TWD – Women’s Edition: Dawn Thomas CFP® SSA®

About Me

Dawn Thomas is a financial adviser, self-confessed superannuation nerd, part-time PhD candidate, and mother of three, who believes financial confidence is built through clarity, consistency, and care. Her PhD research focuses on the superannuation behaviours of Gen Z, bringing young people’s voices into a system that will shape their future long before retirement feels real.

She is passionate about helping people make confident financial decisions without fear, guilt, or jargon, and about showing people, that money can be a source of agency rather than anxiety.

Dawn spearheaded the START WELL program, a financial literacy initiative designed to empower children of clients, students, and workplaces to engage with money early and intentionally. She is also the host of the podcast Your Money Story, where she explores the intersection of money, feminism, and real life, amplifying conversations often missing from traditional financial advice. She is a media commentator who has contributed to articles in media outlets such as Australian Financial Review, The West Australian, Channel 7, auzbiz and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her TEDx Talk on young people and the importance of super choice was published in January 2026.

From 2021 to 2024, Dawn served as National Chair of FAAA Inspire, a community focused on improving outcomes for women in the advice profession and women seeking advice. Her advocacy and education work has seen her recognised in Financial Standard’s Power 50 in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Dawn’s awards include the AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award, multiple IFA Excellence Awards including Thought Leader of the Year, and most recently Financial Planner of the Year (Overall) at the 2025 Women in Wealth Awards.

She joined The Wealth Designers in 2022 to continue delivering advice with heart, impact, and purpose. When she’s not working or studying, Dawn unwinds by cooking for loved ones, being around various family hockey activities, surviving through cross fit sessions (shout out to 6076 Strength & Conditioning) and listening to EDM/Trance music from DJs such as Above & Beyond, Armin Van Buuren, Ben Böhmer, Tinlicker, Will Sparks, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Paul Oakenfold, Maddix and Hardwell.

Get to know more about me

What does “Live Well” look like for you on an ordinary Tuesday, not a highlight-reel day?

A regular Tuesday looks like organised chaos especially since my kids started at their new school. It’s showing up fully for my clients and my kids and investing in my health to achieve this. It’s a 5.30am-6.00 am wake up, starting with making breakfast for the kids before school ensuring they start the day with a nourishing meal.

The car used to be solely my ‘me time’ where I play an array of Trance music, speak to people who energise me or listen to podcasts (currently Dark Web, Diary of a CEO, Sibling Rivalry, Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know, Race Chaser and True Crime stuff).

However, now that I have to take the kids to school, the car ride also becomes a time to hear their complaints, singing, one man shows and last minute quizzing of upcoming tests. Time at the office is about embarking on work that stretches my brain and interacting with people in a way that warms my heart.

After work, it is rushing to the gym or hockey with the kids. Dinner with the family is either at the dinner table, uncovering our day (a lot of shouting) or sometimes, we gather around the TV watching shows such as Physical 100, Malcolm in the Middle and Culinary Class Wars. Then getting into bed by a glamourous 9.30 pm. I end the day knowing I’ve contributed, learned something new, and made more memories with my family.

What’s your biggest goal at the moment?

My biggest goal is to shift the conversation around money for young people, from apathy, fear and confusion to agency and confidence. Through my advice work, PhD, Start Well, public speaking and media contributions, I want to influence systems, not just individual outcomes. Long-term, that means contributing to policy, education, and a profession that genuinely reflects the people it serves

What money habit do you have now that your younger self would be quietly impressed by?

Consistency to making the cash flow work through different life stages and events. My younger self would not have thought I would be this boringly responsible!

What’s a belief about money, success, or “having it all” that you’ve consciously let go of?

Early in my career I felt I was caught up in what other people’s idea of success was in financial advice. I learnt over time, it was about creating my own way and being happy with my path. Comparing yourself to someone else’s journey is not helpful.

When life feels full, noisy, or financially overwhelming, what helps you come back to centre?

Movement, perspective, and purpose. Exercise clears my head and time with my family grounds me as to what is truly important in our lives.  When I come back to purpose and continue to connect to people with aligned values, the noise & panic softens.