From “Not Enough” at 50 to Freedom at 70

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 new direction in her fifties

“It was clear that if I wanted financial freedom later, I needed to work longer, earn sustainably, and give my investments time to grow.”

Lynda’s decision to keep working – and to work with purpose – became the foundation of her second chapter, and a lesson she now shares in her 50Plus-Skills six-month Masterclass: stay curious, stay open, and live with intention in the second half of life.

Creating 50Plus-Skills

Lynda launched 50Plus-Skills with one simple belief – that people in their fifties, sixties, and beyond still have so much to offer. Her mission? To help people in transition find new ways to earn, serve, and grow. At the heart of it all are the four pillars she believes we need to thrive later in life: purpose, health, financial stability, and social connection.

What started as a simple idea has grown into a national network of more than 160 members, with groups meeting regularly in person and online.

A cornerstone of the journey is the six-month Masterclass – a practical and empowering programme that helps people design a life portfolio based on passion, purpose, and what’s possible.

“Whether you’re driven by financial need or by a desire to do something more meaningful, many people are crossing the bridge from traditional work into what I call the GIFT season,” Lynda explains. “It’s a time to Give back, Invest in yourself, Flourish, and Thrive.”

Through coffee mornings, learning events, shared opportunities, and collaboration, members are building businesses, mentoring others, consulting, and forming purpose-driven partnerships. Lynda calls it the 1 + 1 = 5 effect – when people come together with intention, something far greater emerges.

Stories that show what’s possible

50Plus-Skills is a community that proves second chapters can be deeply fulfilling and financially meaningful.

There’s Sarah, who left a long career in construction during the pandemic and discovered a love for storytelling. Today, she runs Flourish Online, a digital magazine that celebrates everyday people doing extraordinary things.

Jennifer, who recently turned 60 and lives with low vision, founded C-UR-ABLE, a business focused on improving accessibility for people with visual challenges. She entered – and won – the SAB Disability Awards, gaining funding to grow her work.

Rob, also sixty, is developing practical tools and apps to improve elder care. Drawing on years of experience in the industry, he’s building systems that support caregivers and seniors – making the process more connected, compassionate, and effective.

“These are the moments that inspire me,” says Lynda. “They remind me that reinvention is possible at any age – it just takes courage, a plan, and a community that believes in you.”

Why this story matters

Lynda’s story shows the connection between life and money. The financial decisions she made in her fifties – to work longer, plan with intention, and align her money with purpose – are exactly what gave her the freedom she enjoys today.

As she often says, “We all need purpose, community, and the financial security to live the life we want.”

And that’s what 50Plus-Skills offers – a place to belong, to learn, and to grow.

Thinking About Your Own Next Chapter?

If you’re rethinking retirement, or wondering what your next chapter could look like, visit www.50plus-skills.co.za to explore the community, join a local group, or sign up for the next Masterclass.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. With the right support, inspiration and guidance, your next chapter could be anything you want it to be.

Always remember, when it comes to your money, be inspired, be brave and be on purpose,

Kim