By 2030, women are projected to control more than US$113 trillion in wealth globally. In Australia, an estimated $4.5 trillion is set to change hands through intergenerational transfer over the coming years. The headline number matters, but the more important shift is quieter: women are increasingly the ones making the decisions about how wealth is invested, protected and passed on.

That was the backdrop to our recent workshop, held in partnership with Rethink Group, on using property, leverage and structure to build wealth. The panel brought together mortgage broker Meg from Rethink Financing, property investor and Buyer’s Advocate Jamie from Rethink Investing, and financial planner Sunny from Rethink Wealth. Their consistent message: the asset matters less than the strategy behind it, and a strategy only works when it is built around your own goals.

Start with the goal, not the property

The panel recommended answering three questions before considering any asset: 

• where are you now, 

• where do you want to be, 

• and are you financially ready to take the next step. 

Clarifying your purpose—financial freedom, school fees, the ability to work fewer days, or an earlier retirement—shapes every decision that follows.

Understanding your options comes next, and this is where many people stop short. According to the panel, a large share of prospective investors rule themselves out because they assume there is only one path and that they are not ready for it. In practice, there are usually several routes to the same goal, and the right one depends on your circumstances rather than on what worked for a friend or family member.

Doing nothing carries its own risk

Financial modelling presented on the night made the cost of inaction concrete. In one case, a 32-year-old business owner with a home, an investment property and cash from a settlement wanted the option to stop work at 40. On a “do nothing” path—selling the business in five years and holding the proceeds;  the projection had her funds running low at around age 59. A strategy of selling the business, buying her home debt-free and converting the investment property into commercial property (with a higher net yield) extended her options considerably.

A second case, a couple in their early thirties with two young children and a combined income of around $310,000, reached the same conclusion from a different starting point: their “do nothing” path also fell short before they could access superannuation. The fix was a sequence of moves over time rather than a single decision. With life expectancy now stretching toward 90, the modelling assumed a 30-year retirement—which makes early, deliberate planning more important, not less.

Read the market, not just the headlines

Recent Budget changes to negative gearing and tighter lending have reduced borrowing capacity for many investors. The practical response, the panel noted, is not to retreat but to understand the levers available. First-home buyers, for example, can use the First Home Super Saver Scheme to save a deposit inside superannuation, where contributions are taxed at a concessional rate of 15% rather than a marginal rate that can reach 47%.

The residential and commercial markets also behave differently. Residential returns are usually quoted as gross yields, while commercial leases are typically net - where the tenant covers outgoings—with net yields often in the range of 5.5% to 6%. Commercial lending can also be assessed on the property's rental income (a lease-doc loan) rather than personal borrowing capacity alone, which is one reason commercial property is drawing more interest as residential rules change. Each structure carries different risks and deposit requirements, so the choice should follow the goal, not the trend.

A strategy is a sequence, and it evolves

Building wealth is rarely a single purchase. The panel described it as a fork in the road: early options are simple, but each decision opens some paths and closes or delays others. Good advice models those trade-offs side by side - shares versus residential versus commercial—so the numbers, on conservative assumptions, guide the choice.

Just as importantly, a strategy is not fixed. A new partner, a growing family or a change in circumstances will reshape it, and that is expected. The aim is a plan that can flex as life does, reviewed regularly against the goals it was built to serve.

Build the team before you need it

No single adviser covers the whole picture. A mortgage broker, financial planner, accountant, insurance adviser, property manager and solicitor each hold a different piece—borrowing capacity, long-term modelling, structure and tax, asset protection, lease management and estate planning. 

Fit matters alongside credentials. Beyond reviews and track record, the panel encouraged choosing advisers you trust and communicate well with, given that the decisions involved affect your money, your family and your future.

One step to take now

The panel's closing advice was deliberately simple. Review your bank statements, assets and liabilities to understand your current position. Set aside regular time to think about what you actually want, separate from what others are doing. Speak to a professional to map your options. And take the first step, however small—because, as the panel put it, momentum and small wins build the confidence that a long-term strategy depends on.

Jamie Orr, Rethink Investing
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Meg Saraswat, Rethink Financing
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Sunny Wilkinson, Rethink Wealth
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This article summarises a Women in Numbers panel held in partnership with Rethink Group and is general in nature. It does not take into account your personal circumstances, objectives or financial situation, and should not be relied upon as financial, taxation or legal advice. Consider seeking advice from a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.