The landscape of retirement planning has shifted dramatically over the years. Since Pension Freedom was introduced in 2015, many financial advisers have encouraged clients to use pensions both as an income source and an inheritance planning tool. However, with the recent changes announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget, retirement planning strategies require a serious rethink. … Continue reading How Do I Invest for My Retirement? SIPP, ISA, or GIA?
Month: January 2025
A GAME Plan for Britain: Unlocking Growth Through Purpose and People
The UK Government has set its sights on economic growth, an ambition I fully support. However, the approach currently being pursued—one that relies heavily on the financial sector’s guidance—will not deliver the outcomes we need. Growth isn’t achieved through short-term financial engineering or a deregulated banking system; instead, it stems from long-term investment in human … Continue reading A GAME Plan for Britain: Unlocking Growth Through Purpose and People
The Evolution of Community: From Ego-Led Differentiation to Soul-Connected Integration
The world is in the midst of a profound transformation. Communities, long dominated by ego-driven structures rooted in differentiation, conformity, and survival, are beginning to shift. As more soul-connected individuals emerge—those who prioritise individuation, self-actualisation, integration, and service—the collective worldview is evolving. The transition from a status-authority-power-tribal-survival model to a people-integrative-holistic paradigm is inevitable. This … Continue reading The Evolution of Community: From Ego-Led Differentiation to Soul-Connected Integration
Training Module: The Schwartz Community Values Assessment and Personal Growth
Introduction As a coach, one of your key roles is to help your clients understand how their personal development is influenced by the community they are part of. The rate at which an individual can ascend the levels of psychological development is often determined by the collective values, beliefs, and world view of their community. … Continue reading Training Module: The Schwartz Community Values Assessment and Personal Growth
From Tax-Efficient Savings to Daylight Robbery: How Successive Governments Have Treated Pensions as Their Piggy Bank
Pensions were once seen as a reliable way to secure your financial future. A disciplined, tax-efficient savings vehicle, they were designed to provide dignity and independence in later life. But over the years, something changed. Successive governments have treated pensions as a bottomless resource—an easy target for systemic tax raids and regulatory meddling. The result? … Continue reading From Tax-Efficient Savings to Daylight Robbery: How Successive Governments Have Treated Pensions as Their Piggy Bank
Why Retirement Planners Must Consider Human Capital Alongside Financial Capital
Retirement is no longer the full stop it once was. Increasingly, retirees are returning to work—not just for financial reasons, but also for social fulfilment and purpose. New research from Standard Life reveals that one in seven retirees has ‘unretired’ or is considering doing so. This trend highlights the crucial role that financial planners must … Continue reading Why Retirement Planners Must Consider Human Capital Alongside Financial Capital
The Truth About Financial Psychology: Are You Investing in Your True Self?
In the world of financial advice, there’s a fundamental flaw—one that’s been hidden behind tick-box compliance and industry-approved psychometric tests. The issue? Most financial advice isn’t based on what’s truly in your best interest. Instead, it reflects a version of you that has been shaped by years of parental conditioning, cultural beliefs, and psychological misconceptions—your … Continue reading The Truth About Financial Psychology: Are You Investing in Your True Self?
Financial Coaching vs. Financial Planning: Which Path Will You Take?
When it comes to financial well-being, there are two distinct but equally important approaches: financial coaching and financial planning. Both serve different needs, focus on different aspects of life, and require different mindsets from professionals who choose to offer them. Financial Coaching: Building Stability and Security Financial coaching is about helping people meet their basic … Continue reading Financial Coaching vs. Financial Planning: Which Path Will You Take?
Ethical Investing: You Don’t Need a Product Seller to Guide You
Investing ethically is about aligning your money with your values. It’s an empowering choice, but one that can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. The good news? You don’t need to take product-specific advice from someone whose job is to sell you financial products. Instead, you can work with a financial professional who is truly … Continue reading Ethical Investing: You Don’t Need a Product Seller to Guide You
Discover Your Favourite Future with the Academy’s GAME Plan
At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe that everyone deserves to live a life filled with purpose, security, and significance. That’s why we’ve developed the GAME Plan—a simple, empowering framework to help you chart a values-led, purpose-driven path to a brighter future. Let’s break it down together. G is for Goals Everything starts with … Continue reading Discover Your Favourite Future with the Academy’s GAME Plan
Academy of Life Planning 