“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is today.”
As life planners, we are in the business of preparing people for the future. But there’s a danger: while we focus on helping our clients prepare, we sometimes forget to apply the same wisdom to ourselves.
The study on human capital and long-term economic growth [Human Capital as a Determinant of Long-Term Economic Growth, by Siriwan Saksiriruthai, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand] is clear—sustainable progress doesn’t come from natural resources, chance, or quick wins. It comes from continual investment in skills, education, and adaptability. This is true for nations, for businesses, and for each of us as individuals.
Why Now?
We live in an era of rapid technological and social change. AI, automation, and new financial systems are reshaping how we live, work, and plan. Delaying the learning of new skills isn’t just procrastination—it’s actively falling behind. Every month we wait, the gap widens between what is possible and what we can deliver.
For life planners, the stakes are even higher. We are guides. If we don’t model continuous growth, how can we expect clients to embrace it? If we hesitate, they hesitate. If we stop learning, they stop trusting.
Skills as the New Wealth
The study highlights what we already teach at the Academy of Life Planning: human capital is the true engine of wealth. Not pensions. Not portfolios. Skills, resilience, creativity, and adaptability. These are the assets that produce income, opportunity, and meaning—whatever the economic climate.
The Message to Our Clients
Our clients need to hear the same urgency. “I’ll wait until things settle down” is a common refrain. But the truth is—things never settle down. The economy shifts, industries rise and fall, technology accelerates, crises appear. The only safe strategy is to grow now.
Encouraging clients to invest in their own human capital—through learning, retraining, building new networks—isn’t just advice. It’s empowerment. It’s resilience. It’s the key to long-term financial and emotional security.
A Call to Action
As planners, we must embody this principle. That means taking up new tools, new methods, and new thinking without delay. It means helping clients see that the greatest risk is inaction, and the greatest opportunity is in choosing to grow today.
The future belongs to those who refuse to wait. Let’s be those people—and let’s guide our clients to join us.
🔑 Key Lessons for AoLP Members
- Human Capital > Natural Resources
- Countries that relied on cheap labour or natural resources saw only short-term growth.
- Long-term, sustainable growth comes from investing in human capital—skills, education, and adaptability.
- Education as the Foundation
- Education is the most powerful driver of human capital.
- Higher educational attainment equips people to adopt new technologies, innovate, and remain resilient in economic transitions.
- For planners: continual learning is not optional—it’s the growth engine.
- Skills & Productivity as Wealth
- Human capital is defined as the knowledge, skills, and competencies that increase productivity and value creation.
- Wealth isn’t just money—it’s the capacity to generate value through applied human potential, which aligns directly with AoLP’s human capital theory of wealth.
- Policy vs. Practice
- Nations succeed when education and human capital development are embedded in long-term strategy, not short-term policy gimmicks.
- For AoLP: embedding lifelong skill-building into financial and life planning gives clients resilience in uncertain systems.
- Technology & Human Capital
- The pace of technological change makes continuous human capital accumulation essential.
- Those who can learn, unlearn, and re-learn will thrive.
- AoLP’s training (GAME Plan, Notion tools, etc.) fits directly here—equipping members and clients to navigate future shocks.
- Migration & Diversity
- The study notes migration as a driver of human capital growth, introducing new skills, perspectives, and dynamism.
- For AoLP: a reminder to embrace global perspectives and diverse talent in building the movement.
💡 Implications for AoLP Members
- For personal practice: See yourself as an investor in your own human capital—CPD, mentorship, new tools.
- For clients: Help them recognise that their human capital is their primary asset—skills, resilience, networks, creativity—often more valuable than pensions or portfolios.
- For the movement: Position AoLP as the place where human capital is cultivated and turned into empowerment, independence, and long-term wealth.
💡 Ready to experience the future of life planning? Test the GAME Plan Practitioner Training Course with our Human Capital Development session—a powerful two-hour training video plus workbook that reveals how to turn skills into true wealth. Get your trial today for just £4.99 and see how the GAME Plan transforms both your practice and your clients’ lives.
Join the M-Power Movement
What’s in it for you?
- Empowerment: Learn how to manage your money and grow your wealth with confidence.
- Entrepreneurship: Discover tools and support to turn your ideas into thriving businesses.
- Community: Connect with like-minded individuals and organisations dedicated to financial freedom for all.
How to Get Started:
- Join Our Community: Access free resources, workshops, and networking opportunities.
- Book a Call: Speak with an expert to explore how we can support your journey to financial independence.
- Spread the Word: Help us build a global movement by sharing this vision with your network.
Together, we can redefine what financial planning means, transforming it from a service of dependency into a tool of empowerment. The M-Power Movement is not just about creating wealth; it’s about creating a fairer society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Are you ready to take control of your financial future?
Join us today and be part of this transformative journey.
Steve Conley
Founder, Academy of Life Planning | Architect of the M-Power Movement.
Academy of Life Planning 