And when it comes to the markets, this impermanence is the shadow that is always lurking behind the scenes.

Vern Gowdie, author of The End of Australia, hammered in this point throughout his speech at Port Phillip Publishing's Paradox of Prosperity conference. An event where influential financial thinkers from all over the world have come to put in their two cents about the state of the markets.

As Vern began his talk, the realist attitude that he's known for in his writing shone through. And the questions he posed reflected both the concerns of many Australians, and the critical tone that pervaded the speeches of the day.

'Now that we live to 100, how are we going to afford it? It's a very good question.'