The Financial Oxygen Mask: Why Women’s Wealth Isn’t Just a Personal Issue
There’s a phrase that’s been echoing in my mind since I first read about Pascale Helyar’s recent talk at the Women in Print 2026 Speaker Series: ‘Put your own financial oxygen mask on first.’ It’s a metaphor that cuts through the noise of financial advice, stripping it down to its most essential truth. Helyar, a veteran in the financial services industry, isn’t just talking about retirement funds or investment strategies; she’s challenging a deeply ingrained cultural norm—the idea that women’s financial security is secondary to their roles as caregivers, partners, or providers for others.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how Helyar reframes financial empowerment as an act of self-preservation. In her Brisbane talk, she highlighted a staggering statistic: one in six women in Australia retire into poverty. Personally, I think this isn’t just a failure of individual planning; it’s a systemic issue rooted in gendered expectations and economic structures. Women are often the default caregivers, earning less, saving less, and investing less—not because they lack financial literacy, but because societal pressures push them to prioritize others’ needs over their own.
The Superannuation Paradox
Helyar’s emphasis on superannuation contributions is both practical and provocative. ‘Just add as much as you can, as early as you can,’ she advises. But here’s the catch: superannuation isn’t just about retirement; it’s about autonomy. What many people don’t realize is that super is often a woman’s largest asset outside of property. Yet, it’s treated as an afterthought, tucked away until it’s too late. Helyar’s call to automate contributions and prioritize salary sacrifice over immediate bills is radical because it challenges the ‘scarcity mindset’ many women are conditioned to adopt.
From my perspective, this advice isn’t just about numbers; it’s about psychology. Women are often taught to view financial decisions through a lens of sacrifice—‘I can’t afford to save because I have to pay for X.’ Helyar flips this narrative, arguing that the real sacrifice is neglecting your future self. If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just financial advice; it’s a call to reclaim agency in a world that often strips it away.
The Financially Fierce Checklist: Beyond the Basics
Helyar’s Financially Fierce checklist is where her talk shifts from theory to action. Budgeting, growing wealth, purchasing property, and protecting assets—these aren’t new concepts, but her framing is. For instance, her advice on property purchasing isn’t just about buying a house; it’s about securing a stake in an asset class that has historically been a wealth generator. A detail that I find especially interesting is her emphasis on ensuring your name is on the property contract and mortgage. This isn’t just legal advice; it’s a reminder that women’s financial contributions are often invisible, even in shared assets.
What this really suggests is that financial empowerment isn’t just about accumulating wealth; it’s about visibility and ownership. Women are often the silent partners in financial decisions, whether it’s in property, investments, or even retirement planning. Helyar’s checklist is a roadmap to making that silence audible.
The Broader Implications: Why This Matters Beyond Women
Here’s where the conversation gets even more interesting: women’s financial empowerment isn’t just a women’s issue. It’s an economic issue, a social issue, and a moral issue. When one in six women retires into poverty, it’s not just their lives that are affected—it’s their families, their communities, and the broader economy. Personally, I think this is where Helyar’s message transcends the individual. She’s not just speaking to women; she’s speaking to policymakers, employers, and society at large.
One thing that immediately stands out is how her advice intersects with broader trends. The rise of the gig economy, the gender pay gap, and the increasing cost of living all disproportionately affect women. Helyar’s focus on automation, diversification, and early investment isn’t just about building wealth; it’s about building resilience in an uncertain world.
The Future of Financial Agency
As the Women in Print Speaker Series continues its national tour, I can’t help but wonder: will this message resonate beyond the event halls? Helyar’s advice is actionable, but it requires a shift in mindset—not just for women, but for society. What this really suggests is that financial empowerment is as much about cultural change as it is about individual action.
In my opinion, the most powerful takeaway from Helyar’s talk isn’t the checklist or the statistics; it’s the idea that financial agency is a form of self-care. Putting on your financial oxygen mask first isn’t selfish; it’s survival. And in a world where women’s financial security is still treated as optional, that’s a message we need to hear—and act on—loud and clear.
Final Thought
If you take a step back and think about it, Helyar’s message is both urgent and timeless. It’s a reminder that wealth isn’t just about money; it’s about freedom, security, and the ability to shape your own future. As the Speaker Series continues, I’m left with one question: will we listen, or will we continue to treat women’s financial empowerment as an afterthought? The answer, I think, will define not just individual lives, but the future of our society.
