In May, we presented at the Women Supporting Women Mother’s Day Brunch, where where I shared my thoughts on the growing trend of women navigating divorce later in life. ‘Grey Divorce’—a term used for couples separating after 20+ years together—is becoming increasingly common and brings with it complex emotional and financial challenges, especially for women.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, divorces among those aged 50 and over are rising steadily—even as divorce rates for other age groups have levelled off.
These separations often come after 20, 30 or even 40 years together. The kids have left home. Retirement is on the horizon. And suddenly, what once felt like a shared path can begin to diverge.
Interestingly, more women are initiating these divorces. Many are choosing to start fresh after years of emotional disconnection or unfulfilled potential—often for the first time with the financial means to do so.
Some of the key reasons behind this shift include:
- Empty Nest Syndrome – Once the kids have left home, some couples realise they’ve drifted apart.
- Differing Retirement Goals – Different visions for the future can highlight misalignment.
- Unresolved Issues – Longstanding problems, often overlooked during the hectic parenting years, start to resurface.
- Longer Lifespans – With people living longer, many aren’t willing to settle for an unfulfilling relationship for another 20–30 years.
- Greater Financial Independence – particularly for women, increased autonomy makes it easier to step away from unhappy partnerships.
At Game Plan Wealth Advisers, we believe it’s vital that both partners are actively involved in financial and life decisions from the start. When couples engage in shared decision-making early on, it reduces the likelihood of one partner feeling vulnerable or left behind if the relationship ends.
The Financial Fallout of Grey Divorces
Relationship breakdowns can be extremely complicated to navigate and the fallout can be significant.
Some things that we help our clients navigate (with the help of our trusted professional network!) include:
- Dividing decades-worth of accumulated assets
- Splitting superannuation balances
- Selling or downsizng the family home
- Revising retirement plans—timing, income, and lifestyle
- Updating wills and estate planning
It’s a major financial reset—often during a time when people are thinking about winding down, not starting over.
How do we help?
Prevention is always better than a cure!
When our couple clients come to see us, we encourage both parties in the relationship to be engaged with us in the financial planning process, even if only one person ‘usually handles the money.’
It’s why we make a big effort to make to make our meetings fun and engaging! We like to talk about things that are important to you and your life, and how we can plan your financial resources around these things.
We spend time uncovering your values and life goals individually, and then how we can align them as a household. From these discussions, we help build a framework for making financial decisions.
We also like to ask a lot of ‘what-if’ questions about illness, death and separation. Planning for contingency is a way of protecting both parties in a relationship, rather seeing it all as doom and gloom.
When both partners are equally engaged in their financial life, the partnership becomes stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for whatever lies ahead.
If you know someone going through a life transition—whether a new relationship, a looming retirement, or a separation—please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help them move forward with clarity and confidence!
The team at Game Plan Wealth Advisers
