”It’s not about the money” explores why Australian women are more likely to experience lower levels of financial wellbeing, dispelling myths and advocating for systemic solutions to create a nation where gender doesn’t determine financial outcomes.
Episodes
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Julia Newbould is a freelance writer, speaker and thinker. She was recently managing editor at Conexus Financial curating content for events for superannuation chief investment officers, and financial advisers and licensees. Prior to that she was managing editor of Money magazine.
In 2020 she published her first book The Joy of Money, co-authored with financial adviser Kate McCallum. The Joy of Money won the Best Personal Finance and Investment book at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. It was also a runner up in the Health and Wellbeing category. Julia has more than 20 years’ finance journalism experience and was previously editor of Financial Planning and Super Review magazines at Reed Business Information; managing editor at InvestorInfo and managing editor at Morningstar Australia.
Her passions lay between helping women gain greater equality in all areas of life and supporting financial literacy in all areas of society.
Julia’s role prior to Money was at BT Financial Group in marketing and communications where she founded the Stella Network, a network group for women in financial advice.
- Demystifying financial jargon is crucial for promoting financial literacy and understanding.
- Women in the financial services industry still face challenges, but there is progress in terms of diversity and support.
- Creating safe spaces and networks for women in finance is essential for sharing experiences and promoting equality.
- Financial wellbeing is essential for overall wellbeing, and it is important for individuals to have an understanding of their financial situation.
- Accessible information and resources are necessary for empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions. Don't dwell on past financial decisions, focus on the present and future.
- Everyone's financial journey is unique, it's okay to have different financial situations.
- Open discussions about money are important for financial literacy.
- Challenges faced by older women in retirement include lack of superannuation and understanding of money.
- Affordable housing and education are important initiatives to support women's financial security.
- Maximise income, practice conscious spending, and invest in superannuation to improve financial position.
- "For me, being a communications person, it's always about getting the message across simply and cutting out the jargon where possible and usually that's everywhere."
- "Money is such an interesting topic. I think it's at the root of everything."
- "Younger women are such champions of each other, forging careers based on their own values."
- "Do not look back, do not punish yourself for whatever decisions you've made in the past."
- "Whatever you've got is okay. This is the reality and let's work on the reality."
- "The best time to invest was 20 years ago and the second best time is today."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:56 Challenges and Changes in Financial Journalism
09:52 Women in the Financial Services Industry
11:59 The Stella Network and Supporting Women
17:56 The Importance of Financial Wellbeing
20:30 Demystifying Money and Financial Education
24:51 The Joy of Money and Empowering Women
28:46 Challenges for Older Women and Retirement
37:40 Initiatives and Policies for Women's Financial Security
41:02 Key Messages and Inspirational Women
42:01 Gender Equality and Women's Financial Security
43:34 Actions Women Can Take Today
45:05 Go-To Resources for Financial Knowledge
Keywords
Julia Newbould, finance, gender financial equality, financial services industry, diversity, financial wellbeing, financial decisions, money, financial literacy, older women, retirement, affordable housing, income, conscious spending, superannuation
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Friday Mar 29, 2024
How are women meant to prioritise their own financial wellbeing when there is so much else to do (especially for everyone else)?
In this conversation, Jenny Rolfe-Wallace speaks with Dawn Thomas, a Certified Financial Planner and SMSF Specialist Adviser, about women's financial security, the importance of money conversations with children, and the challenges women face in balancing professional and personal obligations.
Dawn highlights the societal expectation for women to give their time and money for the service of others, which often leads to their own financial insecurity. She calls for a shift in cultural beliefs and the valuation of unpaid care work. She discusses the mental load that women often carry, which can hinder their ability to prioritise their own financial wellbeing.
Dawn also addresses the gender pay gap and its impact on long-term financial security, particularly in relation to superannuation.
Dawn reflects on her role as a financial adviser and the importance of financial education literacy for children and suggests practical ways to incorporate financial education into everyday life. She also highlights the inspiring work of women in the finance industry and recommends resources for women looking to improve their financial situation.
