I grew up in your average Aussie battler family. My parents moved from the countryside to Adelaide to secure work and raise their family of 3. My father worked, my mother was unable to be employed due to the law at that time, so she took on ironing jobs.
My mother became ill from cancer and passed away when I was 15 (she was 40). I moved out and began my journey towards financial independence at the age of 18.
Whilst at high school my father thought I should attend secretarial school. I knew that wasn’t for me. I loved learning, solving problems, my best subjects were mathematics. Not many girls went to university then. I applied to study Accounting. I completed my degree by studying part time and working full time with Commonwealth Bank.
My degree opened a doorway into the professional world of Accounting. I worked with Accounting firms in Adelaide in their Insolvency divisions. I quickly moved to Manager level. I married, we had purchased our own home, an investment property and living a wonderful life going out with friends and travelling when we could.
Who knew I would be retrenched at the same time I had just signed to purchase another investment property using debt and my marriage was not going well. I was in a mess.
Resilience springs to mind in getting through that time. I found work in the corporate world as Finance Director for private hospitals in Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide. Went through a messy divorce and wound up back where I had started financially, in fact because I took on the debts, was worse off. What helped me get through were the wonderful caring medical professionals and staff I got to know and to experience living in different parts of our wonderful country.
Once you have made a total change in direction it becomes easier to do so again. I established a business offering Accounting and Business Services. This gave me the flexibility to work the hours that suited as I had re-married and two young daughters I wanted to care for.
The business grew over the next 10 years during which I went back to study in order to offer Financial Planning services. It felt like I had finally stumbled onto my niche. Financial planning involves problem solving, forward thinking, helping people plan how to get in to a better financial situation no matter what life throws at them. I loved the area so much I sold my Accounting business and became a Financial Planning Specialist. I now offer my services at Wealth Fusion who are located at Unley in Adelaide.
My experience is what has shaped who I am and why I am passionate about helping women in particular get through life’s challenges far stronger and a lot quicker.
If you are struggling financially please reach out. Email me at heather@wealthfusion.com.au