El Salvador, a nation known for its resilience, faces a critical challenge—bridging the gap between poverty and prosperity. Through the innovative integration of Life Crafting and Positive Financial Planning (PFP), guided by the PERMAH model for well-being, a transformative programme is setting the stage to empower individuals and create a sustainable economic impact.
A Holistic Approach to Poverty Alleviation
The intervention, inspired by the GAME Plan framework developed by Steve Conley, incorporates strategies that focus on fostering both personal and economic well-being. At its core, the programme seeks to empower individuals with the tools and knowledge to align their financial decisions with their life goals, ensuring financial independence and holistic flourishing.
This effort goes beyond traditional financial planning. By integrating the PERMAH model (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments, and Health), it addresses both material needs and personal aspirations. Participants not only gain practical financial skills but also develop a clear vision for their lives, cultivating resilience and self-reliance.
Key Elements of the Programme
- Foundations of Well-Being:
The first step involves introducing the PERMAH framework, allowing participants to assess their current well-being and identify areas for growth. This foundational module highlights the importance of balancing financial stability with emotional and physical health. - Life Crafting for Empowerment:
Drawing on values-driven approaches, participants engage in a reflective process to define their personal and professional aspirations. This step ensures that financial strategies are tailored to support their unique life goals. - Positive Financial Planning:
Participants are trained in practical financial management, focusing on strategies that maximise the impact of their resources. Whether through optimising remittances or diversifying income streams, the goal is to create sustainable economic stability. - Sustainable Impact through Reflection:
The programme concludes with participants developing a comprehensive life and financial plan. By reflecting on their progress and future challenges, they leave with actionable insights and a renewed sense of purpose.
From Local Impact to Global Change
While this initiative is rooted in the Salvadoran context, its potential extends far beyond. By addressing the systemic barriers to income equality and empowering individuals to become agents of change, it aligns seamlessly with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1—ending poverty in all its forms.
The Road Ahead
The integration of Life Crafting and PFP, underpinned by Steve Conley’s GAME Plan and the PERMAH model, demonstrates how holistic financial planning can be a catalyst for economic and personal transformation. By combining human capital strategies to create income with empowerment over financial capital decisions, this programme offers a roadmap for eliminating poverty, creating personal wealth, and growing economies worldwide.
Through its innovative methodology, this project provides a blueprint for scalable solutions that can address global poverty, inspire communities, and build a brighter future for all. If embraced globally, this approach could serve as a powerful tool in achieving sustainable development and uplifting the lives of millions.
Q&A: Understanding the Life Crafting and Positive Financial Planning Initiative in El Salvador
Q: What is the purpose of this programme?
The programme aims to empower individuals in El Salvador to overcome poverty and build sustainable personal wealth by combining Life Crafting and Positive Financial Planning. It’s about giving people the tools to align their financial decisions with their life goals, enabling holistic well-being and economic stability.
Q: How does it work?
The initiative is built on four key modules:
- Foundations of Well-Being: Participants explore the PERMAH framework, focusing on areas like positive emotions, health, and meaning.
- Life Crafting: Through reflection and planning, participants identify their values, aspirations, and goals.
- Positive Financial Planning: Practical strategies are taught to optimise resources like remittances, diversify income, and ensure financial independence.
- Sustainable Action: Participants create a comprehensive plan to navigate future challenges and maintain progress.
Each module is designed to blend personal growth with practical financial management.
Q: What makes this programme different from traditional financial planning?
Traditional financial planning often focuses solely on numbers—like savings, investments, or retirement goals. This programme takes a holistic approach by integrating personal well-being, emotional health, income generation, and life purpose into financial decisions. It ensures that money becomes a tool to support what truly matters in life.
Q: Who can benefit from this programme?
The programme is tailored for individuals living in poverty in El Salvador, including those reliant on remittances. However, its principles are universally applicable, making it a model that can address poverty and income inequality in communities worldwide.
Q: How does this programme support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
This initiative directly addresses SDG 1—ending poverty in all its forms. By equipping individuals with financial strategies and life-planning tools, it empowers them to achieve economic stability and personal growth, fostering long-term change for families and communities.
Q: What role does Steve Conley’s GAME Plan play in this programme?