About Dawn
Dawn Thomas CFP®, SSA is a self-professed superannuation nerd, a part-time PhD Student researching the superannuation behaviour of Gen Z, and a mother of three. She launched The Wealth Designer’s Start Well program in 2023, which is designed to help young people to be empowered financially. When she is not providing financial advice, she relaxes by cooking for loved ones or playing hockey. In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as a recognition of financial literacy work and advocacy of the financial planning profession, Dawn was listed in Financial Standard’s Power 50, which recognises the most influential financial advisers in Australia. Recognising her work in lifting outcomes of women and young people, Dawn won the 2023 Industry Thought Leader of the Year Award, IFA Excellence Award 2023, 2019 Association of Financial Adviser’s (AFA) Female Excellence in Advice Award and IFA Excellence Award for Transformation of the Year 2022, and received the Great Advice Award (WA) in 2021.
Takeaways
- Systemic barriers and cultural beliefs often lead women to prioritise the needs of others at the expense of their own financial security.
- Financial education for young people, including conversations about unpaid leave, career choices, and money management, can help break the cycle of financial insecurity.
- The valuation of unpaid care work and the fair compensation of female-dominated industries are crucial for achieving gender equality.
- The gender pay gap and its impact on superannuation contribute to women's long-term financial insecurity.
- Parents have a responsibility to teach their children about money, but many feel unsure about how to do so effectively. It is important to find ways to make financial education engaging and accessible for children.
- The mental load that women carry, including the responsibility of managing household finances, can prevent them from prioritising their own financial wellbeing. It is crucial for women to make time for financial education and self-care.
- Financial advisers and money coaches can play a valuable role in delivering financial education to students.
- Gender biases and stereotypes around money start at a young age, with differences in pocket money and household chores assigned to boys and girls. It is important to challenge these biases and promote financial equality from an early age.
- Practical steps to improve financial well-being include creating a budget or spending plan, understanding superannuation, and seeking out resources and books written by women in the finance industry.
- Progress over perfection is key when it comes to financial education and empowerment. Start with small steps and build on them over time.
Resources
Start Well podcast
Your Money Story podcast
"Money School" by Lacey Filipich
"Girls That Invest" by Simran Kaur
ASIC's MoneySmart
ASFA's Retirement Standard
ASFA's Super Balance Detective
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:37 Re-framing a Woman's Worth
07:47 Creating Systemic Change
10:33 Unpaid Care Work and Systemic Barriers
14:05 Valuing Unpaid Work
19:08 Impact of Unpaid and Underpaid Work
23:55 Teaching Children about Money
26:22 Creating Intergenerational Change
30:38 Prioritising Financial Security
38:02 Inspiring Women in Finance
40:11 If Dawn was Prime Minister for a Day
44:12 Go-To Resources for Financial Education
Friday Mar 22, 2024
Friday Mar 22, 2024
When men have children, they tend to experience a boost to their income, yet the average mother loses around half of their earnings for at least 10 years (and sometimes longer).
In this episode, Jenny Rolfe-Wallace speaks with Ana Kresina, about the motherhood penalty and its impact on women's financial security, the need for a shift in societal and economic policies to address gender inequality, and the importance of valuing and supporting women in the workforce (and in the home).
About Ana:
Hailing from Canada, Ana is the author of "Kids Ain't Cheap: How to plan financially for parenthood and your family's future". She's also a financial educator, speaker, and parent who works in the financial technology sector.
Ana is the co-host of of Australia’s leading podcast, Get Rich Slow Club, and has been featured in the ABC, the Australian Financial Review, AusBiz, Channel 9's Today Show, the Girls That Invest podcast and more.
In her free time, Ana loves to adventure, spend time with family, and play board games. She’s travelled to over 50+ countries and now calls Australia home. She can’t live without cheese.
Website: https://www.anakresina.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anakresina/
More about the motherhood penalty:
- https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/p2023-372004.pdf
- https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/did-you-all-enjoy-the-international-women-day-cupcakes-thats-great-now-lets-talk-about-making-a-real-difference/
- https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/Roundtable-Discussion-Paper-Family-and-Unpaid-Work_0.docx
Takeaways
- The motherhood penalty refers to the additional disadvantages that mothers face in the workforce, including lower financial compensation and decreased career opportunities.
