Let's be honest: when it comes to neurodiversity, many financial companies treat it like an "add-on" to their diversity checklist. You know, the one they dust off once a year for an audit or a PR campaign. But here's the kicker—neurodivergent individuals aren’t just a line item; they’re an untapped economic force, especially when it … Continue reading Neurodiversity in the Workplace: The Entrepreneurial Opportunity Financial Companies Are Missing
Author: Steve Conley
Steve Conley brings over four decades of innovation and expertise to the forefront of financial planning. As the founder and driving force behind the Academy of Life Planning and HapNav Ltd, Steve has been a pivotal figure in transforming financial services to be more democratic and decentralised. His role as a Game Plan Practitioner, Coach, Mentor, Speaker, and Author of "Your Money or Your Life: Unmask the Highway Robbers - Enjoy Wealth in Every Area of Your Life" underlines his comprehensive approach to financial education.
The Academy of Life Planning, hailed as the "Most Pioneering Financial Planner Network," reflects Steve's commitment to fostering transparency, integrity, and accessibility. This institution serves as a testament to his dedication to enhancing the financial planning landscape.
Under Steve's innovative leadership, HapNav Ltd has launched groundbreaking advancements, including the first end-user financial planning app integrated with open banking. This app guides users towards achieving 'Kokoro'—a life rich in financial, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual abundance.
Recently, Steve introduced "Planning My Life" and "Financial Life Coach"—services that extend his ethos into practical, impactful tools for financial autonomy. "Planning My Life" offers an affordable subscription model, giving members access to an AI Life Planner, comprehensive resources, and expert insights. These initiatives epitomise Steve’s commitment to empowering individuals, nurturing community growth, and contributing significantly to global efforts to eradicate poverty.
Steve's journey is more than a career; it's a steadfast crusade to revolutionise financial education and planning, creating a world where financial wellbeing is not just attainable, but enriches every aspect of our lives. Contact steve.conley@aolp.co.uk.
CII and PFS: The New Big Brother of Financial Services?
Ah, the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Personal Finance Society (PFS), those stalwart guardians of ethics and professionalism in the financial services world, have once again donned their robes of moral authority. This time, they’ve issued a stern warning: play nice online or risk having your professional credentials yanked faster than you can say … Continue reading CII and PFS: The New Big Brother of Financial Services?
The Longevity Coach: Widow’s Stories Case Studies
Source: ‘I’m 79 and have no intention of retiring – I want to feel useful’ For many widows, heading back to work can unlock fresh purpose and a zest for life. The Telegraph. Case Study 1: Yvonne Kirchgaesser – Finding Purpose Through Work and Community Engagement Background: Yvonne Kirchgaesser, a soon-to-be 80-year-old resident of the … Continue reading The Longevity Coach: Widow’s Stories Case Studies
Never Trust a Stranger Who Asks About Your Life Savings: A Call to Action
In today's increasingly complex financial landscape, it’s critical to remain vigilant. The recent findings from the LV= Wealth and Wellbeing Research Programme reveal a disturbing trend: around one in seven UK adults have been targeted by pension scammers over the past year. That's 7.3 million people facing the risk of losing their hard-earned life savings … Continue reading Never Trust a Stranger Who Asks About Your Life Savings: A Call to Action
Keep Your Financial Asset Strategies Boring and Your Human Capital Strategies Exciting
In a world where financial markets are often chaotic, and the promise of quick gains is dangled in front of eager investors, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement. However, when it comes to your financial assets, the most effective strategy is often the least thrilling: keep it boring. On the other hand, … Continue reading Keep Your Financial Asset Strategies Boring and Your Human Capital Strategies Exciting
Squashing Simplified Advice: A Call for Real Consumer Empowerment
The financial industry, along with its regulators, has once again played a familiar game of mislabeling. The latest move involves branding what is essentially a product sale as "advice," a tactic that deliberately blurs the lines between genuine guidance and the promotion of regulated investments. This isn't just a matter of semantics; it’s a strategy … Continue reading Squashing Simplified Advice: A Call for Real Consumer Empowerment
The Dark Side of Financial Trust: A Parallel Between St James’s Place Practices and Coercive Manipulation
In the world of financial services, trust is the cornerstone of client-adviser relationships. However, recent revelations about practices at St James's Place (SJP) bring to light a disturbing parallel between financial exploitation and more insidious forms of coercive manipulation seen in other contexts, such as grooming gangs. While the comparison may seem stark, the underlying … Continue reading The Dark Side of Financial Trust: A Parallel Between St James’s Place Practices and Coercive Manipulation
The True Essence of a Life Plan: A Journey from False Self to True Self
A Life Plan is not merely a roadmap for achieving goals or transitioning from who you are today to who you wish to become tomorrow. Instead, it is a profound journey from the false self—the persona shaped by external expectations and societal norms—to the true self, the essence of who you authentically are. This journey … Continue reading The True Essence of a Life Plan: A Journey from False Self to True Self
The Real Solution to the Pension Crisis: Investing in Human Capital
As the UK faces an aging population with increasingly inadequate pension pots, it's clear that we need a mature and innovative conversation about addressing this looming crisis. Unfortunately, the so-called "experts" in positions of power often present unworkable solutions driven by conflicts of interest, ignoring obvious and sustainable strategies. The time has come to challenge … Continue reading The Real Solution to the Pension Crisis: Investing in Human Capital
Consumer Duty and the Great British Financial Farce
Ah, the financial services sector in the UK—a true marvel of modern capitalism. Despite the much-touted Consumer Duty regulation, which supposedly heralds a new era of customer-centric banking, most Brits would argue it's more of the same old circus, just with a shinier tent. According to a recent study by Edelman Smithfield, awareness of the … Continue reading Consumer Duty and the Great British Financial Farce
Academy of Life Planning 