It’s hardly safe to question Australia’s compulsory voting system as it’s so largely considered the norm despite only 21 other nations, mainly in Latin America, insisting you turn up to vote. But what has changed is the large number choosing to forgo the dubiously titled “democracy sausage” by pre-polling in record numbers. Almost one-third of a million voters cast their ballot as soon as... read more>

I have never welcomed the term ‘empty nester’, although now we are all being wooed by a Coalition promise at the 11th hour of the election campaign. The carrot of superannuation breaks is being waved to encourage more of us to downsize our homes and make more room for younger families. The election promise is to lower the age by ten years to allow you to tip the benefits from selling a bi... read more>

A recent experience with an adult birthday party made me wonder how best to mark such occasions when getting to fifty and above. Last weekend, I went to an old pal's sixtieth birthday party, and it wasn't obvious she wanted to celebrate this particular coming of age. We were asked not to bring presents; there were no candles on the cake and please no singing of 'Happy Birthday' either. ... read more>

This was a recent headline in Australia’s most popular satirical newspaper.  When it appears you bought your house for peanuts, how to best advise younger people about coping with the rash of higher prices, and not sound patronising? It's a dilemma highlighted with a cash rate increase for the first time in eleven years and many feeling the pinch and growing uncertainty of their world. ... read more>

One of the cruel ironies of financial scams is that we like to think only suckers get stung, and we'd never fall for the trickery, especially with a few extra years of experience. Sadly, think again - there's research from the US which suggests over 65s, even with no cognitive decline, can suffer from what's called age-related financial vulnerability. "We are learning that there are chang... read more>