- Employers need to shift their thinking and see mothers as valuable resources instead of perceiving them as unreliable or less productive.
- Superannuation policies should be revised to ensure that super guarantee is paid on paid parental leave, as this can significantly impact women's financial outcomes in retirement.
- Individuals can take steps to reduce the impact of the motherhood penalty, such as negotiating flexible work arrangements, seeking financial advice, and advocating for policy changes.
- Societal and economic policies need to be reformed to address gender inequality and improve women's financial equality, including addressing the gender pay gap, promoting job sharing and flexible work arrangements, and valuing the work of women in sectors like childcare.
- Resources for further exploration include books like 'Kids Ain't Cheap' by Anna Kresina, as well as other research and publications on gender equality and financial empowerment.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
In this episode, we delve into a discussion about some pressing issues affecting Australian women today including gender equality, women's financial security, and the relationship between economic abuse and domestic violence.
Julie Kun, a recognised expert in financial wellbeing and financial abuse, shares her insights and experiences, examining the enduring gender pay gap and the systemic barriers contributing to women's financial vulnerability.
We also explore how entrenched gender stereotypes perpetuate violence against women and exacerbate financial inequality, and the insidious nature of economic and financial abuse.
Our conversation touches on the roles financial advisers play in addressing financial abuse, the obligations of employers in fostering inclusive workplaces, and the support services available for victim-survivors.
Amidst the challenges, we acknowledge the progress made in raising awareness about financial abuse and offer practical tips for improving financial resilience.
Resources
Some listeners may feel emotional distress or discomfort during this episode, and if you or anyone you know needs help, please reach out to services including:
- AskIzzy.org.au
- 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
- 1800 ELDERHelp Line 1800 353 374
- Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
- MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
- NSW Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 656 463
- Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service 1800 938 227
- QLife 1800 184 527
- NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 1800 424 017
- National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1800 880 052
- Moneysmart www.moneysmart.gov.au
- National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007
- No Interest Loans Scheme www.nils.com.au
Takeaways
- Financial advisers play a crucial role in addressing financial abuse and need to be educated on the signs and impacts of economic abuse.
- Employers have a responsibility to create inclusive workplaces and address economic abuse, as it has a significant impact on the economy and organizations.
- Support services, such as helplines and financial counsellors, are available for survivors of economic abuse and can provide assistance in navigating financial challenges.
- Financial institutions have a role to play in addressing financial abuse by implementing measures to protect customers and providing financial assistance to survivors.
- It is important to support survivors in re-establishing their financial security and provide them with resources and information to make informed decisions.
- There has been progress in raising awareness about financial abuse, but more work needs to be done to eliminate economic abuse and achieve gender equality.
- Joining a union, improving financial literacy, and having open conversations about money can make a difference in individuals' financial positions.
- Julie Kun can be contacted through LinkedIn or via email for further information and support.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting
03:00 Gender Equality and Women's Financial Security
05:51 Julie's Background and Work
09:52 Gender Pay Gap and Financial Insecurity
12:53 Link Between Gender Stereotypes, Violence Against Women, and Financial Inequality
22:05 Red Flags and Coercive Control
28:03 The Intersection of Economic Abuse and Domestic Violence
34:09 The Insidious Nature of Economic and Financial Abuse
35:28 Financial Abuse and the Role of Financial Advisers
36:33 Employer Responsibility in Addressing Economic Abuse
40:09 Creating Inclusive Workplaces
45:30 Support Services for Economic Abuse
49:56 Financial Institutions' Role in Addressing Financial Abuse
52:58 Supporting Survivors in Re-establishing Financial Security
58:07 Progress in Addressing Economic Abuse
01:04:01 Inspiring Women
01:07:20 Addressing Gender Equality and Financial Security
01:09:19 Taking Control of Personal Finances
01:11:26 Connecting with Julie Kun
Saturday Mar 09, 2024
Saturday Mar 09, 2024
Q: What do you get when you mix a community choir, Wiradjuri elder, disability advocate, financial adviser, business leader, psychology academic, and poet extraordinaire together?
