Starting Over at 40+: How to Rebuild Wealth After Divorce, Redundancy or a Reset with Naomi Holmes
Nov 26, 2025
By Molly Benjamin, Founder of Ladies Finance Club
Listen to the full podcast here.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I’m in my 40s or 50s, is it too late to start again financially?” this one’s for you.
In this episode of Get Rich, host Molly Benjamin sits down with Naomi Holmes, financial coach, former adviser, and host of the Her Money Matters podcast, to talk about what it really takes to rebuild wealth after life throws you a curveball, whether that’s a divorce, redundancy, career break, or a full-blown life reset.
Naomi works with women who’ve found themselves starting over, often feeling scared, lost, or unsure where to even begin. But here’s the truth: you are capable of rebuilding, and of thriving. You just need to take that first step.
Step One: Get Clear on What Matters Most
When you’re starting over financially, it can feel like there are a million things pulling at your attention, from bills to budgets to big emotional decisions.
Naomi’s advice? Start by getting clear on your priorities.
Ask yourself:
- What matters most to me right now?
- What do I want my next one to two years to look like?
- How do I want to feel about money again?
You can’t rebuild everything at once, so focus on what’s most important. “You’ve only got a certain amount of time and energy,” Naomi says. “So be intentional about where you allocate it.”
Step Two: Know Where You Stand
Next comes the practical part: understanding your current financial position.
That means two things:
- Cash flow – how much is coming in and going out.
- Assets and liabilities – what you own versus what you owe.
Naomi says it doesn’t have to be a scary spreadsheet exercise. You can use tools, apps, or even just paper and pen. The key is to know where your money goes, because as Naomi puts it:
“The single biggest key to growing your wealth is creating surplus cash flow.”
It’s not glamorous, but it’s the foundation for everything that comes next.
Step Three: Build Support, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Money can feel isolating, especially after a big life event. But you’re not meant to go it alone. Naomi recommends creating a support circle of three:
- Legal support – a good family lawyer if you’re navigating separation or divorce.
- Financial support – a financial coach or adviser to help you plan your next steps.
- Emotional support – friends, family, or a counsellor who can help you process the emotional side.
“There’s no single right order,” Naomi says. “Some women want the emotional support first, others need the legal advice or financial clarity. What matters is that you build your team.”
Step Four: Protect Yourself with an Emergency Fund
Naomi and Molly are both passionate about this one, the emergency fund (or as we call it, your OMG Fund).
If you’re rebuilding your life, this is non-negotiable. Start by saving at least four weeks of living expenses, and work up to three to six months if you can.
This safety net helps you stay calm and in control when unexpected expenses hit, because life happens.
And always, always keep your emergency fund in your own name and in an account only you can access.
It’s not just about independence, it’s about protection. If accounts are ever frozen or something happens to your partner, you’ll still have access to money for yourself and your family.
Step Five: Reclaim Your Confidence with Money
One of the biggest hurdles women face after divorce or redundancy isn’t just financial, it’s emotional.
“I see so many women who doubt themselves,” Naomi says. “They think they’re not smart enough, not good enough, or that it’s too late. But the truth is, once you take the first step, confidence follows.”
Start small.
Open your super statement instead of binning it.
Ask questions.
Book that free consultation with a financial coach.
You don’t need to know everything, you just need to get started.
Step Six: Rebuild, Then Grow
Once you’ve stabilised your finances and built your savings, it’s time to start investing again, even if you feel like you’ve left it too late.
Naomi says women in their 40s and 50s are some of the most empowered clients she sees.
“They’ve raised their kids, built careers, and now they’re ready to focus on themselves,” she explains.
Start small, even $50 or $100 a week into a diversified investment or ETF can make a huge difference over time. You don’t need to wait until everything’s “perfect.”
Education is key, so take a course, read up, or learn from trusted sources.
As Naomi says:
“Gone are the days where you needed $30,000 to invest. You can start small and learn as you go.”
Step Seven: Don’t Ignore Your Super
Superannuation might not feel exciting, but it’s one of your biggest long-term assets, and one that too many women ignore.
Naomi’s advice is simple: open the envelope.
Check:
- Which fund you’re with
- How your money’s invested (balanced, conservative, or growth)
- Your fees and returns
If you’ve never made an investment choice, you’re likely in a default or life-stage fund, which means your investments automatically get more conservative as you age.
That’s not always a bad thing, but it’s worth knowing where your money is and how hard it’s working.
And remember, it’s never too late. Even at 60 or 65, you could have 20+ years ahead, more than enough time to make a difference.
Step Eight: Rewrite Your Money Story
Naomi’s final piece of wisdom? Understand your money story.
Your money story comes from your upbringing, your experiences, and the beliefs you’ve absorbed along the way. Maybe you were told money is “hard” or that investing is “risky.”
But those stories don’t have to define your future.
Once you recognise what’s been holding you back, whether it’s fear, shame, or simply not knowing where to start, you can rewrite the script.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want to believe about money moving forward?
- What’s one step I can take today to move toward that?
Because every small step compounds, in confidence, knowledge, and wealth.
Whether you’re starting over at 40, 50, or beyond, it’s not too late to rebuild your wealth and your confidence with money.
Get clear on what matters, build your support team, create your OMG fund, and take small, consistent steps forward.
You are not behind, you’re just at the start of a new chapter.
Need financial advice? Check out a range of our experts who can help you!
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