“Empowered To Make Decisions”: Financial Expert Shares 5 Money Myths That Could Hold SA Women Back
- Cape Town financial planner Nicola Langridge, named Financial Planner of the Year 2025, challenged five widespread beliefs about women and money
- Langridge argued that financial freedom is not about how much you earn but how intentionally you direct your resources toward your goals
- For Women's Month, she shared one habit she believes can transform how women relate to their finances over time
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Many South African women have been told they need to earn more, save more or learn more before they can feel in control of their money. Nicola Langridge, named Financial Planner of the Year 2025, believes some of those messages are doing more harm than good.
The Cape Town-based Certified Financial Planner, identified five money myths women should leave behind.
The myths keeping women stuck
The first myth is that financial freedom only arrives once you have saved enough. Langridge says the size of someone's bank balance matters far less than how well it supports what they actually want from life. Whether someone has R50,000 or R50 million, the question is whether their money is working toward a life they have chosen.
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The second myth is that trusting a partner means you do not need to understand the household finances. Langridge is clear: knowing what assets exist, how they are structured and what debts are in play is not about suspicion. It is about being prepared for whatever life brings.
Third, many women believe that building real wealth requires a dramatic turning point such as a big promotion or a windfall. Langridge pushes back on this, saying consistent small actions, including regular saving, appropriate insurance and growing financial knowledge, produce stronger results over time than waiting for a breakthrough.
The fourth myth is one the financial industry has quietly reinforced for years: that women should automatically invest more conservatively than men. Langridge says investment risk should be shaped by personal goals, circumstances and time horizon, not gender. She also notes that because women statistically live longer, their money often needs to stretch further, which makes this assumption particularly costly.
The fifth myth is perhaps the most common. Many women feel they need to become financial experts before they can feel confident about money. Langridge offers a simpler alternative: a monthly "money date" with yourself.
"Financial confidence doesn't come from knowing all the answers. It comes from regularly engaging with your finances and feeling empowered to make decisions about your future."
Start where you are
Langridge's overall message for Women's Month is straightforward. Financial independence is built through informed choices and consistent action, not perfection. Women who want a clearer path forward can start by working with a qualified financial planner to turn their goals into a structured plan.
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Source: Briefly News
