Her Money Matters

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.

31 Retirement Planning: Where to Start and Getting Your Financial House in Order

Retirement planning can feel like something Future You will deal with… the version of you who has more time, more headspace, and somehow feels magically ready. But the truth is, Future You is hoping Present You starts paying attention now because the choices you’re making today around cashflow, lifestyle, and getting organised are exactly what shape how the next chapter feels.
 
In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Jacqui Clarke - adviser, business owner, and author of Stop Worrying About Money - for a great conversation about retirement planning. 
 
What We Cover in This Episode
Why retirement planning starts with Future You and the decisions you’re making today
How to get your 'financial house' in order before thinking about retirement
Understanding cashflow, income and 'open the front-door costs'
How lifestyle creep can derail retirement plans
The key decisions that shape retirement, including housing, surplus cashflow and super
There’s also a nod to The First Wives Club, because midlife is often the moment when you realise no one else is coming to sort this out for you. Just like the women in the movie, retirement planning is about stepping into your power, getting organised, and designing the next chapter on your own terms and ideally without the drama!
 
If you’ve ever thought, “I know I should look at this, I just don’t know where to start,” this episode is for you. 

30 Funding the Cost of Education: High School, HECS-HELP and Helping with Education Funding for Grandkids

Welcome to the back to school edit!  In this episode we take a step back and look at the real cost of education, including the mindset behind how those decisions get made.
In this episode, we break education spending into three key stages:
High school education costs — what families really pay under the public system, Catholic schools, and independent schools, and why high school is often where education becomes a meaningful cashflow decision.
University costs and HECS-HELP — how much a typical degree costs, how the HECS system works, and the long-term impact of paying upfront versus carrying education debt.
Helping the next generation — the role parents and grandparents often play in funding education, and how options like education bonds can provide a structured and intentional way to support future learning.
Throughout the episode, we come back to the mindset piece — the psychology of competing priorities, finite resources, and the expectations we carry as parents and grandparents. Education decisions are rarely just about numbers. They’re about values, roles, and choosing how your money supports the future you care about.
If this episode sparked a thought or a conversation, please share it with someone navigating school fees, HECS decisions, or supporting the next generation. And if you’d like help understanding how education fits into your broader financial picture, Helene and Naomi are here to help - reach out via the website: www.hermoneymatters.com.au

29 Staying on Track: How to Turn Your 2026 Goals Into Reality (Part 2)

This episode is Part Two of our two-part goal-setting series for 2026, and it’s all about what happens after the inspiration fades. Last week, we talked about why goals matter, the psychology behind them, and how to get clear on what you want through things like vision boards and manifestation. This week, we move into the real work, which is how to stay on track.
Joined by my partner in crime, Helene Psarakis, we unpack the systems, structures and behaviours that actually help goals survive real life. We talk about why motivation isn’t enough, how habits and small steps create momentum, and why accountability can dramatically improve follow-through.
We also dive into the importance of recording and tracking your goals, the role automation can play in reducing friction, and how to set yourself up for consistency rather than perfection. Along the way, we bust the 21-day habit myth, share the research that really matters, and give you practical ways to put all of this into action.
And yes — we bring in a little pop culture fun with I’m So Excited by the Pointer Sisters, because that feeling of excitement doesn’t come from thinking about goals. It comes from knowing you’ve started.
In this episode, we cover:
Why staying on track is harder than setting goals
The psychology behind habits, small steps and consistency
How recording and tracking goals increases follow-through
Why accountability buddies work — and how to use them properly
The truth about habit formation and the 21-day myth
How automation removes friction and supports progress
Practical ways to keep goals alive throughout the year
If you set goals for 2026 and want to actually achieve them, this episode will help you put the right structures in place — without pressure, guilt or unrealistic expectations.

28 Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work and How to Plan an Impactful 2026

Welcome to the first episode of 2026.
Every January, we dust off the same New Year’s resolution playbook. Do better. Be more disciplined. Finally get your money sorted. And every year, most of those resolutions quietly disappear by the end of January, leaving a familiar mix of frustration and self blame behind.
In this episode, I talk about why that happens, and why it has very little to do with motivation or willpower. Resolutions are usually disconnected from real life, especially for women in their forties, fifties and sixties who are juggling work, family, money, ageing parents and everything else that comes with this stage of life.
We dig into why money resolutions feel particularly heavy, how deeply held beliefs and identity shape behaviour far more than good intentions, and why chasing outcomes without changing how you see yourself rarely leads to lasting change.
From there, the conversation shifts to a different approach.
I break down the science behind manifestation in a practical, no nonsense way, focusing on what actually works. We talk about focus, visualisation and emotion, why clarity matters, and how tools like vision boards and designing your ideal day can help turn intention into action when they are grounded in reality.
This episode is about starting 2026 without the pressure to fix yourself. It is about designing your days with intention, building momentum in a way that feels sustainable, and creating a year that supports the life you actually want to live.
 
