Her Money Matters

In Episode 72, Helene put Naomi in the hot seat to walk through the eight money weeks of our 12-week Her Money Masterclass. This week the tables turn. Naomi asks Helene, our resident therapeutic coach, why she’s part of a money course at all, and Helene takes us through the four money mindset weeks that round out the course. 
 
She also shares her own story of making money decisions on her own for the first time after her divorce, and what she wishes someone had told her back then. In this episode we cover:
Why the numbers are only half the story, and what’s really behind the advice so many women never act on
Doing the work together: why we complete budgets in real time in the room, and what research shows about working on your finances in a group
Your money beliefs: where they come from, the most common ones holding women back, and how questioning a belief can change what you do with money
Your values: how they show up in the way you spend, save or avoid, and what happens when your spending is out of step with what matters to you
Money personalities: the avoider, the hoarder, the spender and the over-giver, and why none of them are fixed
Changing habits: Helene’s three-step framework, Name It, Place It, Choose It
Designing your Ideal Average Day: a fresh way to think, and feel, about retirement, starting with your life 12 months from now
Helene’s first step for you is to write down three sentences that start with “Money is…”, without overthinking them. Then pick one and ask yourself where you learnt it, how old you were, and whether it’s actually true. Next, choose your top three values. A good hint is to look at where you’re spending most of your time, energy and money right now. 
 
To get you started you can download a copy of some of the common values:
https://241927930.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/241927930/Episode%2077%20-%20Common%20Values.pdf
 
If you missed Part 1, head back to Episode 72 for the eight money weeks.
 
If this has you curious about doing the course yourself, we’re registering interest for our next intake in February/March 2027. Head to https://www.hermoneymatters.com.au/courses to join the waitlist.  We’d love to have you join us 😊.
 
This episode contains general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not financial product advice, nor is it medical, psychological or therapeutic advice. Before acting on anything discussed, consider whether it’s appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from a qualified professional. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, AFSL 557729. NGS Super is a sponsor of this episode. Sponsorship does not influence the general information we share, and nothing discussed is a recommendation of any NGS Super product specifically.

In 2023, Kristy Parker was 28, a mum of three young children, and building a career she’d worked hard for when she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Three years on, she sits down with Naomi to share her story, from the first sore wrist to the diagnosis, what life and money look like for her family now, and the lessons she wants every one of us to hear.
This is a money podcast, and Kristy’s story touches on almost everything we talk about here: insurance, super, emergency savings, estate planning and being prepared for the unexpected. It’s also a story about a mum, a family, a supportive employer and the kindness of strangers. Parts of it are hard to hear, and it’s full of love, honesty and practical lessons for every one of us, whatever our age.
In this episode:
The reality of MND
Why life insurance inside her super was so important
The impact of non-disclosure, and her advice: “Tell them everything”
Why she hopes your insurance turns out to be a waste of money
The birthday cards she has written for her children up to their 21st birthdays
The day a stranger surprised her in a chemist, and the generosity of people she has never met
Support Kristy and her family
Kristy’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kristys-mnd-fight-and-memories
TikTok: @kribiuInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy.michelle/
Watch The Fading Symphony
MND Australia’s 2015 campaign with Tim Minchin and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr9f1pfib_8
If this episode brings up big feelings, support is available:
MND Info Line: 1800 777 175 (information and support for people living with MND, their families and carers)
Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
If Kristy’s story moved you, please share this episode with someone you love: your sister, your mum, your daughter, your bestie. It might be the nudge they need to check their insurance, sort their will, or finally book that doctor’s appointment.
This episode contains general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not financial product advice, or medical or psychological advice. Kristy is sharing her own personal experience, and nothing in this episode is a comment on any particular insurer or a recommendation of any financial product. Before acting on anything discussed, consider whether it’s appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from a qualified professional. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, AFSL 557729.

