Just the other day, someone commented on social media, "Well, financial planning certainly hasn't seen a great take-up thus far, has it!" – Financial advice tech consultant. This sparked a thought. From a marketing perspective, businesses often navigate between two different types of strategies: Red Ocean and Blue Ocean. These terms paint a vivid picture … Continue reading Choosing a Red or Blue Ocean Strategy in Financial Services
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.
Become a Holistic Financial Planner and Thrive Beyond Traditional Financial Advice
Many traditional financial planners find themselves at a crossroads. The weight of heavy regulation, the stress of compliance, professional indemnity insurance costs, and the ever-present pressure to sell financial products can take a toll. For many, it’s no longer just about offering the best advice, but navigating a system that demands more paperwork, more insurance, … Continue reading Become a Holistic Financial Planner and Thrive Beyond Traditional Financial Advice
A New Path for Financial Planners: The Professional Body We Deserve
As the financial advice industry continues to unravel, it’s becoming increasingly clear that something has to change. The recent upheaval with the CII appointing its executives to the PFS board is just the latest in a series of events that expose the underlying control of the financial industry over what should be independent professional bodies. … Continue reading A New Path for Financial Planners: The Professional Body We Deserve
Retirement Planning for Women: Why Both Financial and Human Capital Matter
Retirement planning isn’t just about building a robust financial nest egg. It’s about preparing for a fulfilling, purposeful life after work—a life that involves both financial capital and human capital. For women, in particular, this broader approach is vital, as they often face greater challenges in securing financial independence for retirement. Understanding these two sides … Continue reading Retirement Planning for Women: Why Both Financial and Human Capital Matter
The Wealth of Well-Being: How Financial and Life Satisfaction Intersect
In today’s fast-paced world, achieving financial well-being is often seen as the ultimate goal. But is financial success alone enough for a fulfilling life? In A Wealth of Well-Being: A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Finance, Professor Meir Statman delves into the heart of this question. He introduces a refreshing perspective on how financial decisions are … Continue reading The Wealth of Well-Being: How Financial and Life Satisfaction Intersect
The Great Adviser Exodus: Embracing a Values-Based Future in Financial Planning
The financial advice industry is seeing more professionals leaving than joining. And it’s not hard to see why. Financial advice, tied so closely to product sales, has increasingly become a sector dominated by sales targets and covering backs, rather than client care. This doesn’t align with what many of today’s new entrants to the workforce … Continue reading The Great Adviser Exodus: Embracing a Values-Based Future in Financial Planning
Are Pensions the Best Route to Planning a Successful Retirement?
When it comes to retirement planning, pensions have long been viewed as a cornerstone. But are they really the most secure or efficient route? A worrying statistic reveals that 1 in 5 people have lost track of at least one pension pot. That raises questions: are pensions the best way to secure a financially stable … Continue reading Are Pensions the Best Route to Planning a Successful Retirement?
Balancing Light and Shadow: How the Kabbalah Tree of Life and Tree of Death Relate to the GAME Plan for Personal and Financial Growth
The Relationship Between the Kabbalah Tree of Life Sephiroth and the GAME Plan At first glance, the Kabbalah Tree of Life and the GAME Plan may seem like concepts from different worlds. The Kabbalah Tree of Life, with its ancient Sephiroth, represents a mystical map of spiritual growth and human experience, while the GAME Plan … Continue reading Balancing Light and Shadow: How the Kabbalah Tree of Life and Tree of Death Relate to the GAME Plan for Personal and Financial Growth
Unlocking Ancient Wisdom for Modern Success: How the Kybalion and the GAME Plan Empower Your Life and Finances
The Hermetic Principles of the Kybalion are a set of seven philosophical teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, an ancient figure linked to wisdom in both Egyptian and Greek traditions. These principles outline fundamental truths about the universe, life, and human nature. The Kybalion distils these into seven key concepts, which are: The Principle of Mentalism: … Continue reading Unlocking Ancient Wisdom for Modern Success: How the Kybalion and the GAME Plan Empower Your Life and Finances
The GAME Plan: The Answer to Today’s Most Pressing Problems, Challenges, and Goals
In a world filled with complexity and uncertainty, people are constantly seeking solutions—whether for personal challenges, societal issues, or global goals. What if there was a singular framework that could address them all? The Academy of Life Planning’s GAME Plan offers just that. It is a comprehensive, science-backed, and empirically proven methodology that provides a … Continue reading The GAME Plan: The Answer to Today’s Most Pressing Problems, Challenges, and Goals
Academy of Life Planning 