“Transparency over tactics. Empowerment over dependency. Justice over convenience. People over profit.”
At the Academy of Life Planning, these aren’t just slogans. They are the foundation of a new age in financial planning—one driven by the spirit of the Aquarian Age.
Meanwhile, across the legacy financial services sector, a different narrative is unfolding.
The Intermediary’s Dilemma
AI, as a technology, is neutral. But its use is not. For intermediaries built on information asymmetry—those whose business models rely on clients not understanding their own finances—AI presents an existential threat.
They won’t say that outright. Instead, they quietly run a DARVO playbook:
- Deny the transformational potential of AI
- Attack its shortcomings (hallucinations, systemic risk, over-hype)
- Reverse the roles of victim and offender—casting themselves as protectors of the public against rogue algorithms
All while using AI behind the scenes to speed up onboarding, generate suitability reports, chase providers, and scale their sales model.
Not to empower clients.
But to do the same old thing—just faster.
MCP and AMD: Tools or Tactics?
Recent excitement over Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Agentic Model Design (AMD) showcases this paradox. These developments do offer practical benefits. Structured data fed into AI models can indeed save time, reduce friction, and enhance client service—if the goal is service.
But the elephant in the room remains: this is not about closing the advice gap. It’s about preserving margins and control. The “end-to-end digital assistant” narrative sounds efficient—but efficient for whom?
These tools aren’t built to liberate people from dependency on intermediaries. They’re built to help those intermediaries maintain relevance without evolving their worldview.
The Aquarian Alternative
Now contrast this with our vision—your vision—at the Academy of Life Planning:
- We use AI to democratise planning.
Our tools empower individuals to become their own advisers, with clarity and confidence. - We foster self-agency, not dependency.
Instead of gatekeeping knowledge, we share it. Instead of harvesting data, we help people understand it. - We build transparency into every layer.
No opaque charges. No hidden incentives. No financial fog. Just straight-talking empowerment.
We don’t fear AI. We embrace it.
But not as a tool to scale profit.
As a tool to scale justice.
Final Thought
If you’re a financial planner or life coach reading this, ask yourself:
Will I use AI to preserve the Piscean model—where power is held by the few?
Or will I step into the Aquarian paradigm—where power is returned to the many?
At the Academy, we’ve already made our choice.
Let’s build the future of financial planning—together.
Your Money or Your Life
Unmask the highway robbers – Enjoy wealth in every area of your life!
By Steve Conley. Available on Amazon. Visit www.steve.conley.co.uk to find out more.
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