So Lynda set herself a new goal: to keep working and earning until seventy. She needed to give her investments time to grow – and to create income that was both sustainable and fulfilling. Today, almost twenty years later – with just fourteen months to go – Lynda can look back and see how that one decision changed everything. It secured her financial future and allowed her to build something extraordinary. Lynda founded 50Plus-Skills, a vibrant community helping people across South Africa shape meaningful pathways into their next chapter – earning, serving, and learning together. A...

Money lessons from watching his parents lose everything Michael grew up in a home where money meant survival. He remembers his mother counting every cent, stretching groceries to the end of the month, and sometimes relying on the church to cover gaps. “The message was clear: money isn’t just numbers on a bank statement. It’s the difference between dignity and dependence. It made me hyper-aware, from a young age, of both the fragility and the power of money.” His father, a talented mechanic who once worked on Jody Scheckter’s Renault R8 Gordini, lost everything, including his...

Cheryl had already achieved so much. She’d built a successful wellness business, travelled the world learning from top nutrition experts, and inspired hundreds of clients to take better care of their health. But in midlife, Cheryl felt a nudge she couldn’t ignore. There was more she wanted to learn, more impact she wanted to make – and it meant stepping into an entirely new space. “It’s now or never. Why not me? Why not now?” That one question became the turning point. The nudge to recalibrate Cheryl’s work had always been about helping people live healthier, more...

Robyn has always admired her father’s generosity. He worked hard, built a meaningful life, and created a legacy his family will always treasure. As he’s grown older, their bond has grown closer. But along the way, she’s had to step into conversations she never expected – and navigate the shift from being a daughter to becoming a carer and a decision-maker. A father’s love, a lifetime of generosity Robyn grew up in a home where money wasn’t openly discussed, but hard work was deeply valued. “I grew up believing that hard work was the only way to earn money,” she reflects. Her...

But what happens when the children leave home and the school fees are finally paid off? Your priorities begin to shift. Suddenly, there’s space to ask, What do I want now? How do I start designing a life that’s meaningful for me – and how do I catch up on the retirement planning I’ve neglected? Often, in midlife, there’s a moment when the focus turns inward. It’s about balancing your dreams with the reality that your earning years may be limited, and learning how to build a life – and a retirement – that feels secure and meaningful. This is where Lyndsay and her...

After walking away from two marriages with nothing, Lauren rebuilt her life and her money. She now supports her daughter and grandchildren – financially and emotionally – while trying to honour her own dreams and protect her financial future. But that support has come at a cost: to her retirement savings, her career goals, and her relationship with her independent son. This is a story many women will recognise – the fine line between helping and enabling, between guilt and boundaries, between putting your children first and not losing yourself in the process. ...

It’s not just about what you earn In my work as a financial planner, I’ve met people with high incomes who feel just as financially anxious as those earning far less. The common thread? Habits that quietly undermine their financial well-being. These are often unconscious patterns – behaviours repeated so often they become automatic. We don’t question them because they feel normal. But over time, they shape our money story and our future. The good news? Just like they were formed, habits can be unlearned, reworked, and replaced with new ones that support the life you want to...

Introducing Sarah Sarah has always been cautious with money, shaped by childhood memories of watching her parents work hard to provide stability. But now, managing her financial future alone while feeling a deep responsibility for her family, who are facing their own struggles, has created emotional tension. Not earning as much as she used to has only added to the pressure. Sarah is now navigating the tricky balance between generosity and self-care, questioning how to set boundaries, when to give, and how to feel good about enjoying her money. Sarah’s childhood money memories ...

Introducing Victoria Victoria has always been an artist at heart. As a drama teacher and part-time sculptor, she never imagined that her creative passion would one day need to support her family. Life as an expat, moving between Johannesburg, Uganda, and Cape Town, taught her adaptability, but nothing prepared her for the financial and emotional upheaval when her husband lost his business during Covid. Suddenly, she had to rethink her role and find a way to turn her love for art into a sustainable income. She focussed on sculpture, built a name for herself, and later expanded into...

Becoming a granny was magical, but it also reminded me how much we limit ourselves with numbers. Imagine if the marathon and grannyhood had happened in the other order. Can you picture the headline? “Granny Runs the Berlin Marathon!” It sounds a bit outrageous! But also a reminder that it’s never too late to dream big or take on new challenges. Give yourself permission How often do we wait for someone else to tell us it’s okay to step out of the box? To follow our hearts? This year, I learned that the only permission we need is the one we give ourselves. Starting off this year in a...