Is "targeted support" genuinely the answer to financial exclusion—or is it just another clever way to sell products without proper safeguards? St James's Place (SJP) recently argued that the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposed "targeted support" model is beneficial. Beneficial, yes—but for whom exactly? Let's cut through the noise. The Myth of the Advice Sector … Continue reading Selling Without Advice: Who Really Wins?
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.
Why Deregulation Isn’t Growth—It’s a Gift to Financial Criminals
Imagine checking your bank balance only to discover it's wiped clean overnight—your savings gone, your financial security shattered, and your emotional stability thrown into chaos. For millions of people worldwide, this nightmare is a reality. Financial crime isn't merely a statistic; it's a devastating personal crisis. Incredibly, almost half of the global population encounters a … Continue reading Why Deregulation Isn’t Growth—It’s a Gift to Financial Criminals
Revealed: How to Turn Financial Fraud into a Windfall – Without Lifting a Finger
Ever felt powerless after being scammed? You're not alone. Fraud victims often face empty pockets, bankruptcy, and exhaustion from fighting battles against criminals who always seem to have deeper resources. But what if you could flip the script and let someone else take up the fight—while you cash the reward cheque? Here's the game-changing idea: … Continue reading Revealed: How to Turn Financial Fraud into a Windfall – Without Lifting a Finger
Outside the Perimeter: What the FCA Isn’t Telling You About Financial Advice
Think the Advice-Guidance debate is just about FCA rules? Think again.There’s another line—less talked about, but just as important—the advice-guidance boundary outside the regulator’s reach. And it affects thousands of planners, coaches, and consumers every day. Let’s unpack what’s really going on. Inside vs Outside the Perimeter: What’s the Difference? In December 2024, the FCA … Continue reading Outside the Perimeter: What the FCA Isn’t Telling You About Financial Advice
Bonuses Before Basics: The SJP Scandal That’s Hiding in Plain Sight
If you ever needed proof that financial performance doesn’t always mean good value for clients, look no further than St. James’s Place (SJP). While their customers face eye-watering charges, poor-performing funds, and a mountain of adviser debt, those at the top are cashing in—big time. A Bonus Bonanza at the Top In 2024, SJP’s new … Continue reading Bonuses Before Basics: The SJP Scandal That’s Hiding in Plain Sight
Is SJP the New Bitcoin? How Adviser Debt Became the Next Bubble
What do SJP advisers and Bitcoin investors have in common? More than you’d think. In the world of crypto, every four years the market goes wild. Bitcoin’s supply is halved, prices spike, and whales (big investors) offload their holdings to unsuspecting krill (small investors) caught up in the hype. The result? Those in the know … Continue reading Is SJP the New Bitcoin? How Adviser Debt Became the Next Bubble
Annuities Are Back—And They Might Just Break the Advice Industry
Big changes are coming to retirement planning—and fast. If you’ve been paying ongoing fees to a financial adviser to manage your pension pot, you might want to take a closer look. Why? Because soaring annuity rates and the Chancellor’s raid on inherited pensions could combine to blow a hole in the traditional "assets under management" … Continue reading Annuities Are Back—And They Might Just Break the Advice Industry
Why the World’s Religions Share One Hidden Truth
What if the ultimate truth behind every major religion wasn’t just similar, but the same? Here’s the idea: at the mystical heart of each tradition, beyond the rules and rituals, is a radical, unifying insight—that everyone is God. It sounds outrageous at first. But stay with me. From Division to Unity: The Journey of Human … Continue reading Why the World’s Religions Share One Hidden Truth
Time to Retire the Narrow View: Why Human Capital Theory Must Evolve
By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning For decades, policymakers and economists have placed immense faith in a reductive idea: that people are paid what they’re worth, and their “worth” can be measured by their skills, education, and productivity. This is the premise of mainstream human capital theory—a theory that has not only … Continue reading Time to Retire the Narrow View: Why Human Capital Theory Must Evolve
Spiritual Well-Being: Beyond the Narrow Religious Lens
Traditionally, spiritual well-being has often been studied through a narrow, non-secular lens, closely tied to organised religion and its associated rituals, beliefs, and communities. In this view, religiosity becomes a proxy for spirituality, often limiting research and practice to denominational practices, attendance, and doctrinal adherence. Yet, this limited frame underestimates the true breadth and transformative … Continue reading Spiritual Well-Being: Beyond the Narrow Religious Lens
Academy of Life Planning 