When it comes to financial well-being, there are two distinct but equally important approaches: financial coaching and financial planning. Both serve different needs, focus on different aspects of life, and require different mindsets from professionals who choose to offer them. Financial Coaching: Building Stability and Security Financial coaching is about helping people meet their basic … Continue reading Financial Coaching vs. Financial Planning: Which Path Will You Take?
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.
Ethical Investing: You Don’t Need a Product Seller to Guide You
Investing ethically is about aligning your money with your values. It’s an empowering choice, but one that can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. The good news? You don’t need to take product-specific advice from someone whose job is to sell you financial products. Instead, you can work with a financial professional who is truly … Continue reading Ethical Investing: You Don’t Need a Product Seller to Guide You
Discover Your Favourite Future with the Academy’s GAME Plan
At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe that everyone deserves to live a life filled with purpose, security, and significance. That’s why we’ve developed the GAME Plan—a simple, empowering framework to help you chart a values-led, purpose-driven path to a brighter future. Let’s break it down together. G is for Goals Everything starts with … Continue reading Discover Your Favourite Future with the Academy’s GAME Plan
Seeing Through the Illusion: Returning to Oneness
At the highest level of personal growth and awareness, something extraordinary happens: the illusion of separation dissolves, and we awaken to the truth that we were never truly apart from each other, the world, or the Source of life itself. For too long, humanity has been caught in a false story—one of division and isolation. … Continue reading Seeing Through the Illusion: Returning to Oneness
Rethinking the UK’s Growth Agenda: Why Banking Alone Isn’t Enough
The UK Government’s focus on UK capital markets as a driver for economic growth raises important questions. While banking is a cornerstone of the economy, relying heavily on it risks overlooking opportunities in faster-growing, innovation-driven sectors. Here's what bankers are sharing with the government, shaping the direction of their "growth agenda": Losing our place as … Continue reading Rethinking the UK’s Growth Agenda: Why Banking Alone Isn’t Enough
5 Lessons from Businesses to Boost Your Personal Development
Businesses thrive when they focus on their strengths, adapt to change, and pursue opportunities with confidence. These same principles can transform your personal development and help you create a more fulfilling life. Let’s explore five key lessons from successful businesses that you can apply to your journey: 1️⃣ Identify Your Human Capital and Leverage It … Continue reading 5 Lessons from Businesses to Boost Your Personal Development
Carl Jung’s Chakra Theory Meets Richard Barrett’s Seven Stages of Psychological Development
By Steve Conley | March 14, 2024 Have you ever wondered how ancient spiritual wisdom connects to modern psychological insights? Carl Jung’s interpretation of the chakra energy system and Kundalini energy bridges this very gap, combining Eastern spirituality with Western psychology. Similarly, Richard Barrett’s seven stages of human psychological development offer a profound understanding of … Continue reading Carl Jung’s Chakra Theory Meets Richard Barrett’s Seven Stages of Psychological Development
Lessons We Can Learn from Business Coaches for Solopreneurs: Know Your “Who” and “Why” When Planning Your Financial Future
Running your own business is both exciting and demanding. As a solopreneur, you wear many hats, juggling everything from strategy to execution. But amid the hustle, have you taken the time to dig deep and ask yourself: Who am I? Why am I doing this? These aren’t just abstract questions; they’re foundational to your success, … Continue reading Lessons We Can Learn from Business Coaches for Solopreneurs: Know Your “Who” and “Why” When Planning Your Financial Future
The Paradigm Shift in Financial Planning: Why It Matters
The financial planning industry is undergoing a profound transformation. For decades, the dominant model has been centred around product intermediation, where financial planners act as sellers, earning commissions or fees on the products they sell. But times are changing. We are now stepping into a new paradigm — one that prioritises holistic financial planning, where … Continue reading The Paradigm Shift in Financial Planning: Why It Matters
The Journey of Human Psychological Development: From Ego to Soul
Life is a journey of growth, discovery, and transformation. At its heart, it’s a psychological and spiritual evolution that we all navigate in our own way and time. Along this path, we encounter phases where we’re shaped by our needs, our communities, and our growing awareness of who we truly are. But breaking free from … Continue reading The Journey of Human Psychological Development: From Ego to Soul
Academy of Life Planning 