{"id":638833,"date":"2026-04-29T17:32:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T17:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/638833\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T17:32:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T17:32:59","slug":"new-advice-on-catch-up-moves-to-start-building-wealth-in-your-40s-50s-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/638833\/","title":{"rendered":"New advice on catch-up moves to start building wealth in your 40s, 50s and beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many Australians fear they have left investing for their retirement<\/a> too late, particularly after major life events or periods out of the workforce, but finance<\/a> experts say there is no fixed cut-off for building wealth.<\/p>\n

While starting early can make a difference, they said consistent contributions later in life, even over a shorter timeframe, can still deliver meaningful results.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Expert advice on starting to invest later in life<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

For Jody Bell, that shift in thinking came in her early 50s, following her divorce.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for me, in my early 50s, after my second divorce, I kind of woke up a bit and thought, what is it that I want to focus on now as a single woman?\u201d she told 7NEWS.<\/p>\n

\"JodyJody Bell says a personal turning point in her 50s prompted her to start investing and rethink her finances. Credit: 7NEWS\"InvestmentInvestment options range from ETFs to major banks, giving beginners a range of entry points. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

The mother of two began educating herself about investing, while also looking for practical ways to redirect and generate money outside her regular budget.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s micro investing apps,<\/a> so you don\u2019t need a lot of money to start,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She supplemented that by finding additional income streams, including small online tasks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did things like, you know, market research online,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the other, the really easy thing that not a lot of people know about is a platform called ShopBack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Financial adviser<\/a> Mel Browne said the belief that people are \u201ctoo late\u201d to invest is one of the most persistent misconceptions she encounters, particularly among Australians in midlife.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can find more money<\/a>, I can invest for 30 years from my 40s,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can keep investing in my 50s and in fact I should be leaning in then, not leaning out going, \u2018oh well, too bad\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"InvestmentInvestment apps are making it easier to start small, with users able to track portfolios and returns in real time. Credit: 7NEWS\"FinancialFinancial adviser Mel Browne says it\u2019s never too late to start, urging Australians to \u2018lean in\u2019 to investing at any age. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

She said even relatively modest, regular contributions, when combined with reinvested returns and the effects of compound growth, can accumulate over time.<\/p>\n

As an example, Browne said investing $250 a month from age 50, with returns reinvested, could grow to about $500,000 by age 80.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have more options than you think,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For Bell, the process involved acknowledging past financial decisions while focusing on what could still be achieved.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at yourself accepting that you know I\u2019ve made some small and large financial errors. But it\u2019s never too late,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

All information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances. You should always seek independent, professional financial advice from a licensed expert before making any financial decisions.<\/p>\n

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