That’s why your financial strategy shouldn’t be static. It shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Instead, it should evolve with you adapting as your life shifts from one milestone to the next.

As Ursula Boorman, Managing Director of Direct Advisers, explains:

“Life’s Transitions don’t just happen to others, they can happen to any of us. The financial choices you make today will shape your next chapter. Advice isn’t about predicting the future, it’s about preparing for it with confidence.”

Transitions Are Universal — But Often Under-Prepared For

Major life events bring emotional and financial complexities. Yet many Australians feel they’re navigating these transitions without the confidence they deserve.

According to AMP’s Retirement Confidence Pulse (2025):

• Only half of Australians feel confident about their retirement prospects.
• Confidence is significantly lower among women and those experiencing separation or life changes.
• People in their 40s, often balancing care for children and ageing parents, report the lowest confidence levels overall.

These data points reflect the reality that even well-intentioned plans can fall out of step with life’s circumstances, especially when expectations shift.

Advice Matters at Every Milestone

Financial advice isn’t just for the wealthy or retired. It plays a valuable role at every stage of life — from building a foundation early in your career to pivoting after separation, to protecting what you’ve worked so hard to build.

The Value of Advice Consumer Research (2025) by the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) highlights the benefits:

• Australians with financial advice consistently report higher financial confidence
• They experience lower stress about money
• Advice helps households stay focused on long-term goals, even through uncertainty
• And people say it gives them more clarity and control over their future.

This isn’t just numbers, it’s wellbeing.

Life’s Transitions, The Direct Advisers Approach

At Direct Advisers, we call this phase Life’s Transitions. The journey isn’t just about super balances, investments, or insurance, it’s about you and the realities of the life you’re living now.

Our dedicated Life’s Transitions page outlines how we support clients through:

• Separation and divorce
• Loss of a partner
• Caring responsibilities
• Career change or redundancy
• Retirement planning
• Estate and legacy decisions

Each transition brings practical questions and emotional weight and a well-timed conversation can make all the difference.

Final Thought: Plan for Life, Not Just the Numbers

Transitions are inevitable. Feeling uncertain doesn’t have to be.

The power of advice lies in its ability to evolve with you helping you make confident choices through change, safeguard what matters most, and embrace your next chapter with purpose.

If you’re facing a milestone, big or small, taking a proactive step now can bring clarity tomorrow. You don’t need to have all the answers; you just need someone on your side to help you navigate the questions.

Ready to begin your next chapter with confidence?
Reach out to the team at Direct Advisers for a Life’s Transitions conversation that respects your goals, your story, and the life you want to build.

The post Life’s Milestones and Transitions: Your Strategy Should Evolve With You appeared first on Direct Advisers.

“Life’s Transitions don’t just happen to others, they can happen to any of us. When a relationship ends, the financial choices you make now will shape your next chapter.” — Ursula Boorman, Managing Director

More than 47,000 divorces were granted in Australia in 2024, down 3 per cent on the previous year. At divorce, marriages had lasted around 13.2 years. The median age of those divorcing was 47.1 years for men and 44.1 years for women.ⁱ

Divorce reshapes your financial landscape, dividing assets, splitting incomes and doubling expenses as two households replace one. The cost of divorce can be as much as $870,000 per couple, according to one estimate, which also finds that women – particularly older women – often experience a 30-45 per cent drop in living standards.ⁱⁱ

This financial strain is compounded by legal fees, potential spousal maintenance, child support obligations and the need to reassess retirement plans.

Step 1: Get a clear picture of your finances

Start by taking stock of your financial position to provide clarity when negotiating settlements and planning your future.

• List all of your assets, including property, superannuation, vehicles, bank accounts and investments.
• Identify liabilities, such as mortgages, credit cards and personal loans.
• Detail your income source,s including employment, Centrelink, child support and spousal maintenance.

Step 2: Budget for your new life

Post-divorce budgeting is more than balancing numbers. It’s about redefining your financial identity. You may need to adjust your lifestyle, reconsider housing options and build an emergency fund to cushion unexpected costs.

Don’t overlook your credit health. Joint accounts and shared liabilities can affect your credit score, even after separation. Close or convert joint accounts, monitor statements and make sure that bills are paid on time. Maintaining good credit and cash flow is important for securing housing loans and for your future financial stability.

Step 3: Understand asset division and superannuation

Property settlements can be complex and have serious tax implications. Assets acquired before or during a marriage, including super, are usually part of the asset pool. Super accounts can be split as part of a settlement, transferring a portion from one partner to the other, a move that can significantly affect retirement planning.

Don’t forget that timing matters in financial decisions during divorce. Rushing into asset division or investment choices while emotions are running high can lead to costly mistakes. Take time to understand your options, get independent advice and avoid making decisions based on short-term comfort, such as keeping the family home if it will unreasonably strain your budget. A measured approach helps protect your long-term security.

On the other hand, don’t forget there may be legal time limits to settlements, both for married people and de facto couples.

Step 4: Plan for tax and legal issues

Divorce can trigger other tax consequences, especially when transferring or selling assets. But make sure you’re aware of the possible capital gains tax rollover relief and stamp duty exemptions that may apply in your circumstances.

It’s also important to update your will, powers of attorney and insurance policies as quickly as possible.

Because these decisions have long-term effects, it’s wise to seek guidance from not only your lawyer but also a tax specialist and we are here to assist you and assess your financial situation.

Step 5: Rebuild with purpose

Once the dust settles, it’s time to rebuild.

Take the time to:

• Set new financial goals
• Develop an investment strategy suited to your risk tolerance
• Maximise your super contributions where possible
• Plan for retirement with revised expectations.

Final Thought: A New Chapter Worth Planning For

When a relationship ends, it isn’t just the past closing; it’s the beginning of a new life chapter. At Direct Advisers, we believe that managing your finances with clarity empowers you to shape a future filled with purpose and peace of mind. Planning your finances is one critical step—but so too is recognising the value of this season of change and embracing the opportunities ahead.

If you’re in the midst of separation or simply want to prepare for whatever comes next, reach out to our team. We’re ready to guide you through this transition, helping you make smart decisions today so you can live the life you want tomorrow.

Book your Life’s Transitions review and start building your next chapter with confidence. Reach out with confidence here.

i Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2024 | Australian Bureau of Statistics

ii 6 Steps to Financially Plan for Divorce | My Wealth Solutions

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