At a recent International Women’s Day event at The Women’s Club, Sydney, I spoke about something that still surprises many people.
The fastest growing group experiencing homelessness is not who most expect.
It is not men. It is women over the age of 55. Think about that for a second.
Because it challenges a belief many of us quietly hold. That financial insecurity happens somewhere else. To someone else. Because of poor decisions or bad luck.
Most people think, “It cannot happen to me.” But sadly, it can.
The reality is that financial security for women is far more fragile than most people realise. In Australia, this is a conversation we need to be having more openly.
Finance has always been my world. I built my career in investment markets, analysing companies, markets and portfolios over decades.
But one of the most important chapters of my career came when I stepped away after my daughter was born and spent time working with The Benevolent Society, teaching financial literacy to social workers so they could better support their clients.
It was a very different environment from my world of hedge funds and financial markets. But it changed how I see things forever.
I saw people who, on paper, should have been fine. Professionals. Business owners. People managing meaningful assets. And yet, through a series of events, sometimes quite ordinary ones, they found themselves in vulnerable financial positions.
The shift from financial security to financial vulnerability can happen faster than most people expect.
A relationship breakdown.
A period of poor health.
Time out of the workforce.
Poor structuring decisions.
A lack of liquidity at the wrong moment.
The shift can be quick. And it is often unexpected.
This is why financial security for women matters so much. Because the risks are often underestimated, particularly for women navigating life transitions or managing significant wealth.
For high-net-worth women, there may be an assumption that wealth equals security. In reality, that is not always the case.
Wealth can create a sense of comfort, but without the right structures, governance and decision-making frameworks, financial security for women can be more fragile than it appears.
I often see portfolios that have grown over time without a clear strategy. Investments made in isolation. Decisions influenced by others rather than anchored in a well-considered plan.
Financial security for women is not just about how much you have. It is about how your wealth is structured, how decisions are made, and how risks are managed over time.
Here are some key video takeaways from my speech:
If there is one thing I hope women take away, it is this. Financial security for women is not something that happens by accident.
It is something that is built. Gradually. Thoughtfully. Intentionally.
And it deserves your attention. Not later. Now.
If this feels familiar, it may be time to take a closer look at your own position.
If you would like a clearer, more independent and structured approach to your wealth, I would be very happy to have a conversation.
You can contact me here, or learn more about how we work with women here.
Kind regards,
Shelley Marsh
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) & Founder
Wealth Differently
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