Stienemarié Bonsma-Potgieter, CFP®

Most women can identify at least one financial lesson they wish they had learned earlier.

It may be the value of investing from the first salary. It may be the importance of understanding household finances. For others, it is realising too late that a will, an emergency fund and a retirement plan are essential.

Financial confidence grows through knowledge, experience and small decisions made consistently.

Here are five lessons every woman deserves to learn early.

1. Start before you feel ready

Many women delay investing because they believe they need more money or knowledge.

This is not necessarily the case. A small monthly amount can grow into something meaningful when it has enough time.

At 25: Start with what you can afford, even if the amount feels small. Set up a monthly debit order and treat it like any other essential expense.

At 35: Review whether your contributions have kept pace with your salary. Direct part of every increase or bonus towards long-term investments.

At 45: Calculate whether your current savings are likely to meet your future needs. Increase contributions where possible and make retirement planning a clear priority.

There is no perfect age to start. Earlier is easier, but today is still better than tomorrow.

2. Give compound growth time

Compound growth is the return earned on your original investment and on the growth already accumulated. It works best over long periods as the compounding effect gets bigger.

A late start usually requires higher contributions, a longer working life or more modest retirement expectations.

At 25: Focus on building the habit. A modest monthly contribution invested consistently can benefit from several decades of growth.

At 35: Avoid withdrawing long-term investments for short-term wants. Give the money you have already invested more time to work.

At 45: Use realistic projections to understand what your investments may provide. Do not rely on unusually high returns to make up for lost time.

Time is one of the most valuable resources in financial planning.

3. Stay involved in household finances

Sharing financial responsibilities with a partner can work well. Giving up all involvement creates risk.

Every woman should understand what the household owns, what it owes, how expenses are paid and where important documents are stored.

At 25: Build financial independence. Open accounts in your own name, establish a credit record and learn how to read your bank and investment statements.

At 35: Discuss household goals, debt, insurance and retirement planning with your partner. Both partners should understand the decisions being made.

At 45: Make sure you know where every important document is kept. Review the household balance sheet and understand what would happen financially after death, divorce or disability.

Financial independence does not require separate lives. It requires shared knowledge and personal confidence.

4. Treat your will as part of your financial plan

Estate planning often feels like something to address later in life. In reality, a will becomes important as soon as you have children, dependants, property or assets that matter to you.

A complete estate plan should consider your will, beneficiary nominations, life cover, debt, guardianship wishes and the cash your family may need while your estate is being finalised.

At 25: Draft a basic will and update your beneficiaries.

At 35: Review guardianship wishes and the needs of your dependants.

At 45: Check whether your estate has enough cash to cover debts, costs and taxes. Review how property, business interests and investments will be handled.

Review your will after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or the purchase of property.

A will is a practical act of care.

5. Build a long-term plan

Women often balance several financial responsibilities at once. They may support children, assist parents and manage career interruptions.

A long-term plan helps protect personal financial security.

At 25: Set goals for the next one, five and ten years. Build an emergency fund and begin saving for retirement before lifestyle expenses grow.

At 35: Balance family responsibilities with your own future needs. Review education planning, debt, insurance and retirement contributions.

At 45: Create a detailed retirement projection. Consider how much longer you plan to work, what your future lifestyle may cost and whether major debts will be settled before retirement.

Your plan should change as your life changes.

The lesson at every age

At 25, give yourself permission to start small.

At 35, review your progress and correct what is no longer working.

At 45, focus on what you can still build instead of regretting what you did not do earlier.

Every woman deserves to understand her finances and participate confidently in the decisions that shape her future.

The best time to learn these lessons may have been years ago. The most useful time to act on them is now.

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