For everyone tired of being told to “wait their turn,” for those fed up with being sold to, not supported—this is your call to action. This is the Academy of Life Planning. Not a firm. A movement. Not selling products. Empowering people. Not chasing profits. Changing lives. Welcome to the vanguard of financial transformation. A … Continue reading Why Choose the Academy of Life Planning?
Author: Steve Conley
Steve Conley is the founder of the Academy of Life Planning, a movement dedicated to restoring human agency in financial planning and helping people navigate life's decisions with greater confidence, capability and independence.
With over 40 years' experience in financial services, Steve has held senior leadership roles with HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Royal London. A Chartered Financial Planner and Chartered Insurer, he combines deep industry expertise with a passion for challenging systems that leave people unnecessarily dependent on experts.
Steve believes the future of financial planning is not about replacing advisers with artificial intelligence, but using AI to strengthen people's ability to understand, question and make informed decisions for themselves. This philosophy underpins Academy OS, a growing ecosystem of AI-powered tools designed to help individuals, families and planners build capability rather than dependency.
Through the Academy of Life Planning, Steve works with financial planners, organisations and individuals who share a vision of a more transparent, ethical and human-centred approach to planning. His work spans education, research, technology, speaking and professional development, with a focus on creating practical solutions that improve financial capability and restore confidence in decision-making.
Steve is also the creator of the Total Wealth Planner approach, which recognises that a fulfilling life depends on far more than money alone. By integrating financial, personal, social and purpose-driven wellbeing, he helps people pursue what he calls "enough"—a life of balance, resilience and meaning.
As a speaker, mentor and author of *Your Money or Your Life: Unmask the Highway Robbers*, Steve continues to challenge conventional thinking about financial planning, arguing that the profession's greatest opportunity is to move beyond advice alone and become a catalyst for greater human agency.
To learn more or connect with Steve, visit the Academy of Life Planning or email steve@academyoflifeplanning.com.
Your Money or Your Life: When the Watchdog Becomes the Enabler
What happens when the last place left to turn… turns its back on you? In March 2018, Channel 4’s Dispatches aired an undercover investigation that rocked what little public confidence remained in the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The revelations were devastating: Cases decided without reading the files. Staff lacking even basic financial training making binding … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When the Watchdog Becomes the Enabler
Deregulation—Red Tape or Red Warning?
Your Money or Your Life? When trust is already broken, should we really be handing out scissors to cut the safety net? Today, a meeting is taking place behind closed doors at Downing Street—Chancellor Rachel Reeves and eight of the UK’s top regulators have gathered to “cut red tape” in a bid to kickstart growth. … Continue reading Deregulation—Red Tape or Red Warning?
Your Money or Your Life: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Silenced
In memory of Ian Davis, Dunshalt, Fife They stole his money.They tried to steal his voice.But even in death, Ian Davis speaks. This is not a comfortable story.It is not one with a happy ending.It is one of those stories where the villain wears a regulator’s badge and the robber walks free. Ian Davis was … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Silenced
Your Money or Your Life: Unmasking the Highway Robbers
In memory of Ian Davis—and for everyone they tried to break. They say time heals all wounds. But what about wounds that were never meant to heal—because justice was never served? Ian Davis was a victim of financial crime. A man robbed not only of money, but of hope, dignity, and ultimately, his life. Ian … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: Unmasking the Highway Robbers
Become a Holistic Wealth Planning Business: A Future-Ready Encore Career for Financial Professionals
If you’re a financial professional feeling the weight of regulatory pressure, or a corporate adviser ready for a more values-aligned encore career, you’re not alone. Many experienced professionals in finance, particularly those nearing retirement or recovering from burnout, are rethinking their path forward. They’re asking: “Is there a way to use my skills without compromising … Continue reading Become a Holistic Wealth Planning Business: A Future-Ready Encore Career for Financial Professionals
Parallel Healing: Reclaiming Your Future While Justice Remains Elusive
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning "To get over the past, you first have to accept that the past is over… It can hurt you no more."– from a Buddhist-inspired quote For many impacted by systemic injustices—like the sub-postmasters in the Horizon scandal—the past is not just a memory; it’s a weight. A wound. … Continue reading Parallel Healing: Reclaiming Your Future While Justice Remains Elusive
The Great Tax Injustice: Why Ordinary Citizens Pay While Corporations Play
While UK governments talk tough on tightening public finances, their actions tell a different story. In an era of crumbling infrastructure, spiralling inequality, and unprecedented pressure on public services, it is not the wealthiest who are shouldering the burden—but ordinary citizens. From austerity to stealth taxes, successive governments have steadily shifted the financial weight onto … Continue reading The Great Tax Injustice: Why Ordinary Citizens Pay While Corporations Play
Justice Comes at a Price – But Is It Too High?
What victims need to know before signing up with litigation funders You’ve been wronged. You’ve got a strong case. A judge even agrees it deserves to be heard. But here’s the kicker—you can’t go forward without legal representation, and you simply can’t afford it. Sound familiar? This is the gut-wrenching reality facing thousands of victims … Continue reading Justice Comes at a Price – But Is It Too High?
💠 The Rebuild & Thrive Legacy: Why It’s Time to Stop Chasing Justice—and Start Reclaiming Your Life
You did everything right.You followed the rules, trusted the process, filed the paperwork, waited for justice. But the system didn’t just fail you—it erased you. Ask any victim of financial crime who’s dared to fight back. You’ll hear the same story:Endless letters. Legal dead-ends. MPs who nod politely and disappear. Regulators who claim “it’s not … Continue reading 💠 The Rebuild & Thrive Legacy: Why It’s Time to Stop Chasing Justice—and Start Reclaiming Your Life
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