Is it too late to save for retirement in your 50s or 60s? For most women, the answer is no. You may not need nearly as much super as you think, and the next 10 years can make a much bigger difference than you’d expect.
“I’ve left it too late” and “I’m never going to have enough” are two of the most common things Naomi and Helene hear from women in the Her Money Matters community. In this episode, Naomi and Helene tackle both fears head on. They look at the real numbers, and at the mindset that keeps so many women from even looking at their super.
You’ll meet three women at three different stages:
Kate, 49, is recently divorced with two kids. She has $80,000 in super and $320,000 from her property settlement. Should she buy a home or focus on super?
Jo, 52, has run her own small business for 14 years and has barely paid herself any super.
Linda, 60, is convinced she’s out of time and will “have to work until she drops.”
Kate, Jo and Linda are illustrative examples created for this episode, not real clients.
In this episode we cover:
Why the $1 million retirement figure is a myth, and what ASFA says you actually need
How the Age Pension, your home and your super work together
Why owning your home is one of the biggest factors in a secure retirement for women
Catch-up strategies, including salary sacrifice, personal deductible contributions and carry-forward contributions
What small business owners and sole traders need to know about paying themselves super
How child support and Family Tax Benefit can help after divorce, and why they come with a use-by date
Your 10(ish) year retirement countdown: what to do at 10 years out, 5 years out and in the final 1 to 2 years
The ostrich effect, fresh starts and future-self thinking, plus why avoiding your super makes the fear bigger
Five rapid-fire retirement myths, busted
Key numbers from the episode:
Only 41% of Australian women feel financially confident about retirement, compared with 59% of men. 73% of women worry they won’t have enough super (AMP, 2025).
The median super balance for women aged 60 to 64 is $174,655, about 26% less than men the same age (ASFA, August 2026).
42% of Australians think they need more than $1 million to retire comfortably. ASFA’s comfortable figure is about $630,000 for a single person and $730,000 for a couple.
94% of Australians who retired in the past five years did so with less than $1 million in super (AustralianSuper/YouGov, 2025).
The full Age Pension for a single person who owns their own home is $1,237.70 a fortnight, about $32,000 a year (from 20 September 2026).
So send this episode to your sister, your best friend or the colleague who has ever said “I’ve left it too late.” She deserves to know the story isn’t finished yet.
Important information
This episode contains general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not financial product advice, and it is not medical, psychological or therapeutic advice. Before acting on anything discussed, consider whether it’s appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from a qualified professional.
NGS Super is a sponsor of this episode. Sponsorship does not influence the general information shared, and nothing in this episode is a recommendation of NGS Super or any other super fund.
The case studies in this episode are illustrative examples, not real people. Projections assume a return of 7% a year after fees, before inflation which is the 10 year historical performance for a typical ‘default fund’ super performance as at 30 June 2026. They’re simplified examples of how the rules work, not predictions. Investment returns are not guaranteed and will go up and down.
Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, AFSL 557729.

What is ethical investing? In a nutshell it means choosing investments based on your personal values and principles, not just the numbers. In practice, that usually works two ways: steering clear of companies involved in things like tobacco, weapons or gambling, and actively choosing to put money into companies doing something you'd stand behind, like renewable energy or healthcare. The goal is to have your money reflect what you actually care about, while still aiming for a solid financial return.
In this episode, I'm joined by Leah Willis, Head of Distribution at Australian Ethical.  Australian Ethical are a fund manager that's been running ethical investments since 1986, and Leah takes us inside the process: how a universe of investable companies gets screened down, what gets excluded and why, and what's actively chosen instead.
Ethical investing in Australia now sits at roughly $1.6 trillion, so if you are interested in looking at how you can invest your money so it is not doing harm this episode will provide you all the information you need to better understand it.
In this episode:
What ethical investing actually means
How Australian Ethical builds its investment universe
The two-step process: the ethical screen, then the financial screen
Real case studies:
Mining
Alcohol, tobacco and gambling
Animal Cruelty
AI
I get a lot of questions about ethical investing so this is a great episode if you are looking to learn more about it.
 
If you would like to learn more about Australian Ethical you can find more information here:  https://www.australianethical.com.au/
This episode contains general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not financial product advice, and nothing discussed should be taken as a recommendation to invest in any particular product, including any Australian Ethical fund. Before acting on anything discussed, consider whether it's appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from a qualified professional. 
Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence 557729. This episode is not sponsored — Leah Willis appears as a guest expert and discusses her employer's process and products because it's her area of expertise; this affiliation is disclosed here in the interest of transparency. 
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Performance figures discussed are sourced from Australian Ethical's own published fund commentary.

Today’s topic is a sensitive and potentially distressing topic.  If you or someone you now needs support: 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is Australia's national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling line, available 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, call 000. 
 