Here is the link to The Wheel Of Lifehttps://cdn.moble.com/w/1847/2293062/file/wheel-of-life-coaching_0c909efaa5323.pdf

27 Best of 2025 Replay: The Most Loved Episode for 2025 - The 5 Money Personas and Limiting Beliefs

As we wrap up 2025, we’re revisiting the episode that resonated more than any other this year - Episode 16: Are You a Spender, Planner or Avoider? The 5 Money Personas and the Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back.
This conversation struck a chord because it helped women see themselves clearly, in the behaviours, habits, and the stories we carry about money. In this episode, we unpack the five core money personas, how they show up in everyday life, and the beliefs that can either support your progress or hold you back.
What really made this episode a standout was the pop-culture reference we used to tie it all together. With Sex and the City as our theme, we explored how Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha each represent a different relationship with money, and why recognising yourself in one of them can be surprisingly powerful. It was a heap of fun, and gave language to something many women feel but rarely articulate.
If you’re hearing this for the first time, this episode will help you understand why you make certain money decisions and where small shifts can make a big difference. If you listened earlier in the year, this is a great moment to reflect on what’s changed and what you might want to take with you into 2026.
This is our final episode for 2025. Helene and I will be back in person next week to kick off the first episode of 2026, and we cannot wait to continue the conversation with you.
And please remember… Your Money Matters, Your Future Matters, and You - You Matter.
See you in 2026.

26 Best of 2025 Replay: Why Super Needs to Be Your Super Hero

As we ease into the Christmas break — that magical time where no one knows what day it is and leftovers count as a meal — we’re revisiting one of the most popular episodes of the year.
Coming in as our second most-listened-to episode is Why Super Needs to Be Your Super Hero. And we are not surprised this was one of the most listened to episodes.
Superannuation is one of the most powerful financial tools available to women — yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this replay, Naomi pulls together 20 minutes of the very best moments from the original episode, breaking super down in a way that’s practical, relatable, and actually makes sense.
Using the idea of super as your financial cape, this episode explores why we want super to be the hero of your future — not the villain quietly eroded by fees, poor performance, or neglect. Naomi also challenges listeners to think differently about their super by giving it a superhero identity of its own (hers? Lara Croft — bold, strong, adventurous, and absolutely not here to play small).
In this replay, we cover:
Why super really matters — especially for women
Why you need to actively care about it (even if retirement feels far away)
What makes super such a tax-efficient structure
How much choice you actually have when it comes to your fund
The different types of contributions you can make
How and when you can access your super
And the pop culture tie-in to Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero — because your super really can be exactly that
We’re taking a short festive breather, but Naomi is still around if you need support over the break. And from both Naomi and Helene — thank you for being part of this community.
🎄 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a safe, happy festive season.🎙️ We’ll be back with a brand-new live episode on 5 January.
Because your money matters — and so do you.

25 Planning a Holiday over the Festive Season? Here’s How to Avoid the Holiday Hangover

If there was ever a time to channel Madonna and belt out Holiday — it would be so nice! — it’s the festive season. Between the Christmas chaos, end-of-year burnout, and the annual migration to beaches, airports, and relatives’ spare rooms, the silly season can be a very expensive time to “celebrate.”
In today’s episode, we’re talking all things festive travel — the real costs, the hidden costs, and the “I did not budget for this!” costs. Whether you're heading up the coast, flying interstate, or just trying to escape your own kitchen, we’re breaking down how to plan, budget, and enjoy your holiday without coming home to a financial hangover.
We are taking a page straight out of Madonna’s book, because if Holiday taught us anything, it’s that taking a break should feel joyful, simple, and liberating — not stressful, guilt-ridden, or funded by a credit card you’ll resent until Easter.
We’ll cover:• Why festive-season expenses creep faster than a heatwave• Clever ways to plan your travel budget (that actually stick)• How to avoid blowing the cost-of-living Christmas budget• Smart money moves for accommodation, transport, food and the sneaky extras• And how to start the new year feeling refreshed — not financially frazzled
So grab an iced latte, put on your favourite summer playlist, and let’s make this year’s holiday feel less like a financial avalanche… and a little more Madonna-level fabulous.