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The mid-career phase is a critical opportunity for women to get their financial house in order and build their long-term financial future.
As women’s earnings typically peak during this stage, the time is ripe to bolster savings and plan for retirement. Careful planning, including considering some of the following tips, can help build long term financial confidence.
At this pivotal phase of your life, career and investment journey, a trusted financial adviser can help with managing debt, reviewing portfolios and working towards financial and retirement goals. Sometimes, just a few meetings can help determine strategies and build confidence around balancing growth and risk.
Superannuation does not have to be a passive investment. In Australia, super is without question one of the most tax-effective investment vehicles available. One option is making extra contributions. You can make up to $30,000 worth of concessional contributions each financial year across all your super accounts. People who are below this annual limit may choose to make additional contributions before June 30 each financial year. One smart way to do this for mid-career women is through salary sacrificing, which involves making additional pre-tax contributions to boost retirement savings while reducing taxable income. It is also worth reviewing your super fund’s investment option, performance and fees to ensure it aligns with your goals and risk profile.
Career breaks for parenting and caring roles are a reality for many women, but strategies to support your superannuation during these periods can help offset gender wealth gaps.
If you make a personal super contribution, you may also be eligible for a co-contribution from the Australian Government of up to $500. There is also the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset, or LISTO, which assists eligible workers earning $37,000 a year or less. It can be worth up to $500 a year. And, if you take unpaid parental leave and your partner is still working, your partner may consider making spousal contributions to your super so you keep your balance ticking over while you are on leave.
Mid-career female investors still have a 15- to 25-year horizon before retirement. While risk tolerances will always vary from person to person, a longer investment horizon can offer more flexibility for exposure to growth focused assets such as shares. Diversification remains critical, however. Historically, stock and bond prices tend to move in opposite directions, so splitting your investments between shares, bonds, real estate and cash, for example, can help smooth out market ups and downs.
On the asset front, investments outside super offer flexibility and can play a role in broader wealth building strategies. Many female investors are tuning to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) because they offer a simple way to gain diversified market exposure at a relatively low cost. Broad-market ETFs, including those tracking major indices, can provide exposure to thousands of companies in a single investment, helping spread risk across sectors and regions.
As incomes, assets and responsibilities grow through mid career, protecting wealth becomes an increasingly important consideration. For some people, this includes reviewing insurance arrangements such as income protection or life cover, which are designed to provide financial support in the event of illness, injury or death.
Mid career can also be a time when people review or put in place estate planning arrangements, such as a will, powers of attorney and beneficiary nominations, to ensure their wishes are clearly documented.
In short, mid-career is a pivotal phase of your financial life. A clear plan and a focus on building confidence can help support financial wellbeing over the decades ahead.
Vanguard
27 May 2026
vanguard.com.au
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