This is part one of a two-part series focusing on Family and Domestic Violence.  Did you know that 27% of Australian women over the age of 15 have experienced violence, emotional abuse or economic abuse from a partner which represents 1 in 4 women.  Breaking that down a little further,
17% (1.7 million) who have experienced partner violence (physical and/or sexual)
23% (2.3 million) who have experienced partner emotional abuse
16% (1.6 million) who have experienced partner economic abuse
This means that women that have been subjected to this type of abuse are sitting in our friendship groups, our workplaces, and very likely, listening to this podcast right now.  This is a highly sensitive, multi-faceted and complex area, and the women that are victims may or may not recognise what is happening.  Physical abuse is obvious and abhorrent, however the more coercive types of abuse such as emotional, technological and financial abuse may be more subtle and patterns from the perpetrator may evolve over time.  
So in this episode, Naomi sits down with Bron O’Loan, Principal Director at O'Loan Family Law and an Accredited Specialist in Family Law to discuss:
The four faces of abuse — coercive control, financial abuse, tech-facilitated abuse and physical abuse, and how they often show up together rather than as one clean category
Why safety planning comes before legal strategy — including the doubt so many women feel ("is this even serious enough?") and how Stockholm syndrome makes it harder to see clearly
Why leaving is actually the most dangerous moment, and what that means for safety planning
What the law says about children who witness violence against a parent — and why "staying for the kids" isn't the protection it can feel like
Why trauma changes the way victims tell their own story — and why inconsistency or minimising isn't a red flag
 
Should you wish to connect with Bron, you can find her at: O'Loan Family Law:
Website:  https://www.oloanfamilylaw.com.au/
 
If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it — your sister, your daughter, your best friend. You can find Naomi at Her Money Matters | hermoneymatters.com.au 
 
Disclaimer: Everything discussed in this episode is general information only. It doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Naomi is not providing financial product advice in this episode. Before making any decisions based on what you hear, please consider whether this information is appropriate for your circumstances, and speak to a qualified professional if you need personal advice. Bron is speaking in her professional capacity as a family lawyer, sharing general legal information based on her experience.  This is not legal advice, and it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Neither Naomi nor our guest are providing medical, psychological or therapeutic advice in this episode. 
 
Some of today's content discusses trauma responses and family violence, which some listeners may find distressing. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence 557729.

This episode is sponsored by Global X.
Ever wondered what is covered in a money course built specifically for women? In this episode, Helene puts Naomi in the hot seat to walk through the 8 money-focused weeks of our 12-week 'Her Money Masterclass’.  This is just the money side of the story as in the next episode, Helene takes the lead on the four money mindset topics that round out the full 12-week course.
We go through week by week of the course and what topics we cover:
Your Money Story — how your upbringing, education and experiences shaped the way you think about money today
Your Money Toolkit — building surplus cash flow and making the most of assets, windfalls and inheritances
Budgeting & Cash Flow — the four things everyone should know: what you earn, spend, own and owe
Debt & Investing — mortgages, interest rates, and the fundamentals of investing (asset classes, risk, diversification, compound interest and more)
Tax & Super — the basics of income tax, CGT, and the six things you need to know about your super
Retirement Planning — moving from super to pension, understanding Centrelink and the age pension, and working out how much you actually need
Families & Legacies — the sandwich generation, the bank of mum and dad, ageing parents, insurance and estate planning
Pulling It All Together — writing your plan and deciding how to allocate your resources to reach your goals
If this has you curious about doing the course yourself, we are registering interest for our next intake, which will be February/March 2027. Head to https://www.hermoneymatters.com.au/courses to join the waitlist.
This episode contains general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not financial product advice. Before acting on anything discussed, consider whether it's appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from a qualified professional. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, AFSL 557729. Global X is a sponsor of this episode. Sponsorship does not influence the general information we share, and nothing discussed is a recommendation of any Global X product specifically.

