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.

Lessons Not Learned: The Financial Services Industry Repeats Past Mistakes

Introduction The UK financial services industry is making the same mistakes all over again. This time, it’s with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and its decision to introduce a £250 fee for claims management companies (CMCs) referring cases. While this move is supposed to deter frivolous complaints, it doesn’t go far enough—and risks shutting out … Continue reading Lessons Not Learned: The Financial Services Industry Repeats Past Mistakes →

Think You Can Outsmart the Market? Why Timing Stocks – and Crypto – Rarely Works

Is timing the market a fool’s errand? Many investors dream of selling at the top and buying at the bottom. The reality: even professional fund managers with fancy models often can’t pull it off. For everyday investors, trying to time the stock market is like playing darts blindfolded – and when it comes to crypto, … Continue reading Think You Can Outsmart the Market? Why Timing Stocks – and Crypto – Rarely Works →

£10,000 for a Coffee and Cake? The FCA’s Advice Review is a Farce

So, it turns out that grabbing a coffee and a slice of chocolate cake counts as an "advice review"—at least according to the FCA’s interim executive director of markets, Simon Walls. Yes, you read that right. That £10,000 ongoing adviser charge? As long as an adviser could show that some kind of review took place—no … Continue reading £10,000 for a Coffee and Cake? The FCA’s Advice Review is a Farce →

The Financial Planning Crisis: Why We Need a Clear Wall Between Advice and Products

Trust in financial planning is at an all-time low. Scandals like the recent £2m fraud case involving Nexus IFA only deepen the public’s cynicism. But let’s be honest—this isn’t a one-off. It’s a symptom of a broken system that blurs the lines between advice and sales, leaving consumers vulnerable. The solution? A financial planning profession … Continue reading The Financial Planning Crisis: Why We Need a Clear Wall Between Advice and Products →

Holistic Wealth Planning: The Future of Financial Advice Beyond Products

Imagine sitting down with a city banker—someone on a six-figure salary, comfortably supplemented by annual bonuses. The conversation starts predictably: pension contributions, stock and fund investments, perhaps a foray into Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) or Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs). Conventional financial planning might recommend maximising these strategies for tax efficiency and long-term growth. But what … Continue reading Holistic Wealth Planning: The Future of Financial Advice Beyond Products →

The End of Free Financial Justice? How New Fees Could Undermine Consumer Protection at the Financial Ombudsman Service

Fairness Analysis: The Introduction of Fees for Complainants Seeking Legal Representation at the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) Introduction The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) was founded on the principle that consumers should have free and accessible redress when financial firms treat them unfairly. Historically, its funding model ensured that complainants bore no cost for lodging disputes, … Continue reading The End of Free Financial Justice? How New Fees Could Undermine Consumer Protection at the Financial Ombudsman Service →

The Death Knell for Asset-Based Adviser Charges: Why Fixed Fees Are the Future

The financial advice industry stands at a critical juncture. The UK government’s decision to bring inherited pensions within the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT) is not just a tax change; it marks the demise of asset-based adviser charges. With this shift, advisers must adapt—or risk obsolescence. The only sustainable way forward? Fixed-fee advice that prioritises … Continue reading The Death Knell for Asset-Based Adviser Charges: Why Fixed Fees Are the Future →

Solving the UK’s NEET Crisis with the GAME Plan and M-POWER

The UK is facing a crisis. Almost one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET)—the highest figure in over a decade. Government responses focus on tightening benefits and enforcing rigid job mandates, but this is the wrong approach. NEETs don’t need a stick—they need a carrot of opportunity. The truth is, … Continue reading Solving the UK’s NEET Crisis with the GAME Plan and M-POWER →

The Silent Epidemic: Financial Mis-Selling and the Stigmatisation of Victims

For decades, victims of financial mis-selling by FCA-regulated advisers have been ignored, dismissed, and even vilified. Instead of receiving the justice they deserve, they are treated as an embarrassment to the system—ostracised, gaslighted, and accused of tarnishing the financial services industry. This is not just an isolated issue; it is an epidemic and a national … Continue reading The Silent Epidemic: Financial Mis-Selling and the Stigmatisation of Victims →