One of the quiet frustrations in financial planning is this:
many clients understand what needs to change — yet still don’t move.
The motivation is there.
The logic is sound.
The desire for a better future is real.
And still… nothing happens.
Insight isn’t the problem — overload is
At a recent professional session, a powerful analogy was shared by Philip Courtney, of Humans & Money, that captures this perfectly.
Imagine a hot air balloon.
- The balloon is fully inflated.
- The heat is there.
- Lift should be possible.
But the balloon is still tethered to the ground.
In this metaphor:
- The hot air represents the client’s awareness, motivation, and recognition that action is needed.
- The tethers represent the things that quietly hold them back:
- emotional fatigue
- cognitive overload
- lack of time
- dread of paperwork
- uncertainty about where to begin
- fear of “opening a can of worms”
This is not procrastination.
It’s overload.
Why traditional planning can unintentionally tighten the tethers
Well-intentioned processes can sometimes make this worse.
Fact-finding packs.
Long data requests.
Multiple decisions presented at once.
Complex sequencing.
To a client already under pressure, these feel less like support and more like additional weight.
They don’t lack motivation.
They lack bandwidth.
Where AI changes the game — quietly and compassionately
This is where AI, used properly, becomes transformative.
Not as a decision-maker.
Not as an authority.
And certainly not as a sales engine.
But as a gentle untethering tool.
In practice, AI can help clients and planners by:
- turning vague intentions into simple first steps
- breaking intimidating tasks into small, manageable actions
- helping clients find the words when stress or avoidance kicks in
- creating clear, paced action plans instead of overwhelming to-do lists
- removing friction before human judgement and values are needed
Crucially, this can happen without the clock running and without the emotional pressure of a formal meeting.
The most important tether is often invisible
Perhaps the most revealing insight from practitioners experimenting with AI is this:
The biggest barrier is often not information — it’s conviction.
A quiet, unspoken doubt:
- “Is this actually achievable?”
- “Am I kidding myself?”
- “What if I start and still fail?”
When AI helps someone sketch a pathway — even a rough one — something shifts.
The imagined future becomes plausible.
And plausibility creates movement.
The GAME Plan lens: freeing lift, not forcing flight
Within the Academy of Life Planning, this is exactly how we see the role of AI within the GAME Plan.
Not as the pilot.
Not as the destination.
But as the tool that helps loosen the ropes.
AI supports:
- Goals by clarifying intention without pressure
- Actions by sequencing steps realistically
- Means by organising information without overwhelm
- Execution by sustaining momentum between human touchpoints
The lift still comes from the client.
The direction still comes from values and judgement.
The planner still holds the human relationship.
AI simply helps the balloon leave the ground.
A different question for planners to ask
Instead of asking:
“How do I get clients over the line?”
A better question may be:
“What tethers can I help them gently release?”
When we shift from persuasion to untethering,
from pressure to permission,
from control to capability,
movement tends to follow — naturally.
That is the promise of Total Wealth Planning in the age of AI:
not faster selling,
but freer starting.
A gentle invitation for advisers
If this resonates — if you recognise clients who want to move but feel quietly tethered — you may want to explore how the AI GAME Plan is being used within the Academy of Life Planning.
Not as a replacement for professional judgement.
Not as a shortcut around trust or relationship.
But as a way of giving clients breathing space to begin — without pressure, overload, or the clock running.
The AI GAME Plan allows clients to:
- explore goals and concerns safely, at their own pace
- break complexity into manageable first steps
- arrive at conversations clearer, calmer, and more grounded
And it allows advisers to:
- focus human time where it matters most
- support more people without diluting care
- practise planning that is genuinely human-capital-first
If you’re curious, you’re welcome to explore the AI GAME Plan through the Academy — quietly, practically, and without obligation.
Sometimes, the most powerful shift isn’t pushing harder.
It’s simply helping something lift that was already ready to fly.
Academy of Life Planning 