By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning What does it really mean to live a happy life? Each year, the World Happiness Report offers fresh insights backed by rigorous global data. The 2025 edition, recently released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, places … Continue reading Finding Happiness: What the Gallup Report Tells Us About a Better Life →

By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning “The industry teaches about products instead of people.”It’s a statement that reflects a seismic shift already underway in financial services—one being led by Gen Z. A generation that won’t settle for less than meaning, autonomy, and impact in their careers. ‘Financial planning is dying’ - … Continue reading Why Holistic Wealth Planning Is the Ultimate Gen Z Career Opportunity →

While not a central focus, the World Happiness Report 2025 acknowledges spiritual wellbeing as an important dimension of human flourishing. The Global Flourishing Study (GFS) dataset—used in the report—includes measures of spirituality and religion alongside health, psychological, and economic variables. Additionally, referenced studies highlight how spiritual capital is linked to life satisfaction, particularly among volunteers, … Continue reading Spiritual Wellbeing in the World Happiness Report 2025 →

By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning The FCA’s Consumer Duty is reshaping financial services, prompting firms to reassess the value and suitability of their ongoing service propositions. What we're witnessing is a healthy shift: providers proactively contacting clients to adjust or even downgrade services they’re not using—before the regulator forces their hand. It's … Continue reading Consumer Duty and the Evolution of Ongoing Financial Services: Meeting Clients Where They Are →

For the sick, the poor, and the betrayed. You are not invisible. You are not alone. While Britain’s most vulnerable are told to tighten their belts, a very different message is being whispered in Whitehall’s corridors: bend the knee to the tech giants—Trump demands it. Yes, that Trump. Back in power and back to business—this … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Weak Pay While the Mighty Play →

When the System Protects the Banks, Who Protects You? 🕯️ For the victims still waiting for justice. And for those we’ve already lost to silence, shame, and system failure. 🔍 The Injustice Unmasked Once upon a time in Australia, the government told its people there was no need for a royal commission into banking. "Nothing … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: Lessons From Downunder →

Steve Conley | March 19, 2025 | 3 Minutes 🕯 For the women who paid in—and were let down. For those now punished for policy failures they didn’t cause.You are not invisible. You are not to blame.The system failed you. And still—you rise. 🕵️ The Injustice Unmasked The government claims there’s no money to compensate … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Government’s War on WASPI Women →