Steve Conley’s GAME Plan framework is central to the programme’s approach. It guides participants through setting goals, planning actions, assessing available means, and implementing strategies. This ensures that financial decisions align with life values and aspirations, creating a clear path to well-being and success.
Q: How does this programme make use of remittances?
Remittances are a significant source of income for many Salvadoran families. This programme helps participants manage remittances strategically, transforming them from short-term financial relief into tools for sustainable development, such as investing in education, small businesses, or community projects.
Q: Can this model be applied in other countries?
Absolutely! The combination of Life Crafting, Positive Financial Planning, and the PERMAH model is versatile and can be adapted to various cultural and economic contexts. It provides a scalable framework to address poverty and promote well-being globally.
Q: How can someone get involved or support this initiative?
You can help by spreading awareness about the programme, supporting organisations working on similar models, or encouraging its adoption in your community. If you’re in a position to implement or advocate for holistic financial planning approaches, this model can inspire impactful change.
Q: What’s the ultimate vision of this initiative?
The goal is to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures while fostering holistic well-being. It’s about creating lasting change, not just for individuals, but for families, communities, and economies.
If you’d like to learn more or explore ways to apply this model, feel free to reach out or start a conversation—together, we can build a future free from poverty.
Shaping the Future: Designing Lives and Financial Well-Being
Empowering Holistic Growth in El Salvador
A transformative programme to inspire change and tackle economic challenges.
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Master’s Degree Project 2024
School of Psychology | Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
Written by: Mario E. Guzmán Urrutia
Supervised by: Professor Susan Zurita
Date: December 2024
This project aims to create meaningful, accessible solutions that blend life design and financial planning to help individuals and communities thrive. It’s about making a real difference by equipping people with the tools and guidance they need to build brighter, more secure futures.
Steve Conley’s Approach to Ethical Financial Planning
In the dynamic field of financial planning, Steve Conley stands out as a pioneer of ethical, client-centred approaches that challenge traditional norms. As the founder of the Academy of Life Planning, Conley advocates for transparency and a holistic approach that prioritises the well-being of clients over profit-driven product sales.
A Vision of Holistic Financial Planning
Conley’s philosophy focuses on eliminating conflicts of interest inherent in traditional financial advisory models. By moving away from commission-based sales and financial product incentives, he has developed a framework that ensures impartiality and prioritises clients’ personal and financial goals. This commitment has been the foundation of his Life Financial Business Plan, widely known as the GAME Plan, which is structured around four key elements:
- Goals: Helping clients identify their life aspirations.
- Actions: Establishing clear, actionable steps to achieve these goals.
- Means: Evaluating the financial resources available to support the plan.
- Execution: Implementing strategies to ensure alignment with values and life objectives.
Empowering Change Through Education
At the core of Conley’s approach is the principle of empowering individuals with the knowledge to take control of their financial future. His Academy of Life Planning champions accessible, inclusive, and transparent financial education, making planning tools available to individuals across all income levels. This ensures that financial planning is not limited to those with significant wealth but is a service that can transform lives, even for those in financially vulnerable situations.
A Global Impact
Conley’s vision extends beyond individual clients. His innovative strategies, such as the GAME Plan, have influenced initiatives addressing poverty and economic challenges. For example, his methods are being integrated into programs like “Creating the Future: Life Design and Positive Financial Planning,” which aims to empower communities in El Salvador by combining financial planning with life design under the PERMAH framework for well-being. These programmes highlight how holistic financial planning can drive social and economic transformation.
Why Conley’s Approach Matters
Steve Conley’s work is a call to action for the financial industry to embrace a client-centred, purpose-driven model. By focusing on aligning financial resources with life goals, his approach promotes not just financial stability but also emotional and personal flourishing. For clients, it offers clarity, empowerment, and peace of mind, ensuring that financial planning becomes a tool for meaningful change.
If you are inspired by Steve Conley’s mission, consider exploring his Academy of Life Planning to understand how these transformative principles can help you or your organisation redefine financial planning. The Academy offers a collaborative space for professionals and individuals alike to learn, grow, and achieve sustainable success. Let’s create a future where financial planning truly serves the people it’s meant to help.
For further information please visit the Academy of Life Planning website at www.aolp.info.
Academy of Life Planning 
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