A: An absolutely cracking evening, with a thought-provoking discussion about the systemic, social and economic factors, that constrain women’s ability to earn, to save, to invest, and in turn build financial security.
This episode of "It's Not About The Money (Australia)" was recorded at the "Can You Afford That Cupcake?" event held on Wiradjuri lands in Wagga Wagga. A program can be accessed here.
The event features a performance from the UNISONg Women's Community Choir, including an adaptation of John Farnham's "Two Strong Hearts" to support fundraising towards purchase of a defibrillator for the Wagga Women's Health Centre, and an original poem performed by Peita Vincent.
Five panellists share thoughts and insights from their lived experience and professional expertise about pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls, in line with the UN IWD2024 theme of Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.
Aunty Cheryl Penrith
Aunty Cheryl is a connecter, an influencer, a mentor and coach, and has worked in the government, non-government and tertiary education sectors. Her passion is community development and capacity building, business and strategic planning, cultural empowerment, community health and wellbeing, involvement in decision making and the revival and reinvigoration of cultural practices such as language, possum skin cloak making workshops, women's cultural business. Aunty Cheryl's life experience as a First Nation Wiradjuri woman has given her a unique perspective, skills and networks.
Gioia Gianniotis
Gioia is a registered Architect and established GPG Architecture following registration with the NSW board of Architects in February 2006. In 2021, Gioia completed her NSW registration as a Design Practitioner-Architectural. Her architectural practice undertakes a diverse range of residential, public and commercial projects. In the 19 years since the establishment of GPG, Gioia has developed an efficient and well-known regional practice with projects located throughout the Riverina, Bland and Snowy Valleys council regions. Employing a team of five, while also leading teams of numerous consultant teams of various specialties, her business continues to develop with many successful and multi-million dollar projects in construction and on the drawing board. Recognised for her passion and business acumen, Gioia received the “Most Outstanding Business Leader” and her practice won the “Excellence in Small Business” Award at the 2018 Wagga Wagga Business Chamber Awards. Gioia won the 2019 inaugural MBA Riverina Women in Building Award. Her practice projects have also won several awards from the HIA and MBA from 2017 through to 2023. In 2020 her practice in collaboration with another local architect, Mark Golden achieved the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division Educational Architecture award for their work at the Wagga Wagga Christian College, Junior School. Prior to starting GPG, Gioia spent ten years at The Cox Group working alongside many influential architects. She considers her time at the Cox Group as an invaluable contribution to her career, and attributes this to several mentors that supported her journey. Gioia’s move to Wagga Wagga in March 2004 from Sydney was for a lifestyle change and was an opportunity for Gioia to establish her own practice and contribute to the ever expanding architectural landscape of the region. Throughout her career Gioia has been involved in many professional bodies, forums and community activities including being a mentor within the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Mentoring Program and is currently the President for Women in Business Wagga Wagga. Her practice, GPG Architecture regularly hosts work experience and university students from all over the region and she is actively involved in presenting to local colleges and school about her career and the built environment.
Jessica Horner
As a disability consultant and journalist, Jessica uses her lived experience and expertise in disability, diversity and inclusion, social justice, and media to help change the disability landscape and discourse. Jessica has more than two years of experience in creating content, writing stories, and advising on disability-related issues for various platforms and organizations, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Mona Magazine, and Relationships Australia. In 2022, Jessica was selected as an ABC Regional Storyteller Scholarship recipient, where she pitched and produced stories about the adult autistic community from a lived experience perspective. She also received a Media Diversity Australia Award nomination in 2023 from the Walkley Foundation for her work on raising the profile of autistic adults in the media. Jessica's mission is to be a voice for those who are left without a voice, and to promote hope and empowerment for the disability community and broader society.
