After her separation, Julie Garis found herself in a season of deep uncertainty. With two boys to care for and a career in forensic accounting behind her, the path forward felt unclear. Returning to her old profession seemed out of reach, so she searched for a new direction that felt both purposeful and sustainable. It was a time of reinvention, and ultimately the beginning of something far more aligned.

“I separated from my now ex-husband 11 years ago and it was incredibly difficult — overwhelming, confusing, lonely, not knowing who could help.”

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Julie knew she wanted to do something that combined her lived experience with her extensive professional accounting expertise to empower women at one of the most vulnerable points in their lives. That vision became Simple Split Financials, a business dedicated to helping women make informed financial decisions during and after separation and divorce.

“I wanted to be able to help women navigate the financial aspects of separation working with their lawyers and support network so they could move forward confidently with their lives.”

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But launching a new business came with its own set of challenges.

Like many solo founders, Julie was unsure where to focus, how to grow a network, or how to reach her ideal clients. That’s when she discovered Mums & Co.

“Mums & Co appealed as it offered support and education. And Community Manager Lucy was so helpful and inviting right from the start!”

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From her very first interaction, Julie felt like she’d found her people. The warmth, the professionalism, and the focus on harmonising ambition, livelihood and wellbeing instantly resonated. She joined and never looked back.

Julie has been a part of other networks and communities, but she considers the blend of online education, focus groups, meet-ups and resources Mums & Co offers unique.

“You can always check in with an expert for your current challenges. And, let’s face it, there are a lot of challenges and learnings when starting and running a small business.”

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Since joining Mums & Co, Julie has made the most of the available features. She’s attended expert-led sessions, connected with other business-owning mums at in-person and online conferences, and even stepped into the spotlight herself.

“I was featured on the Mums & Co podcast, which was a fabulous opportunity to promote my business and share my vision, and it gave me the confidence to promote myself more. I even had a number of inquiries after the episode aired, and one of them became a client!”

She’s also contributed to the community through sponsorship. After connecting personally with guest speaker Tracey Hall, Julie sponsored Tracey’s workshop session, which led to two direct enquiries and sparked deeper conversations about her services.

“The sponsorship opportunity and the connections that came from it made a real impact.”

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Julie has formed strong connections within the community

Including with Anne McKeown, who she’s worked with in a coaching capacity since, and has introduced many new members to the Mums & Co Community. She credits Mums & Co for giving her a place where the emotional weight of building a business as a mother is seen, and where the practical support is real.

“All of the people I have met working at or in the Mums & Co community are professional, friendly, approachable, like-minded and always happy to help and promote each other. A true community!”

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Through Mums & Co, Julie has created new momentum not just for her business, but for the women she serves. And she’s continuing to make a name for herself supporting women to move through the financial process of separation with handheld support and reduced time and costs so they can move forward with clarity and confidence.

“I joined as a new business owner, and Mums & Co has been pivotal in showing me the power of connection between women since then.”

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With Simple Split Financials, Julie is doing more than running a business. She’s creating a ripple effect for women rebuilding after one of life’s toughest transitions, and Mums & Co is right there beside her.

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