about who you are, what you value, and what you bring to the table, you are often better positioned than ever to design work that fits the woman you are now.
So if you are feeling ready for something different, or you are simply curious about what your next chapter could look like, this episode will help you think strategically about what comes next.

38 Lunar New Year 2026: Using Red Envelopes, 8-Course Banquets and the Year of the Fire Horse to Teach Us About Money

Lunar New Year is a time of renewal, intention and fresh starts, and in 2026 we step into the Year of the Fire Horse – a year symbolising courage, independence and forward momentum. In this episode, we explore what Lunar New Year traditions can teach us about money, and how to use this energy to get your financial independence moving in practical, grounded ways.
We open with a pop-culture moment that captures the Fire Horse spirit: Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire and her iconic performance at the 2012 Music Video Awards alongside Olympic gold medallist Gabby Douglas – a strong reminder of what it looks like when women step into strength, momentum and self-belief.  Here's how it went.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0PvD9FoKfQ
From there, we unpack how money shows up in Lunar New Year traditions, including red envelopes, prosperity rituals, clearing the old to welcome the new, and the symbolism behind the Lunar New Year banquet – from fish and dumplings to longevity noodles and orange citrus fruits. We translate these traditions into practical money lessons for real life and outline simple, doable actions you can take this year to build momentum toward financial independence, backed by Fire Horse courage.
In this episode, we cover:
What Lunar New Year represents and why it’s a powerful time for fresh financial starts
The meaning of the Year of the Fire Horse and how to use its energy for money momentum
How money traditionally shows up during Lunar New Year (red envelopes, prosperity rituals, renewal)
The prosperity banquet and what each dish symbolises about abundance, growth and sustainability
Practical, action-focused steps to move your finances forward this year
Courage in action: facing your numbers, asking for help, and taking your first step
We hope you like this episode.

37 Selling a Property? Before You Choose a Real Estate Agent, Listen to This

Selling a property is one of the biggest financial decisions most of us will ever make, It's one of those things that most people will only do a handful of times in their lifetime.
In this episode of Her Money Matters, Naomi is joined by Neville Katz, Founder of Katz Vendor Advocates, to unpack a role many sellers don’t even realise exists — the Vendor Advocate.
Neville is the podcast’s first ever male guest (a milestone in itself), and his insights are grounded, practical, and refreshingly clear. Together, they explore what actually happens behind the scenes of a property sale, where sellers commonly lose money or confidence, and how having the right support can completely change the outcome.
In this episode, we cover:
What a vendor advocate does, and who they work for
Why choosing an agent is one of the most critical decisions in the sale process
The four pillars of Neville’s vendor advocacy service:
Agent selection and market review
Closing in on the right buyer
Negotiation strategies — knowing when to hold and when to fold
Managing the sale, contracts and settlement logistics
The most common mistakes sellers make — and how to avoid them
Why engaging support early leads to better outcomes and less stress
The surprising truth about cost — and why using a vendor advocate doesn’t usually cost the seller anything directly
This episode is essential listening for anyone who is thinking about selling in the next few years, as well as those supporting parents, friends or family through a property transition.
 
If selling a property is on your radar, this is the conversation to hear before you choose an agent.

36 Why Money Can Feel So Hard: Avoiding Money Doesn't Mean You Are Bad With It

In this episode of the Her Money Matters podcast, Naomi and Helene unpack why so many women avoid money, what’s really going on underneath that avoidance, and why it has nothing to do with intelligence or being “bad with numbers.” More often than not, it’s about feeling like it is a discipline or something you 'should' do, and that very often there are so many other things happening in your life that you just don't have the emotional bandwidth to deal with it.
We explore the psychology behind money avoidance, the relationship dynamics that can reinforce it, and the subtle ways it erodes confidence over time. We talk openly about fear of getting it wrong, outsourcing financial decisions to a partner, over-researching instead of deciding, and the emotional cost of staying disengaged.
In this episode, we cover:
What money avoidance actually looks like in everyday life
Why avoiding money is rarely about ability or knowledge
The psychology underneath money avoidance and emotional safety
Why these patterns show up more often in women
The three most common money avoidance patterns we see
What genuinely builds confidence with money
We finish with our Loving Kick Up the Bum, with practical tips to help you take just one small step.  Confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything, it comes getting your hands dirty one little bit at a time.

35 Divorce and Money: What Documents You Need for Financial Disclosure and What to Do if Your Ex-Partner Isn’t Fully Disclosing

Separation and divorce are emotionally demanding, but for many women it’s the financial side that can be the most confronting.  When stepping into the separation process, there is so much emotion and so much to consider.  Throw on top of that being asked to gather documents, understand financial disclosure, work with family lawyers, and make decisions that can shape your future - it is an incredibly challenging time.
 
To help understand what is needed, Naomi is joined by Julie Garis, Chartered Accountant, Forensic Accountant and Founder of Simple Split Financials, to unpack the financial realities of divorce.
 
In this episode, we cover:
What financial disclosure really means in a divorce
The key documents you need to gather and why they matter
What forensic accounting is and when it is needed
How missing or incomplete disclosure is identified
We also discuss how Julie works alongside family lawyers, why financial and legal roles are different but complementary, and how the right support team can make this process feel more manageable.
 
