Beset by inequality, unethical investing practices and scandals, it’s easy to lose faith in the mainstream financial system. Especially when Australian women leave the workforce with an average 35% less in retirement savings than men, according to the latest ABS data. Behind the scenes, however, a group of everyday superheroes – each from a different walk of life but united in their desire to unlock women’s collective financial power – are fighting tirelessly to change the status quo.
A 2016 parliamentary inquiry found that one in three Australian women retire with no superannuation at all. It’s supposed to be our safety net, yet for many it’s the final blow after a lifetime of gender inequality. Many in the industry give little credence to the super gap. But for the passionate few, it’s their driving force.
“The stats make my insides turn, but the good news is we’re seeing change,” says financial education expert Zoe Lamont. In 2018, Zoe partnered with Christina Hobbs and Alex Andrews to co-found Verve Super, Australia’s first for-women, by-women super fund. Stepping into an industry traditionally dominated by men to
