Around International Women’s Day each year we hear a lot about equality, opportunity and empowerment. But there’s another area that deserves more attention – financial confidence.

Over many years as a financial adviser, some of the most determined and inspiring clients I worked with were women in their 50s and early 60s who suddenly found themselves needing to take control of their finances again.

Often they were single, divorced or widowed, and many felt like they were starting again.

A phrase I heard far too often was:

“I feel like I’ve run out of time.”

But here’s the truth I would always share with them – you almost never run out of time if you are still earning an income.

Even 7 to 10 years can make a significant difference when it comes to building superannuation, reducing debt and improving financial security for the future.

 

The “Give to Gain” mindset

When it comes to money, many people think they need to make huge changes immediately. In reality, the biggest step is often simply giving yourself the time to understand where you stand.

Time to review your super.
Time to understand your spending.
Time to make a plan for the next stage of life.

That small investment of time now is what creates the gain later.

Because financial confidence doesn’t appear overnight – it builds gradually as you take small, consistent steps.

 

Why women in particular need to focus on this

There are many reasons women can find themselves behind financially later in life:

  • Time out of the workforce raising children
  • Working part-time for extended periods
  • Career interruptions to care for family members
  • Divorce or separation later in life
  • Simply leaving financial decisions to a partner for many years

None of these are uncommon. In fact, they are incredibly common.

But what matters is what happens next.

Because once someone decides to take ownership of their finances, the path forward becomes much clearer.

 

The power of the next 10 years

If you are in your late 50s (or at any age really), the next decade can be one of the most important financial periods of your life.

Your mortgage may be reducing.
Your income may be at its highest point.
Your children may be becoming more independent.

All of this creates an opportunity to focus on strengthening your financial position before retirement.

That might mean:

  • Increasing super contributions
  • Reducing unnecessary debt
  • Building additional savings
  • Getting clear advice on retirement planning

These steps don’t require perfection – just commitment and consistency.

 

You’re not starting again – you’re starting smarter

One of the most important mindset shifts I encourage people to make is this:

You’re not starting from scratch.

You’re starting with decades of life experience, knowledge and perspective.

And that makes you far better equipped to make smart financial decisions than you may realise.

Which brings us back to the idea of Give to Gain.

Give yourself the time.
Give yourself the knowledge.
Give yourself the focus.

And the gain – in confidence, security and peace of mind – will follow.

Because when it comes to your financial future, it’s never too late to take control of the next chapter.

 

Marc Bineham
Money coach | Keynote speaker | Author of The Money Sandwich