She Doesn't Want to Retire. She Wants to Rewire.
By Rachel O’Connor, Certified Financial Planner®
Quick Summary: Women in their 50s and 60s are challenging the status quo. They don’t want to opt out of work entirely. They want options to build a life that doesn’t revolve around their inbox.
Cath is 55. She has spent the last 30 years building an impressive career. She's a senior executive at one of the Big Four banks. Sharp, respected, still very much in her prime. The mortgage is paid off. The kids are independent.
I ask her: what does the next chapter look like?
She doesn't say retirement.
She says, "I love parts of what I do. I don't want to stop completely. I just don't want work to run my life anymore."
She wants to take longer overseas trips. Maybe move into a board role. She doesn’t want to be a daycare for her future grandkids, but she wants to be able to say yes to spending time with them when they eventually arrive.
She doesn't want to opt out. She wants options. .
The rewiring movement
Rewiring isn't a fringe idea. The "Don't Retire: Rewire" movement has been building momentum for years, with women over 50 challenging the status quo.
They’re in a financial position where the question surfaces: “I don't have to work this hard anymore. Do I still want to?”
For a long time, the assumed answer was: stop. That's what retirement meant. You worked hard, you reached the point where you could stop, and so you stopped.
But these women have zero interest in stepping off the field completely.
They're thinking about how to design a better version of their working life. Many of them will tell you this is actually the moment they feel most capable, most clear, and most ready to do things on their own terms.
They like aspects of their work. They don't want to stop entirely. They want to cherry-pick the best bits. Do the work that energises them, drop the parts that drain them, and build a life that doesn't revolve around their inbox.
The data backs it up. The workforce participation rate for Australian women in their 70s has nearly doubled in a decade. Women aren't checking out. They're renegotiating.
No one-size-fits-all version of rewiring
Rewiring looks different for everyone. But the common thread is moving from a full-on, all-consuming professional life to something that gives them back their time, without asking them to give up their identity.
Cath, 55, banking executive.
Loves parts of her job. But she wants to know that when her kids eventually have kids, she will be able to spend time with them. She's considering moving from her current executive role into a board position over the next few years, staying engaged and contributing, but on terms that leave room for life outside the office.
Sarah, 52, senior lawyer.
Paying off her mortgage as fast as she can, with one goal in mind: to pivot out of corporate law into something more flexible. She's not done with her career. She's done with the pace of it. Once the mortgage is gone, she wants the option to consult a few days a week.
Michelle, 60, senior executive.
Looking at an Airbnb strategy across a couple of properties. The idea is to build an income stream that supplements a reduced work schedule so that she can wind back from five intense days to three flexible ones.
Planning ahead
The time to start thinking about rewiring is sooner rather than later. Not when a grandchild is on the way or when the voluntary redundancy paperwork is sitting in front of you.
Run the scenarios.
What does your income look like at 55 if you drop to three days? What about at 57? What does lifestyle spending look like if you're travelling more and working less? The numbers are often more workable than people expect.
Your expenses will likely go up.
When you go from a full-on five-day week to a more flexible arrangement, suddenly you have time. And time, as it turns out, costs money. More travel. More socialising. More experiences. More of the things you've been deferring. That's not a problem. It's the whole point. But your financial plan needs to account for it.
Get your super strategy right.
There's often a lot you can do to maximise what goes into super before you need to draw it out - contribution strategies, salary sacrifice, and whether a transition-to-retirement income stream might suit.
Create a buffer.
Building an investment portfolio outside super gives you flexibility if you want to rewire before you can access your super.
The last word on rewiring
The rewiring movement will only grow as more brilliant, capable women decide they get to define what the next chapter looks like, on their own terms.
It’s quietly inspiring watching women challenge the status quo.
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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The preservation age, which is the age you can access your super, is 60 for all Australians. This was previously tiered by birth year but was standardised in July 2024.
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Possibly, but it takes planning. If you want to wind back before age 60, you need investments outside of super to cover the gap. The earlier you start building that buffer, the more flexibility you'll have. A financial adviser can model what that looks like for your specific numbers.
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Both have a role, depending on your timeline. If you want flexibility before 60, non-super investments are essential. If your plan kicks in after 60, maximising contributions while you're still earning well often makes more sense. Most people need a combination of both.
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From age 60, yes. You can start drawing from your super while still working through a transition-to-retirement income stream. Before 60, super stays locked regardless of how many days you work. This is exactly why building investments outside of super matters if you want flexibility before then.
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A transition to retirement (TTR) strategy lets you access some of your super as a pension income stream from age 60 while you're still working. It can be useful if you want to reduce your hours without a big drop in income. It's not the right fit for everyone, and it's worth getting specific advice before setting one up.
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Often, yes. If you're still earning well, your 50s can be one of the most powerful windows to boost your super before you need to draw on it. The tax advantages are significant for high-income earners. The key is balancing what goes into super with what you're building outside of it.
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It's less about a magic number and more about understanding what your life actually costs when you have more time in it. Expenses often go up when you work less, not down. The real question is: what does your income need to look like, and for how long, before your super and other investments can carry you? Running different scenarios is the best way to find out.
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Start with awareness. Track your spending for a month. Look at your super balance. Write down your goals, even if they feel vague. Getting clear on where you are is the foundation for figuring out where you want to go.
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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