password woes

I recently heard an 'expert' on TV say he had changed his mind about passwords. turns out he was the person who first promoted the idea that you must have a different, very complex password for every different internet account. Now he says that's not as necessary as he first thought. Really?? Now he tells me. So now my dillema is do I go back and change all of my passwords to something consistent for every account? Do I even knwo how to do that? But what about those that insist on having some numbers, at least one symbol, and some capital letters?  Am I the only person who writes down various passwords?  And don't even get me started on my answers to identity questions.  I made a phone call today to make a small change in travel plans and, after giving my address, birthday (how embarrasing - I like the Red Cross where they only ask you day and month.) reservation number, and last four digits of my social secutity number, I was asked for the name of the first elementary school I attended. I had to stop and think a minute because I wasn't expecting the question. When I answered (with the correct answer) I had to spell it out because the young man I was speaking with wasn't familiar with the word. I think I'm ready for thumb print or facial recognitions identity systems. Although I'm not sure.  Would I need to update the facial recognition file every time a new wrinkle popped up? At my age that could become a daily process. But I must admit, as I sit here in my pajamas banking on line I really do appreciate technology undreamed of when I was young.