The collective financial anxiety weighing on Australians is showing signs of easing, thanks to factors like interest rate cuts and softening cost-of-living pressures. But, for many Australian women, financial stress remains high.

New research from Agile Market Intelligence shows that financial anxiety has eased from 35% in March to 30% in September 2025. As a result, fewer people believe they’re worse off than a year ago – down from 40% to 32%.

However, beneath these positive trends lies a persistent gender gap. According to the research, women are almost twice as likely as men to feel financially anxious. Among women aged 18–34, the rate of financial anxiety reaches 41%, more than double the 20% for men in the same age group. And this disparity continues across every age bracket.

The gender divide

So why are women experiencing greater financial stress despite the broader economic recovery?

For one, women are still more likely to experience career breaks or reduced earning potential due to caregiving responsibilities. Whether it’s raising children or caring for ageing parents, breaks in your career can also lifetime earnings. These interruptions can also lessen your ability to contribute to super and, therefore, limit long-term superannuation growth.

Wage gaps remain another factor. According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the average gender pay gap for the private sector is 21.8%. For every $1 on average a man makes, women earn 78c. Although this is trending downwards (see graph below), over the course of a year, that difference adds up to $28,425.

Women also tend to live longer, meaning their retirement savings need to last further into the future. With average female life expectancy sitting around four years longer than men’s, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the risk of outliving one’s savings is very real.

These factors combine to create a sense of financial pressure that persists even when broader economic conditions are improving. And for many women, this reality requires clear strategies, confidence-building and long-term planning to overcome.

What matters most to women over 50

As women enter their 50s and beyond, their financial priorities often shift. Children may be leaving home, careers are evolving and many are stepping into caregiving roles for elderly parents. At this stage of life, we see five common themes in how women perceive their finances:

1. Financial security and stability

For women over 50, long-term financial security is often the most pressing concern. After decades of balancing work and family, many want to ensure they can maintain their lifestyle without financial dependence.

Women’s longer life expectancy adds another layer of complexity – retirement savings must stretch further. That’s why this is often the stage when women start paying closer attention to their super balances, investment portfolios and household budgets. Understanding income versus expenses and having a clear plan to sustain future cash flow becomes key.

2. Independence and control

Financial independence goes beyond income – it is also about autonomy. Many women have seen the consequences of financial dependence through divorce, widowhood or unequal financial dynamics. Having control over personal finances brings both empowerment and peace of mind.

A client recently told us that the pride she felt when paying her own tax bill after her divorce wasn’t about the money, but about what it represented: reclaiming her confidence and independence.

3. Health and long-term care

Women are also thinking more about their health as part of financial planning. With people living longer – often with chronic conditions – planning for aged care or health-related expenses is essential. Factoring these into retirement planning helps protect independence later in life.

4. Lifestyle and retirement goals

For many women, retirement isn’t just about leaving work – it’s about redefining purpose and lifestyle. Some plan to travel, while others prefer to work part-time or volunteer. Retirement planning helps keep these goals in line with available resources, from superannuation withdrawals to investment income.

5. Legacy and family

By their 50s and 60s, many women start thinking about their legacy – supporting children, helping them buy their first home or setting up structures to protect family wealth. This often extends to estate planning, so that wills and beneficiary nominations reflect their wishes.

Building financial confidence through trusted advice

Financial confidence is empowering. It allows you to focus on what truly matters while knowing your financial foundation is secure. And financial planning is uniquely positioned to help women get there.

This is where professional financial advice makes a tangible difference. Working with an adviser helps you build confidence and independence through personalised strategies that reflect your unique circumstances and goals. As a trustworthy Gold Coast financial adviser, our approach is designed to:

• Build financial confidence and independence: We create a clear roadmap, removing uncertainty so that you can make proactive decisions.

• Develop goal-based cashflow strategies: We look beyond the immediate to develop cashflow plans that directly reflect your personal goals, whether it’s supporting children, planning for long-term care or building a legacy.

• Plan long-term wealth strategies to close the security gap: We address structural issues head-on, focusing on maximising superannuation, developing investment portfolios and planning for the risks that women face.

Whether you’re a Wealth Creator building your financial foundation, Future Focused and preparing for retirement, or navigating aged care transitions, we’re here to help you take control of your financial wellbeing with strategies built around your goals, your timeline and your vision for the future.

Frequently asked questions

General advice warning:

The information in this blog is of a general advice nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of that, you should, before acting on the advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to those things.

Take control of your financial future with confidence. Talk to our Gold Coast financial advisers, including our all-female advice team, for clear, tailored guidance at every stage of life.