“We do not see the world as it is. We see the world as we are.”— Anaïs Nin Today, St. James’s Place (SJP) made front-page news in Telegraph Money, announcing the long-awaited revamp of its fee structure. The message? Transparency. Value. Reform. The truth? An illusion of change designed to protect a model under pressure—not … Continue reading From Smoke and Mirrors to Clear Water: Why the SJP Fee Revamp Is Too Little, Too Late
Month: July 2025
🧭 Reimagining Financial Empowerment in the Aquarian Age: A Response to FCA CP25/17
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning The FCA's Consultation Paper CP25/17, “Supporting consumers' pensions and investment decisions: proposals for targeted support,” sets out to close the so-called “advice gap” through a new regime of cohort-based recommendations. But to those of us working to empower individuals, not intermediaries, this paper represents a step backwards—toward … Continue reading 🧭 Reimagining Financial Empowerment in the Aquarian Age: A Response to FCA CP25/17
How to Manage Your Finances in the Age of Aquarius
“The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.” We are standing at the threshold of a new financial era. The Age of Pisces—marked by hierarchy, dependence, and delegation—is giving way to the Age of Aquarius, a time of transparency, empowerment, and self-agency. Nowhere is this shift more … Continue reading How to Manage Your Finances in the Age of Aquarius
Keep It Simple — And Boring: Why Private Markets Don’t Belong in Your Pension
“Complexity is not a solution. It's a smokescreen.”— Steve Conley In July 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order opening the door for U.S. 401(k) retirement plans to invest more heavily in private markets. On the surface, it’s sold as “democratisation”—letting everyday investors access the same high-return opportunities as institutions. But beneath the rhetoric, this … Continue reading Keep It Simple — And Boring: Why Private Markets Don’t Belong in Your Pension
🕊️ From Intermediation to Empowerment: Why the Decline of Advisers Is a Sign of Progress
“We cannot transform a system unless we transform the consciousness of the people within it.”— Otto Scharmer I hear the cries from within the financial advice industry.Cries echoed by trade press journalists keen to stay in favour.Echoed by product manufacturers, trade bodies posing as regulators, and government agencies eager to tap the public’s assets for … Continue reading 🕊️ From Intermediation to Empowerment: Why the Decline of Advisers Is a Sign of Progress
🌊 The River, the Rock, and the Rising Age: The Change Begins From Within
“The river does not argue with the rock. It flows around it—and wears it away.” As I sat in yet another Mansion House discussion this week—an Aquarian task force dissecting the hardened contours of a Piscean financial system—I felt a deeper truth stir beneath the surface noise of economic reform and regulatory rhetoric. It’s not … Continue reading 🌊 The River, the Rock, and the Rising Age: The Change Begins From Within
“Nothing to See Here”: How Cognitive Bias and Conflicts of Interest Keep Wealthy Investors Asleep
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning In the world of financial services, we like to think we’re rational. Professional. Unbiased. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a system that may be blind—wilfully or otherwise—to its own conflicts of interest and the cognitive biases they produce. A Tale of Two Markets While trade … Continue reading “Nothing to See Here”: How Cognitive Bias and Conflicts of Interest Keep Wealthy Investors Asleep
💻 Crypto Scams & the Law: What You Need to Know About the UK’s Digital Asset Reform
Q: Why is the Law Commission’s latest proposal important for victims of crypto scams?A: The Law Commission’s June 2025 proposal introduces freestanding information orders — a new legal tool that allows victims to access critical information about their stolen crypto assets before committing to a costly legal claim. This could be a game-changer, reducing upfront … Continue reading 💻 Crypto Scams & the Law: What You Need to Know About the UK’s Digital Asset Reform
🏍️ Protection or Protectionism? What Motorcycle Body Armour Teaches Us About Financial Regulation
https://youtu.be/nINIJ1cAbYM?si=e-i0yRHENSzFPUsh By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning “Not all that protects is protective—and not all regulation serves the public.” Post-Reeves and the so-called Leeds Reforms, the UK's regulatory compass is spinning. The Chancellor’s speech painted a vision of prosperity, human capital development, and a Britain "better off." But beneath the headline-grabbing language lies a … Continue reading 🏍️ Protection or Protectionism? What Motorcycle Body Armour Teaches Us About Financial Regulation
💼 From Delegator’s Intermediary to Empowered: Reimagining a Financial Planner’s Career in 90 Days
How a seasoned adviser found purpose, profit, and personal fulfilment as a holistic wealth planner. “I didn’t know this was even possible.”That’s what Alex (name changed) told us when we first connected. After nearly three decades in financial services as a Chartered Financial Planner, Alex had spent a career focused on compliance, personal advice, and … Continue reading 💼 From Delegator’s Intermediary to Empowered: Reimagining a Financial Planner’s Career in 90 Days
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