Most people assume that if they’re in a dispute with a large institution — a bank, insurer, employer, pension provider — they have only two options:
- Hire a solicitor they can’t afford
- Give up and comply
There is a third path.
And it doesn’t involve litigation.
At the Academy of Life Planning, we see this every week.
People aren’t looking to “fight”.
They’re looking to be heard, stay steady, and not be bullied into bad decisions.
What actually helps in commercial disputes
In practice, most disputes don’t turn on obscure law.
They turn on:
- Clarity of facts
- Quality of documentation
- Consistency of correspondence
- Emotional regulation under pressure
- Knowing what matters — and what doesn’t
These are skills, not legal rights.
And skills can be learned.
Commercial dispute resolution is not legal advice
This matters.
What we teach — whether through Get SAFE, Adviser Bridge, or Academy programmes — is commercial dispute resolution training.
That means:
- Organising evidence properly
- Mapping timelines
- Analysing correspondence for pressure, misdirection, or omission
- Drafting calm, professional responses
- Avoiding panic-driven mistakes
It is about agency, not advocacy.
The Goliathon method
Through our Get SAFE initiative, we developed a structured approach — now known as Goliathon — to help individuals facing powerful institutions without becoming overwhelmed.
It uses:
- Notion (for structure and evidence)
- ChatGPT (for analysis and drafting)
- Human coaching (for steadiness and perspective)
Goliathon is available:
- Free to those in genuine need
- £29 for others via Get SAFE
But the method itself is far more widely applicable.
Why this matters for Academy planners
Many Academy members already support clients who are:
- Trapped in Business Support Packages
- Facing aggressive compliance or exit terms
- In dispute with providers, employers, or institutions
- Emotionally destabilised by power imbalance
Until now, that support has often been informal.
We believe it deserves to be named, trained, and valued.
A new training pathway for planners
We are opening a Commercial Dispute Resolution group training for Academy members who want to:
- Support clients ethically through disputes
- Offer paid coaching without legal or regulatory overreach
- Stand clearly on the side of the bullied — without becoming adversarial
- Add a new income stream using skills they already possess
This is not a new curriculum.
It’s the same framework already in use — shared openly.
If there is sufficient interest, we will run a small cohort.
This is about dignity
At heart, this work is simple.
It’s about helping people:
- Stay upright under pressure
- Think clearly when systems try to rush them
- Respond with structure instead of fear
That’s life planning.
And it’s long overdue.
“If you’re an Academy member and interested in group training, reply ‘Goliathon Cohort’.”
E-mail me, Steve Conley, at steve.conley@aolp.co.uk.
About the Academy of Life Planning – Adviser Bridge
Adviser Bridge supports financial advisers and planners who feel trapped inside regulated or commercial structures. We provide calm, pre-legal coaching and commercial dispute resolution training using Notion and AI tools, helping advisers organise evidence, analyse correspondence, reduce pressure, and make informed exit or resolution decisions — without panic, litigation, or regulatory overreach. Find out more.
About Get SAFE – Goliathon
Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation) exists to restore agency to individuals facing powerful institutions they cannot afford to challenge through legal routes. The Goliathon training equips people with practical skills to structure evidence, understand what matters, communicate professionally, and stay steady under pressure. Services are free to those in genuine need, or low-cost for others, with a focus on dignity, empowerment, and informed next steps — not confrontation or legal advice. Find out more.
Academy of Life Planning 