TWD – Women’s Edition: Cara Graham CFP® SSA®

About Me
Cara Graham is a Principal Wealth Adviser at The Wealth Designers, where she works closely with clients to help them live well by building lives with both money and meaning. Known for her analytical, detailed, and highly personal approach, Cara develops strong, authentic relationships with her clients, taking the time to truly understand their goals, values, and definition of success.
With two decades of experience in wealth management, Cara began her career in 2006 and has since worked with a diverse range of clients and referral partners across Australia. She provides strategic financial advice to retirees, accumulators, professionals, business owners, divorcees, widowers, and philanthropists, helping them navigate financial complexity while reducing stress and creating clarity.
Cara holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia, majoring in Economics and Investment Finance, and is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®). She is also an accredited Self‑Managed Super Fund Specialist Adviser, authorised to provide Tax (Financial) Advice Services, and holds RG146 accreditation in listed securities and managed investments. Her expertise spans superannuation and retirement strategies, investment portfolio construction, tax planning, personal insurance, estate planning, debt management, and philanthropic giving.
Beyond her client work, Cara is deeply engaged in the financial advice profession. She has served as the WA State Chair of the Financial Adviser Association Australia (FAAA) Inspire Committee since 2019, where she is passionate about empowering women to take control of their finances and supporting the next generation of female financial advisers.
Cara joined The Wealth Designers in 2011 and continues to play an integral role in helping clients grow, manage, and protect their wealth with confidence and purpose.
Get to know more about me
What does “Live Well” look like for you on an ordinary Tuesday, not a highlight-reel day?
Listen to my audiobook in the car after work on the way to pick up the kids from school and daycare, have a swim in our pool if the weather is warm enough or visit our local Kadidjiny park. Family dinner around the table with the kids before the bedtime routine.
If it’s not too late then a quick Sauna or a few chapters in my book before an early bedtime, so I can get up while the family are still sleeping for the gym in the morning.
What’s your biggest goal at the moment?
I achieved one of my biggest goals in 2025 which was moving into our dream family home in Melville. Now my biggest goal is to reduce my mortgage so we can have more cash flow in the future for overseas holidays.
What money habit do you have now that your younger self would be quietly impressed by?
Automating my cash flow so it never matters when payday is.
What’s a belief about money, success, or “having it all” that you’ve consciously let go of?
My annual fun money can either go to big family holidays, home upgrades or a new car. Hence why my car is now 11 years old because when it comes to choosing between these things, I never choose the car!
When life feels full, noisy, or financially overwhelming, what helps you come back to centre?
A weight-based workout class at the gym (shoutout to Sweatshed Myaree!) followed by a swim in my pool.
If I can’t get out of the house (kids!) then its listening to an audiobook, reading a book or talking about books.

Qualifications
- Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®)
- Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm)
- Diploma of Financial Services (DFS)
- Self-Managed Super Fund Specialist Adviser (SSA)
- Listed Securities and Managed Investment Accreditation (RG146)
Services Offered
STRATEGIES
- Investment strategies including gearing and savings plans
- Budget and cash flow planning
- Debt management
- Superannuation advice, including salary sacrifice and consolidation strategies
- Personal insurance strategies
- Centrelink / DVA advice
- Retirement planning advice
- Estate planning advice
- Advice on ownership and structures e.g. Company, Discretionary Family Trust, Self-Managed Superannuation Fund, Private Ancillary Fund
- Philanthropy & personal charitable giving strategies
- Portfolio review services
- Ongoing advisory services
- Referrals to specialists e.g. accountants, solicitors, mortgage and general insurance brokers, business coaches
PRODUCTS
- Basic and non-basic deposit products
- Government debentures, stocks or bonds
- Investment life insurance products or life risk insurance products
- Interests in managed investment schemes, including investor directed portfolio services (IDPS) and Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs)
- Retirement savings accounts
- Securities
- Superannuation
- Standard margin lending facilities