Dementia is now Australia's leading cause of death, yet most families still don't talk about it until they're already in crisis. In this episode, Naomi sits down with Co-Founder of Aged Care Conversations, Louise Greene to unpack what it actually looks like to support a loved one through a dementia diagnosis.
Louise works alongside families every day as they navigate a dementia diagnosis, helping them find the right support through My Aged Care and connect with the community that makes caring for someone with dementia a little less isolating. 
In this episode:
The early signs of dementia families to look out for
Why a dementia diagnosis can take years, and why getting one matters
How to register for My Aged Care, and what Louise's team actually helps with
What to weigh up when choosing an aged care facility — care needs, location and affordability
Why carer isolation is so common, and where to find real support, including dementia cafes
What the research says about reducing your own risk of dementia
Louise's new resource for Dementia Action Week, Discussing Dementia [placeholder — confirm cost and availability]
Share this episode with the friend who's quietly worrying about a parent, or about themselves. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more women find this show.
 
If you would like to connect with Louise, you can find her at https://agedcareconversations.com.au/.
Resources mentioned:
My Aged Care — 1800 200 422 / myagedcare.gov.au
Dementia Australia / National Dementia Helpline — 1800 100 500 (24/7) / dementia.org.au
The numbers behind this episode: An estimated 446,500 Australians are currently living with dementia, with around 1.7 million people involved in caring for them (Dementia Australia). Dementia is Australia's leading cause of death (Australian Bureau of Statistics; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Dementia in Australia report, 2026). Professor Henry Brodaty AO, the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year, is referenced on dementia prevention research (UNSW).

So often we hear "I wish someone had taught me this at school,”.  It's the single most common piece of feedback Naomi and Helene hear they are having a bit of fun with this episode and going back to their 21-year-old selves and handing over the six money lessons they wish they'd known sooner: Three from Naomi and three from Helene. 
This is a great episode to share with your kids / kidults and to share some of this really important money lessons we all wish we had known much earlier in life.
Naomi's Three Money Lessons
1. Start saving from your first pay cheque. The habit matters more than the amount. Automate a transfer the day you get paid, even if it starts small — the earlier the habit forms, the less it ever has to compete against a lifestyle that's already grown to fill the gap.
2. Understand what refinancing your mortgage actually resets. Every home loan is front-loaded with interest, and refinancing back to a fresh 25 or 30-year term resets that interest-heavy curve all over again. Naomi explains how to refinance for a better rate without quietly resetting the clock every few years.
3. Start investing early — even in tiny amounts. A micro-investing account lets you build comfort with market movement while the stakes are still small, so investing feels normal well before you have "real money" to put in.
Helene's Three Money Lessons
4. Compound interest is more powerful than it feels when you're young. You don't need a meaningful amount to start — the magic is in the time, not the size of the deposit. Helene's advice: start absurdly small and let time do the rest.\
5. Super is the one she wishes she'd paid attention to sooner. Helene shares that she wished someone had talked to her about the importance of super so much earlier.  Super became compulsory in 1992 and had she paid attention to it all the way back then, she would have been in a significantly stronger position today.
6. Budgeting is a habit worth building early. For Helene, budgeting is about information: knowing where your money actually goes, so you get to make decisions on purpose. Building that habit young means you get take make the most of that information much earlier in life.
 
This episode is sponsored by NGS Super. Sponsorship does not influence the general information shared in this episode, and nothing discussed should be taken as a recommendation of any NGS Super product or service. This content is general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs — it is not financial product advice. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, AFSL 557729.  Past performance in not an indicator of future performance.

Is your trust still worth having? That's the question Naomi puts to Justine Wilson, Director at Altus Financial, in this deep dive into two of the biggest changes to come out of the May 2026 Federal Budget — the proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts, and the change to how capital gains tax is calculated on assets you already own.
Naomi and Justine get into who these changes were designed to target, and who is actually likely to feel them. If you have a trust, you're thinking about setting one up, or you just want to understand what's settled law versus what's still just a proposal, this episode is your plain-English guide.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN
Whether a discretionary trust is still worth having, and who is genuinely affected by the proposed minimum tax
Why the classic "bucket company" strategy is effectively ending
The proposed three-year window to restructure out of a trust, and why state stamp duty could still get in the way
What the CGT cost base indexation change (already law, from 1 July 2027) means for assets you already hold
Why you don't need to panic and get everything valued by 30 June 2027
ABOUT JUSTINE WILSON
Justine Wilson is the Director of Altus Financial, where she works with clients on structuring, tax and asset protection decisions — including whether a trust is the right vehicle for their circumstances. Justine has been closely following the development of the 2026 Budget trust and CGT measures as they move through consultation.
You can find Justine at justine.wilson@altusfinancial.com.au, and https://www.altusfinancial.com.au/.
ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
If this episode helped make sense of what's actually changing — and what isn't — the best thing you can do is leave a review wherever you listen. It takes less than two minutes and helps more women find this show.
And if you know someone who's been asking "should I still have a trust?", send them this episode.
DISCLAIMER
This episode contains general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not financial product advice. Before acting on anything discussed, consider whether it's appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from a qualified professional. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, AFSL 557729.
This episode is sponsored by Global X ETFs. Sponsorship does not influence the general information shared in this episode, and nothing discussed should be taken as a recommendation of any Global X product or service.
A note on legislative status: the negative gearing and CGT cost base indexation changes discussed in this episode passed Parliament and received royal assent on 25 June 2026 as the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026 — these are now law. The proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts is a separate measure from the same Budget that has not yet been legislated — Treasury's consultation process closed 31 July 2026 and exposure draft legislation has not yet been released. Everything discussed about trusts in this episode reflects the current best-available information at time of recording and is subject to change.

