By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning | Get SAFE | M-POWER We live in a time when machines can compose essays, write poetry, and even simulate empathy. For some, this stirs concern. Commentators like The Times’ James Marriott suggest society is becoming too comfortable with “artificial” support—preferring predictable algorithms over unpredictable humans. But for … Continue reading In Defence of AI: A Vital Ally in Life Planning, Justice, and Empowerment →

For the regulators who were meant to serve the people—and now serve the City. They say it’s about growth. They say it’s about investment. They say it’s about helping the UK "compete." But here’s the truth they won’t say out loud: It’s about control.It’s about profit.And it’s about keeping you in your place. This week, … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When Growth Becomes a Weapon →

By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning In the unfolding scandal of UK pension mismanagement, few names appear as frequently, and with such unsettling consistency, as deVere Group and its founder, Nigel Green. While headlines have focused heavily on QROPS abuse, what is now becoming evident is that Green's and deVere’s influence extends far beyond … Continue reading The Shadow Network: deVere, Wilton, and the Gaming of the UK Pension System →

Introduction and Background Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) were introduced in April 2006 to allow UK pension holders emigrating or retiring abroad to transfer their pensions to an overseas scheme. The intent was to comply with EU free movement of capital rules and to simplify pension portability for expats bbc.com. In practice, QROPS quickly … Continue reading QROPS Abuse from 2006 to 2025: Scope, Failures, and Case Studies →

There’s a quiet shame creeping through the halls of power. Not just in the executive boardrooms of banks like NatWest, but in the open-plan offices of regulators, law firms, civil service departments, and even our courts. It’s a shame not of being caught — but of being recognised. And with recognition comes a question too … Continue reading Justice or Just a Job? A Question for Every System Insider →

By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning While victims of financial crime across Europe wait in vain for justice, a disturbing pattern of institutional failure is emerging—one that crosses borders, blurs regulatory responsibilities, and leaves ordinary citizens defenceless against organised criminal exploitation. At the centre of it: Malta. This week, The Shift published a … Continue reading A Tale of Two Scandals: How Malta Became a Safe Haven for Financial Crime—And Why the UK Is Silent →

"Justice on the outside. Injustice on the inside." Steve Conley, of Get SAFE. In memory of every victim still waiting for the system to listen.For those who fought, won—and are still being punished. They told you the worst was over. That justice had prevailed. That the scandal was exposed, the wrongs acknowledged, the victims heard. … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When Justice Becomes Just Another Scam →

By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning As the motor finance scandal accelerates toward a Supreme Court showdown, Lloyds Banking Group’s CEO Charlie Nunn has issued a striking claim: that there is “no evidence of harm” in the lender’s historic car finance practices. This comes despite Lloyds reserving a staggering £1.2 billion in provisions—by … Continue reading Lloyds Denies Harm as Motor Finance Scandal Heads to Supreme Court — But Consumers Deserve the Full Truth →

By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning There comes a moment in every pursuit of justice when silence speaks louder than words. It begins, as it so often does, with a promise. A promise made in glossy brochures and online literature. That a financial firm is licensed, regulated, insured, audited, and compliant. These are … Continue reading The Silence That Screams: When Regulators Abandon Their Duty →