Dr Rachel Hogg
Rachel is a psychology academic whose work focuses on human-animal interaction, social psychology, gender and feminism, mental health, and the psychology of work. Her PhD research examined horse-rider relationships in elite equestrian sport. She now conducts research on animal-assisted therapy, sustainability in farming, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences of mental health services, neurodiversity, social media, and the gendering of mental health diagnoses and systems. Rachel has contributed to academic and media discourses around wellness culture, sex education and consent, and domestic violence reforms, and is regularly sought after as a researcher and public commentator. Rachel grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in south-eastern Australia and this upbringing has infused her work, alongside her engagement with literary and performing arts. Rachel delivered a presentation on 'Disordering distress: Women’s experiences of domestic violence, self-empowerment, and psychology' as part of the 2023 TEDxWaggaWagga event.
Trish Gregory
Trish is a CFP® certified millennial financial adviser with more than 7 years of formal experience, a Masters Degree, three school-aged children and a military veteran partner. With an abundance of life experience prior to commencing her financial planning career, Trish intimately understands the challenges the younger generation face which can thwart their financial goals. Having previously worked in a more ‘traditional’ advice role supporting pre-retirees and retirees as well as clients holding a Defined Benefit pension, she now spends her days in the weeds of budgets, projections, goal planning and trade-off conversations with Millennials and Gen Z. Trish is a strong believer in supporting women to enter and grow in the financial planning profession and knows that systemic change is needed before we’ll reach gender parity.
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Friday Mar 01, 2024
In the first full-length episode of "It's Not About The Money", former chemical engineer turned financial educator, Lacey Filipich, shares her unexpected journey after facing personal crises, shifting priorities to focus on being "time rich", and her mission to support people of all ages to improve their financial capability and wellbeing.
Lacey and host, Jenny Rolfe-Wallace, challenge some of the stereotypes around financial decisions and misconceptions about poverty, the importance of addressing the wealth gap and income inequality, and the need for diverse voices in financial education to cater to various perspectives and experiences. They discuss the challenges women face in achieving financial independence and strategies for systemic change.
Content warning: This episode mentions suicide.
About Lacey:
Lacey Filipich helps people become financially independent and reclaim their lives. Thousands around the world have used her Money School courses to liberate themselves from debt, start saving and raise financially capable kids.
Money School is also the title of her international award-winning book, out now with Penguin Life.
Lacey graduated as valedictorian from the University of Queensland with an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering (if you want to find out how a chemical engineer ends up teaching people about money, check out her TEDx talk.) She is the winner of a 2019 Business News '40 under 40’ Award and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Finance.
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Do you think you could land a commercial aeroplane successfully with no training? Beat Serena Williams in a game of tennis? What about make good investment decisions?
In this bonus episode, Jenny speaks with Julia Newbould about confidence, overconfidence, and how this can influence decision making.
Julia Newbould is a freelance writer, speaker and thinker. She was recently managing editor at Conexus Financial curating content for events for superannuation chief investment officers, and financial advisers and licensees. Prior to that she was managing editor of Money magazine. In 2020 she published her first book The Joy of Money, co-authored with financial adviser Kate McCallum. The Joy of Money won the Best Personal Finance and Investment book at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. It was also a runner up in the Health and Wellbeing category. Julia has more than 20 years’ finance journalism experience and was previously editor of Financial Planning and Super Review magazines at Reed Business Information; managing editor at InvestorInfo and managing editor at Morningstar Australia.
Her passions lay between helping women gain greater equality in all areas of life and supporting financial literacy in all areas of society.
Julia’s role prior to Money was at BT Financial Group in marketing and communications where she founded the Stella Network, a network group for women in financial advice.
Friday Feb 23, 2024
Friday Feb 23, 2024
We often hear reports that women have lower levels of financial literacy - but is that the whole picture?
In this bonus episode, Jenny speaks with Dr Bronwyn Bruce about the difference between financial literacy, financial capability, and financial wellbeing, as well as the emotional aspects of money and what this means for financial decision-making.
Bronwyn recently completed her PhD which centred on the consumption behaviour and financial wellbeing of Australian millennial women, with a specific focus on superannuation. She is currently working as an academic at RMIT University where she teaches and conducts research in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing.