No husband, no kids, no regrets—why her $1.6m retirement plan has everyone talking
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When it comes to building wealth for retirement, some people make choices that challenge society’s expectations.
One woman’s bold financial strategy has stirred strong reactions—and prompted many to question what really matters when planning for the future.
Her controversial approach, shared on national television, is now sparking a nationwide debate.
When Julia, a 37-year-old HR professional from Melbourne, took the stage on Insight, she didn’t hold back.
Her appearance on the program sparked a wave of heated discussion after she revealed her projected $1.6 million superannuation balance and shared the decisions she believed helped her get there.
And while some applauded her financial discipline, others were rattled by her unapologetic views on the cost of traditional family life.
‘I’m here tonight to empower the next gen of women and my advice would be aimed more so towards them,’ she began.
Then came the comment that stunned the audience: ‘It is going to sound super controversial, but I would say one thing is, don’t get married. And if you do, make sure someone is benefitting from it, whether it be for a visa or a tax saving of some sort.’
Julia said she had been working since the age of 16 and had aggressively salary sacrificed throughout her career, which helped her build a strong super portfolio. Even if she stopped contributing now, she said projections showed her fund would still grow to over $1 million by retirement. But she was quick to point out that discipline alone didn’t get her there.
Instead, she credited her decision to forgo marriage and children as a major financial advantage—one that came with personal sacrifices, but significant rewards.
‘I would say this one is really controversial, but consider refraining from having children,’ she added. ‘Because by the time that kid leaves your home, it will have cost you as much as a Lamborghini. You could be driving your Lamborghini or that sum could be sitting in your superannuation growing.’
Research from the University of New South Wales published in 2024 supported her claim, revealing that the average Australian household spent between $100,000 to $300,000 per child.
Julia, who came from a refugee family, said money was always a topic of conversation in her household growing up, which instilled in her a strong financial mindset from an early age.
She bought her first home at 21, immediately after graduating from university, and has since added more properties to her portfolio. In addition to working full-time, she also earned two more degrees and maintained an active social life among older peers at her yacht club.
‘I can’t really relate with younger persons, or they’re not as freely available emotionally, time-wise, and financially as I am,’ she explained.
Julia’s disciplined lifestyle also allowed her to enjoy luxuries that many Australians might only dream of. She spoke of taking around 20 trips to Europe, as well as owning caravans and boats—all funded independently.
Her advice wasn’t limited to lifestyle choices. She also urged younger Australians to better understand how money works, especially when it came to superannuation and tax.
‘You don’t need a master’s in commerce or an MBA to appreciate it,’ she said, referring to the benefits of compound interest.
‘I think we’re going to have a lot of poor retirees in Australia in my generation—not enough people are contributing to superannuation via salary sacrifice, in my opinion.’
She argued that schools should prioritise financial education, including how to navigate the taxation system and understand the long-term power of compound interest.
Still, not everyone agreed with Julia’s seven-figure target. In June, AustralianSuper released data suggesting most Australians were retiring comfortably with far less.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia currently recommends $595,000 in super for singles to retire with a ‘comfortable’ lifestyle—defined as an overseas holiday every seven years and an annual trip within Australia.
AustralianSuper’s head of advice and guidance, Ross Ackland, said: ‘Some people think they need to be chasing a seven-figure balance to live well in retirement, but many Australians are thriving with less because they’ve planned around their lifestyle, not just a number.’
As for Julia, she said she planned to retire within the next decade—‘at the latest’. Whether her approach is deemed too radical or simply realistic, it’s clear her comments struck a chord with many Australians questioning what a ‘comfortable’ future really looks like.
Julia’s story has certainly ruffled feathers—but it’s also sparked a bigger conversation about the cost of traditional life choices.
If you had your time again, would you have made different decisions about money, marriage or children? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at the growing trend of senior Australians selling their homes to help their children enter the property market.
It’s a powerful contrast to Julia’s approach—where financial independence took priority over traditional family support.
If you’ve ever faced that dilemma yourself, this one’s worth a read too.