Almost every woman going through a divorce has this conversation. Not about the superannuation. Not about the investments. About the house. And it usually sounds something like — I don't care about anything else. I just need to keep the house.
In this episode Helene shares her own experience — and the very real cost of the decision she made — to have an honest conversation about what's really driving that need, and what it might actually be costing you.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL HEAR:
Why women fight so hard to keep the family home — and what the research actually says about what children need after separation
The financial reality nobody talks about — it's not just the mortgage
What it actually means to "keep the house"  — and why it's not always as simple as taking your ex off the mortgage
Helene's own story — the numbers, the sacrifice, and the hindsight
Practical tips for anyone navigating this decision right now
The alternative nobody considers — and why renting is not failing
The therapeutic coaching lens — the belief underneath the decision, and a powerful exercise to help you hear what your back brain is actually saying
The questions to sit with before you decide anything
THE STATS
Divorce in Australia increased 4.1% in 2024-25
The average age at divorce is now 47.3 for men and 44.4 for women
Women's average superannuation balances at retirement are around 23% lower than men's
30% of retired women relied on their partner's income to meet living costs in 2024-25
Women earn over $12,000 less than men per year
86% of child support recipients via the Australian Child Support Agency are women
22% of single parent families are in housing stress — compared to just 6.9% of couples with dependent children (HILDA Survey)
A USEFUL EXERCISEFinish this sentence out loud — don't think too hard, just let it come:
"I believe I need to keep the house because..."
Whatever came up — that's the belief worth looking at.
THE QUESTIONS TO SIT WITH BEFORE YOU DECIDE
In five years, will the version of me who made this decision thank me — or be drowning because of me?
Am I keeping the house for my kids — or for me?
If the house burned down tomorrow and the decision was made for me — what would I do? How would I feel in six months?
Is the house the home — or am I the home?
RESOURCES MENTIONED
1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 — available 24/7 for domestic and family violence support
Australian Institute of Family Studies — aifs.gov.au
AHURI — ahuri.edu.au
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia — fcfcoa.gov.au
MoneySmart — moneysmart.gov.au
Simple Split Financials — Julie Garis (add details)
CONNECT WITH USHelene Psarakis — ThinkBowl Therapeutic Coachingthinkbowl.com.au | helene@thinkbowl.com.au
Naomi Holmes — Her Money Mattershermoneymatters.com.au | naomi@hermoneymatters.com.au
DISCLAIMER
The information shared in this episode is general in nature and does not constitute legal, financial or therapeutic advice. Please seek appropriate professional advice for your specific circumstances.
This episode covers the property tax measures from the 2026-27 Federal Budget, including the abolition of negative gearing for established residential property and the replacement of the CGT discount with cost base indexation. Both have since passed into law as the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026, effective 1 July 2027. Related measures — including the treatment of discretionary trusts and a fix for the co-ownership "widow's tax" issue — are still being finalised in follow-up legislation and were not yet settled at the time of recording.
Podcasts are a great place to start, but when it comes to your own finances, super or lending position, please get guidance from a qualified professional. If you'd like more support, Naomi offers one-on-one coaching and financial education courses, and Her Money Matters has a panel of licensed financial advisers who can help with personal advice. Naomi Holmes and Her Money Matters are licensed by Alethea Partners Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence 557729.
Your money matters. Your future matters. And you? You matter.