If you know anyone who could benefit from this information, please consider sharing it with someone in your world — a sister, mother, daughter, friend, or colleague — who may be facing separation or divorce and could benefit from hearing this conversation.

34 Learn to 'Love Your Super' - Review Your 2025 Super Fund Returns

In this episode of the Her Money Matters podcast, Naomi and Helene introduce the Love Your Super series — designed to help you  think about super based on your life story, and to try and imagine that your super fund is your best friend that follows your through life.
In this theme, we explore the anthem of You're My Best Friend by Queen as our Pop Culture Reference, we really focus on your life timeline and that super has travelled with you through different jobs, employers, and stages.  We also cover why learning to love your super helps you make sense of market ups and downs, including 2025’s super fund returns.
Naomi breaks down actual calendar-year performance, explaining how balanced super funds are designed to perform across market cycles, and why one negative year doesn’t mean something has gone wrong but it is a reason to check in with your fund. Helene then leads a conversation on the psychology of trust and money, and how feeling safe and connected leads to better financial decisions.
To support practical action and to provide a simple tool to help uncover what’s really driving your money behaviours, Helene introduces the De Martini Benefits and Drawbacks exercise which you can find here: 
 
 
We provide a risk profile tool to help you determine how much of your super fund you should have in growth assets versus defensive assets which you can find here:
 
 
 In this episode we cover:
Helping you to connect to your super fund and see it as a reflection of your life
The actual 2025 super fund returns for Australian shares and Balanced funds
The Top 5 performing balanced super funds in 2025
The top 5 performing balanced super funds over the past 10 years
Why it matters and the difference in performance in actual returns on a balance of $100k over 5 years
The Loving Kick Up the Bum
Check in on your super like you would a trusted friend. Open your super app, review your 2025 performance, and get familiar as this will be one of the best things you can do to help the Future You. If you need help reading your statement, head back to Episode 21 or reach out to either Naomi or Helene if you need more help.

33 The Ageing Journey: A Guide for Daughters Supporting Their Parents Before and into Aged Care

In this episode I’m joined by Brenda Will, a Financial Adviser and Aged Care Specialist from Bruining Partners, who works with families navigating aged care decisions every day. In our discussion, we focus on the role daughters so often play as parents age, and what the ageing journey typically looks like from your perspective. Statistically, women make up the majority of carers in Australia, most commonly in their late 40s and 50s, and very often it is the eldest daughter who steps into this role by default. 
 
To ground the conversation, we reflect on The Notebook — a story often remembered as a great romance, but one that also shows the later-in-life reality of ageing, dementia and long-term devotion. It’s a powerful reminder that love doesn’t stop at romance; over time, it often turns into responsibility, advocacy and presence.
 
Together, we walk through the typical ageing journey — from independence in the early 70s, through increasing support needs, to more complex care decisions later in life — and explore how a daughter’s role often evolves at each stage. We talk openly about the time commitment, emotional weight and mental load this role can carry, and why planning early matters not just for your parents, but for your own wellbeing too.
 
In this episode, we cover:
Why daughters so often become the default carers for ageing parents
What the ageing journey typically looks like from your 70s through to later life
How care responsibilities increase over time
The emotional and time burden many daughters carry
When and why getting professional support can make a meaningful difference
If this episode strikes a chord and you are either going to be or are already involved in caring for your parents, consider which stage of the ageing journey they’re currently in, what support feels realistic for you right now, and where you might need guidance. 
 
If you’re starting to feel unsure or stretched, reaching out for help early can ease both the emotional and practical load. Brenda’s details are included below if you’d like support navigating aged care decisions.
 
https://bruiningpartners.com.au/our_team/brenda-will/

32 Divorce, Money & Mindset: Navigating the Emotional and Financial Journey of Separation

In this episode of Her Money Matters, Naomi and Helene sit down to discuss the end-to-end journey of separation from both a mindset viewpoint as well as the financial considerations along the way.
 
We explore why money can feel really hard s you are just trying to survive going through separation, why due to the psychology and the emotion of divorce many women can freeze or even rush decisions, and how to move through the separation journey across the 5 different stages of separation.
 
Please note that this episode may not be relevant to you, but it might be really helpful for someone in your life.  If you know someone that is going through separation or divorce, please share this with them. Sometimes the most powerful support is just letting someone you care about know that they are not alone.
 
This is Part 1 of a two-part series, focusing on the separation process itself. In a future episode, we will turn our attention to rebuilding, life after separation, and creating your next chapter with confidence.
 
In this episode, we cover:
Why money feels like the last thing you want to focus on during separation 
How stress and emotional load can impact financial decision-making
Common money behaviours during divorce and what’s driving them
The stages of the separation journey and what support helps at each point
Why mindset and financial guidance need to work together
This episode is for you if:
You’re going through separation or divorce and feel stuck, frozen, or overwhelmed
You’re trying to make financial decisions while managing big emotions
You support someone navigating separation and want to understand what they’re experiencing
You want reassurance that you’re not broken — you’re human
We hope that there is lots of practical and helpful tips throughout the podcast, and that I can help you navigation this very emotional time in life.