Read more: Would you sell your house just to help your kids buy theirs? Some senior Aussies already have
One woman’s bold financial strategy has stirred strong reactions—and prompted many to question what really matters when planning for the future.
Her controversial approach, shared on national television, is now sparking a nationwide debate.
When Julia, a 37-year-old HR professional from Melbourne, took the stage on Insight, she didn’t hold back.
Her appearance on the program sparked a wave of heated discussion after she revealed her projected $1.6 million superannuation balance and shared the decisions she believed helped her get there.
And while some applauded her financial discipline, others were rattled by her unapologetic views on the cost of traditional family life.
Woman’s $1.6m super plan sparks backlash. Image source: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
‘I’m here tonight to empower the next gen of women and my advice would be aimed more so towards them,’ she began.
Then came the comment that stunned the audience: ‘It is going to sound super controversial, but I would say one thing is, don’t get married. And if you do, make sure someone is benefitting from it, whether it be for a visa or a tax saving of some sort.’
Julia said she had been working since the age of 16 and had aggressively salary sacrificed throughout her career, which helped her build a strong super portfolio. Even if she stopped contributing now, she said projections showed her fund would still grow to over $1 million by retirement. But she was quick to point out that discipline alone didn’t get her there.
Instead, she credited her decision to forgo marriage and children as a major financial advantage—one that came with personal sacrifices, but significant rewards.
‘I would say this one is really controversial, but consider refraining from having children,’ she added. ‘Because by the time that kid leaves your home, it will have cost you as much as a Lamborghini. You could be driving your Lamborghini or that sum could be sitting in your superannuation growing.’
Research from the University of New South Wales published in 2024 supported her claim, revealing that the average Australian household spent between $100,000 to $300,000 per child.
Julia, who came from a refugee family, said money was always a topic of conversation in her household growing up, which instilled in her a strong financial mindset from an early age.
She bought her first home at 21, immediately after graduating from university, and has since added more properties to her portfolio. In addition to working full-time, she also earned two more degrees and maintained an active social life among older peers at her yacht club.
‘I can’t really relate with younger persons, or they’re not as freely available emotionally, time-wise, and financially as I am,’ she explained.
Julia’s disciplined lifestyle also allowed her to enjoy luxuries that many Australians might only dream of. She spoke of taking around 20 trips to Europe, as well as owning caravans and boats—all funded independently.
Her advice wasn’t limited to lifestyle choices. She also urged younger Australians to better understand how money works, especially when it came to superannuation and tax.
‘You don’t need a master’s in commerce or an MBA to appreciate it,’ she said, referring to the benefits of compound interest.
‘I think we’re going to have a lot of poor retirees in Australia in my generation—not enough people are contributing to superannuation via salary sacrifice, in my opinion.’
She argued that schools should prioritise financial education, including how to navigate the taxation system and understand the long-term power of compound interest.
Still, not everyone agreed with Julia’s seven-figure target. In June, AustralianSuper released data suggesting most Australians were retiring comfortably with far less.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia currently recommends $595,000 in super for singles to retire with a ‘comfortable’ lifestyle—defined as an overseas holiday every seven years and an annual trip within Australia.
AustralianSuper’s head of advice and guidance, Ross Ackland, said: ‘Some people think they need to be chasing a seven-figure balance to live well in retirement, but many Australians are thriving with less because they’ve planned around their lifestyle, not just a number.’
As for Julia, she said she planned to retire within the next decade—‘at the latest’. Whether her approach is deemed too radical or simply realistic, it’s clear her comments struck a chord with many Australians questioning what a ‘comfortable’ future really looks like.
Julia’s story has certainly ruffled feathers—but it’s also sparked a bigger conversation about the cost of traditional life choices.
If you had your time again, would you have made different decisions about money, marriage or children? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at the growing trend of senior Australians selling their homes to help their children enter the property market.
It’s a powerful contrast to Julia’s approach—where financial independence took priority over traditional family support.
If you’ve ever faced that dilemma yourself, this one’s worth a read too.
Read more: Would you sell your house just to help your kids buy theirs? Some senior Aussies already have
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