AdviceFirst and enable.me are proud to support Dress for Success Auckland, a charity with the mission to help unemployed and underemployed women gain economic independence.
Recently our staff have been involved in a few initiatives to support both the charity and the clients at the heart of all they do.
From running a workshop for Dress for Success clients, to volunteering in the community, and hosting AdviceFirst Wealth Adviser Emily Owens as a speaker at the FSC25 conference, our aim has been to amplify the impactful work of the charity wherever we can.
Read below to find out more about how we’ve offered support.
Empowering Women to Build Financial Resilience
A large barrier to building confidence and improving our financial situation is a lack of knowledge and fear around ‘getting it wrong’.
That’s not exclusive to people who are already in vulnerable situations – we see this barrier affect people across all walks of life and income levels.
However, for those starting from a more vulnerable place, it can hold them back even longer.
That’s why enable.me Financial Coach Rebecca Starkey ran an inspirational workshop for Dress for Success clients in our Auckland offices.
She covered the money mindsets and subtle shifts that can help us get ahead, as well as practical tips for where to start.
From knowing the motivation for getting our finances in order, through to making goals and having a plan, the main message the attendees took away was: Take it one step at a time and let your confidence build – and by attending the workshop, every woman there had made a start.
To support the workshop attendees on their journey, we provided a complimentary 12-month license to moneyfit.me Tracker and access to our Get In Control course to help each of them to continue building financial confidence.
Emily Owens Speaking at the FSC
AdviceFirst Wealth Adviser Emily Owens has a personal connection to Dress for Success.
As a teenager, Emily found herself in a vulnerable situation. Choosing to take action and improve it, she accessed Dress for Success services as a client and was given support with clothing for an upcoming job interview.
Now, 20 years later, she is a Wealth Adviser after first obtaining a business degree and spending over a decade gathering experience in banking.
Emily shared her story at the recent Financial Services Council FSC25 annual conference on behalf of Dress for Success.
They were the charity partner of choice for this year’s conference and Emily was honoured by the opportunity to share her impactful story to inspire others – and remind the financial services industry of the ripples of change they can create.
You can read Emily’s full story here.
Volunteering
As part of our employee wellbeing programme, AdviceFirst and enable.me staff receive Do Good Charity Leave to volunteer their time and energy.
The Auckland-based marketing team members did just that recently, volunteering to support the setup of the Dress for Success community sale at the LynnMall.
It was a privilege for the team to support the charity in their fundraising efforts, especially as they rely entirely on fundraising, with no government support.
We look forward to continuing our support of Dress for Success and our shared aim of breaking down barriers and empowering women to achieve financial freedom.
Curious about how we could help your financial situation? Book a consultation with an enable.me financial coach today to understand how we can help support you to achieve your financial goals. Costs apply.
If you have experienced or are experiencing family harm, you can access help or information here:
- Women’s Refuge: Crisis line – 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
- Shine: Helpline – 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
- It’s Not Ok: Family violence information line – 0800 456 450
- Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services
- White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men’s violence towards women
- NZ Government: For information about financial abuse
