Hello, I’m Steve Conley. If you’re reading this, you’re likely seeking a better approach to managing your money and your life. I’m here to tell you that you’ve come to the right place.
I’m not just a financial planner—I’m a life planner. My approach is different, and it’s precisely the difference you need.
The Trust Issue in Financial Services
It’s no secret that the financial services industry has a trust problem. Year after year, surveys by leading PR firms like Edelman show that financial services are among the least trusted industries globally. This isn’t surprising when you consider the conflicts of interest, hidden incentives, and the prevalence of those who are in it solely for the money. I refer (in my book) to these individuals as ‘highway robbers,’ and they’re everywhere—from CEOs and regulators to financial advisers and outright scammers.
Grooming gangs, in particular, are masters of deception. They employ tactics that make their victims trust them implicitly, even love them, so much so that the victims often don’t even realise they’re being exploited. So, just because you like the financial professional you’re dealing with doesn’t mean you’re not being taken advantage of.
Navigating the Financial Minefield
How do you avoid becoming a victim? The answer is simple: understand the incentives at play and be your own financial adviser.
As Charlie Munger famously said, “Show me the incentive, and I will show you the outcome.”
Why Listen to Me?
I’m a retired, experienced, and conscientious financial professional. My incentive is transparent: I charge a low fixed fee for my DIY financial planning kit (£19/month) and an hourly rate for my expertise during your times of stress or significant life changes (£200/hour). You tell me what needs to be done, I provide an estimate of the time required and the fee, and then I deliver. No hidden costs, no surprises.
What Do I Offer?
I run three interconnected businesses, each designed to empower you in different ways:
- The Academy of Life Planning: An educational platform where I teach life planning to hundreds of individuals and fellow professionals alike, worldwide.
- Planning My Life: A DIY toolkit that equips you with the knowledge and resources to plan your own life and finances. With the right support, 90% of people can manage their own financial planning. This toolkit includes guidance on becoming your own financial adviser, lessons in finance, and the right planning apps and frameworks.
- Financial Life Coach: A service where you can hire me by the hour to fix your financial plan during times of stress or change. I offer expert, unbiased advice when you need it most.
What is a Life Plan?
A life plan with me involves:
- Self-Discovery: Understanding your personal values, talents, and assets.
- Wellness and Wellbeing: Crafting a plan for a life of wellness, wealth, and significance.
- Financial Support: Structuring your financial assets to support your life plan.
- Sustainable Earnings: Developing a plan for generating income well into your later years from work that feels meaningful—ideally suited for those with insufficient assets to attract the interest of traditional financial advisers.
Why is This Important?
Your life is important. To live authentically and fulfil your purpose, you need a solid foundation of financial wellbeing that supports all aspects of your life—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This foundation enables you to collaborate in making the world a better place and to live a life of significance.
Why Act Now?
If you’ve read this far, today is a pivotal day. You have the opportunity to choose authenticity and purpose for the remainder of your life.
As Saint Augustine wisely said, “Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.”
Why Me?
I am an independent, impartial, and experienced financial professional with a conscience and a mission. I earn enough to live modestly and give the rest to others, knowing that our time on earth is short and the most important thing we can do is to make the world a better place.
I have been a Chartered financial service professional since 1989. I’m 63 and I’ve retired twice—first from the corporate world in 2012, where I was the head of investments for some of the UK’s largest banks, and again in 2019 from being a regulated independent financial adviser (IFA).
How I Can Help You
I offer my expert opinion to level the playing field when you’re dealing with incentivised financial service professionals. I can provide you with the right questions to ask and help you interpret the answers. This can be particularly valuable when making important, life-changing decisions.
I also offer a fixed-fee planning service. I quote a fee in advance, and we stick to it until the job is done—no matter how long it takes. Unlike others, I’m not incentivised to sell products; I’m here to sell plans that guide you to your best future.
The Next Chapter Awaits
What you do with your money is simple. What you do with your life is inspiring. To find out more, visit my websites or, better still, book an hour of my time. I offer a half-price discovery meeting, as a gesture to meet you halfway on cost for that first hour.
Testimonials
★★★★★ Excellent!
“Steve helped enormously and is a breath of fresh air, explaining finances without using difficult-to-understand terminology.”
— David B., Northampton, UK (Discovery Meeting)
“From start to finish, Steve has delivered an exceptional service and experience. He guided us through the exploration and development of our life plan, detailed cash flow modelling, and financial strategy. Steve’s transparent, fixed-fee approach provides unbiased, expert, and actionable advice. I highly recommend his critical, value-adding services for anyone seeking top-notch financial planning.”
— Ian M., UK (The GAME Plan – Personal)
“Steve, what you do with life planning goes so much deeper than just financial advice. Yesterday’s session was truly eye-opening for me—it was the best experience of my life. For the first time, I felt like I saw the real me, thanks to the exercises we did together.“
“It’s not just about managing money; it’s about discovering who you are and understanding your purpose. What you offer isn’t just financial guidance; it’s a journey of self-discovery. You give people the tools to uncover their true selves and connect with their authentic purpose. The financial side is important, but the true value is in finding out who you are and living as that person. I’m thrilled about what lies ahead and the new perspective I’ve gained. There’s so much more to explore, and I can’t wait to continue this journey.”
— John H., VA USA (The GAME Plan – Pro Planner)
Financial Life Coach is a trading style of The Academy of Life Planning Limited, registered in England and Wales with Companies House under registration number 8016568. We provide “educational financial services,” which are distinct from regulated financial advice. As such, we are not overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and do not hold FCA registration.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial advice. Our educational services are designed to enhance your financial literacy and decision-making abilities, in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook PERG 8.26.2 and Section 22 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. These regulations clarify that our educational services do not require FCA regulation, as they are not connected to the sale of FCA-regulated products.
We operate within the framework of UK general consumer laws, including the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014, and the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act 2024, under the oversight of the Competition and Markets Authority. These laws ensure that our clients are protected, including a private right of action, which may not be available to clients of FCA-regulated firms.
If you require regulated financial advice, we recommend consulting with an FCA-regulated financial adviser. For further clarification on our services or to understand how consumer protection regulations apply to you as a client of Financial Life Coach, please refer to our website or contact us directly.
M-POWER: The Money Empowerment Movement. When it comes to money, the best place to find helping hands you can trust is at the end of your own arms.
Academy of Life Planning 