I'm a Financial Adviser for Women. I Missed the Memo About Perimenopause.
By Rachel O’Connor, Certified Financial Planner®
Quick Summary: Perimenopause symptoms hit most women in their 40s and 50s, right when their careers and salaries are at their peak. Every year, thousands of Australian women are forced to reduce their hours, step back from leadership roles, or leave the workforce altogether due to the unplanned physical and mental impacts of perimenopause. The financial reality is significant. A perimenopause Plan B needs to be part of every woman's financial plan.
A few weeks ago, I went to an International Women’s Day lunch in Sydney. The topic was perimenopause.
I’m going to be honest: it was not something I’d ever really thought about.
My mum never talked about it. I'd never heard her friends or sisters mention it. My social feeds hadn't picked up on it. I had colleagues who'd referenced it, but I'd never really taken the time to understand what they were going through.
Then they went through this whole presentation about what perimenopause actually does to women’s careers, their earnings, and their financial security.
And I thought: holy shit. This is big.
I walked out of that room embarrassed. Here I am, a financial adviser who has built a business around empowering women, and I’d missed the memo on one of the biggest financial disruptors women faces.
So, this is that conversation. The one I should have been having sooner.
What I’ve Learned Since That Lunch
Since that IWD event, I’ve gone down the perimenopause rabbit hole. Almost every conversation I’ve had with friends and clients over the past few weeks has come back to it. And once I started asking, the stories came flooding in.
Women in their late 40s telling me about brain fog so thick they forget the word they’re looking for mid-sentence in a meeting. Fatigue that no amount of sleep fixes. Anxiety that arrives out of nowhere and sits there for weeks. Waking up at 3 am, nerves pulsing. Hot flushes that make presenting to a boardroom feel like an endurance sport.
Two close friends of mine, both in their early 40s, have been smashed by depression that seemed to come out of the blue. Neither of them connected it to perimenopause initially. One thought she was burnt out. The other thought she was having a mental health crisis. It turned out their hormones were shifting, and nobody had told them this was a possibility.
And the career impact is striking. Women are telling me they’re struggling to stay productive. Some have stepped back from leadership roles. Others have quietly gone part-time because they just can’t do five full days anymore.
Meanwhile, their male counterparts are hitting their absolute stride. They’re climbing. These women are just trying to get through the day.
The Financial Reality of Perimenopause
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) estimates that each year, as a direct result of the menopause transition (perimenopause-to-post-menopause), around 20,000 Australian women will at some point switch from full-time to part-time work. Around 10,000 will leave the workforce temporarily. And about 4,000 will retire early.
A MetLife survey of over 1,000 women experiencing perimenopause or menopause found that 84% of those whose careers had been impacted were behind on their retirement savings. About 32% had altered their careers in some way: reduced hours, changed career paths, or stepped down from leadership roles. And 14% had left the workforce early.
The ACTU reports that 25% of working women retire before the age of 55, despite women in the 45 to 54 age group saying they actually wanted to retire at 64. That’s a nine-year gap between when women are leaving and when they planned to leave.
Perimenopause is playing a significant role in that gap.
Research by Aware Super found that Australian women aged 45 to 65 can end up on average $175,000 worse off in retirement because of the combined effects of perimenopause, caregiving, and reduced work capacity during their peak earning years.
In 2023, modelling by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees estimated that menopause is costing Australian women around $17 billion in lost earnings and retirement savings.
Your Financial Plan B for Perimenopause
For some women, perimenopause creates a disruption they didn’t plan for.
According to the Australian Menopause Society and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, one in four women will experience symptoms that significantly impact their daily life and ability to function at work. Half of all Australian women will experience symptoms with a noticeable impact.
These impacts aren't inevitable. But too many women are being blindsided by the financial cost of something they never accounted for. Most financial plans are built on the assumption that your income stays steady, or grows, right up until retirement. For a lot of women, that's not how it plays out.
Factoring in a perimenopause Plan B is how you avoid being forced to make financial decisions in crisis mode.
Get clear on your full financial picture. Not just your salary, but your super, your investments, your spending, your gaps.
Build wealth you can access before 60. Super is locked until then, and life doesn't always wait.
Know what your life costs if your income changes. Not in a vague way. In a real, modelled, numbers-on-paper way.
Compound growth is your best friend, but only if you give it time. The earlier you start building, the more options you have later.
If perimenopause is already impacting your work or your income, get advice before you make any big financial calls.
Why I’m Writing This
I'm writing this for three reasons.
Because I wish I'd understood it sooner. Because I'm entering the age where this will be my reality too. And because I want every woman to feel financially prepared to take control of their financial life, even when their body and brain are changing in ways that are completely out of their control.
This is a conversation that belongs in every financial planning meeting with women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Ready to Stop Waiting?
If this resonates with you, you're not alone. And you don't have to figure it out on your own.
At Flourix Wealth, we specialise in helping women take charge of their financial lives. Our first conversation is complimentary, and it's designed to show you what's possible.
FAQs
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Modelling by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees estimated menopause costs Australian women around $17 billion in lost earnings and retirement savings. Individually, Aware Super research found women aged 45 to 65 can end up $175,000 worse off in retirement due to the combined effects of reduced work capacity, caregiving, and the gender pay gap.
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Yes. Since July 2025, menopause health assessments have been covered by a Medicare rebate. This allows women to seek dedicated support from their GP for perimenopause and menopause symptoms without the full out-of-pocket cost. Over 71,000 women accessed this in the first year.
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Ask them to model different income scenarios for your late 40s and 50s. What happens to your retirement if you drop to part-time at 48? What about at 52? Ask about maximising super contributions now, building investments outside super for flexibility, and whether your financial plan accounts for potential income disruption.
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Often, yes. If you’re earning well in your 40s, this can be one of the best windows to boost your super before any potential disruption. The tax benefits are significant for higher earners. The key is balancing super contributions with building accessible investments outside of super in case you need flexibility before 60.
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Start by understanding your current financial position: income, spending, super balance, and investments. Build a buffer outside super for flexibility. Maximise super contributions while you’re earning well. Run scenarios with your adviser on what happens if your income changes. And don’t wait until symptoms hit to start planning.
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At minimum, annually. But also whenever something major changes, like a new job, a relationship change, or a shift in your goals. Your plan should evolve with your life.
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Not specifically. There’s no dedicated perimenopause or menopause leave in Australia’s National Employment Standards. However, the ACTU has been campaigning for 10 days of paid reproductive leave. Some workplaces are starting to introduce their own policies and support, including flexible arrangements and additional leave provisions. The Australian Public Service Commission issued guidance in 2025 on supporting affected employees.
The information in this article is general advice only. It doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making any financial decisions, you should consult a qualified financial adviser. Rachel O'Connor and Flourix Wealth Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of GPS Wealth Pty Ltd, AFSL 254544 | ABN 17 005 482 726.
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