S1E6: It's About Sharing Money Stories (46:17)

Curious about the untold money stories shaping our lives?   Join Julia Newbould, an award-winning freelance writer, as she discusses the complexities of finance, gender equality, and demystifying financial jargon. In this episode, Julia reflects on her career in financial journalism, the changes she has seen in the financial services industry, and shares insights into the diverse money stories of women, navigating financial challenges, and the path towards financial empowerment.    About Julia Newbould   Julia Newbould is a freelance writer, speaker and thinker. She was recently managing editor at Conexus Financial curating content for events for superannuation chief investment officers, and financial advisers and licensees. Prior to that she was managing editor of Money magazine. In 2020 she published her first book The Joy of Money, co-authored with financial adviser Kate McCallum. The Joy of Money won the Best Personal Finance and Investment book at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. It was also a runner up in the Health and Wellbeing category. Julia has more than 20 years’ finance journalism experience and was previously editor of Financial Planning and Super Review magazines at Reed Business Information; managing editor at InvestorInfo and managing editor at Morningstar Australia. Her passions lay between helping women gain greater equality in all areas of life and supporting financial literacy in all areas of society. Julia’s role prior to Money was at BT Financial Group in marketing and communications where she founded the Stella Network, a network group for women in financial advice.   Takeaways Demystifying financial jargon is crucial for promoting financial literacy and understanding. Women in the financial services industry still face challenges, but there is progress in terms of diversity and support. Creating safe spaces and networks for women in finance is essential for sharing experiences and promoting equality. Financial wellbeing is essential for overall wellbeing, and it is important for individuals to have an understanding of their financial situation. Accessible information and resources are necessary for empowering individuals to make informed financial decisions. Don't dwell on past financial decisions, focus on the present and future. Everyone's financial journey is unique, it's okay to have different financial situations. Open discussions about money are important for financial literacy. Challenges faced by older women in retirement include lack of superannuation and understanding of money. Affordable housing and education are important initiatives to support women's financial security. Maximise income, practice conscious spending, and invest in superannuation to improve financial position.   Sound Bites "For me, being a communications person, it's always about getting the message across simply and cutting out the jargon where possible and usually that's everywhere." "Money is such an interesting topic. I think it's at the root of everything." "Younger women are such champions of each other, forging careers based on their own values." "Do not look back, do not punish yourself for whatever decisions you've made in the past." "Whatever you've got is okay. This is the reality and let's work on the reality." "The best time to invest was 20 years ago and the second best time is today."   Chapters  00:00 Introduction and Background 04:56 Challenges and Changes in Financial Journalism 09:52 Women in the Financial Services Industry 11:59 The Stella Network and Supporting Women 17:56 The Importance of Financial Wellbeing 20:30 Demystifying Money and Financial Education 24:51 The Joy of Money and Empowering Women 28:46 Challenges for Older Women and Retirement 37:40 Initiatives and Policies for Women's Financial Security 41:02 Key Messages and Inspirational Women 42:01 Gender Equality and Women's Financial Security 43:34 Actions Women Can Take Today 45:05 Go-To Resources for Financial Knowledge    Keywords  Julia Newbould, finance, gender financial equality, financial services industry, diversity, financial wellbeing, financial decisions, money, financial literacy, older women, retirement, affordable housing, income, conscious spending, superannuation