Introduction In the ever-evolving landscape of the global economy, the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector remains a cornerstone, underpinning economic activities and facilitating growth across industries and communities. As financial systems grow increasingly complex, the demand for more accessible, efficient, and personalised services escalates. This need is catalysing a pivotal transformation within the … Continue reading How AI is Transforming the BFSI Sector: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
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.
Reimagining Retirement: Challenging Fear-Based Financial Narratives
A recent Canada Life survey reveals a stark reality: 49% of Brits under the age of 66 anticipate working beyond the State pension age. The reasons are as concerning as they are common: insufficient pensions, rising cost of living fears, and anxiety about outliving their savings. Moreover, there's a palpable worry about the health impacts … Continue reading Reimagining Retirement: Challenging Fear-Based Financial Narratives
Rethinking Retirement: A Call for Innovation Over Increased Contributions
In light of recent proposals by financial institutions like Phoenix Group, which suggest raising pension contributions from 8% to 12%, it is imperative to assess the broader implications of such measures, especially amidst a gripping cost-of-living crisis. While ostensibly aimed at securing a stable financial future for retirees, these calls for increased contributions risk deepening … Continue reading Rethinking Retirement: A Call for Innovation Over Increased Contributions
Happy Financial Advisers: Optimal Asset Strategies for Retiring From Regulated
Let me show you the tools of Holistic Financial Planning and apply them to a Financial Intermediary as a client. The Master Framework is called the GAME Plan; Goals and Actions Means Execution. There are planning frameworks within the framework. For simplicity, we joined the conversation at M for Means. Here, we have the adviser's … Continue reading Happy Financial Advisers: Optimal Asset Strategies for Retiring From Regulated
Balancing Act: The FCA’s Proposed Public Naming Policy and Its Impact on Firms and Consumers
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK finds itself at a crossroads, wrestling with the delicate balance of transparency and confidentiality. Recently, the FCA proposed changes to its current policy, which would involve publicly naming firms and individuals at the very start of an enforcement investigation. This bold step aims to enhance market integrity … Continue reading Balancing Act: The FCA’s Proposed Public Naming Policy and Its Impact on Firms and Consumers
Holistic Financial Planning: The New Paradigm in Personal Wealth Management
In a rapidly changing financial landscape, the traditional methods of planning are being overtaken by a more comprehensive approach known as holistic financial planning. Unlike conventional strategies that primarily focus on financial assets, holistic planning considers the entire spectrum of an individual's tangible and intangible assets. It's a philosophy that integrates the facets of mind, … Continue reading Holistic Financial Planning: The New Paradigm in Personal Wealth Management
Redefining Retirement: Embracing a Holistic Approach to Financial Resilience
Shifting the Focus: From Enriching Bankers to Fostering Sustainable Livelihoods for All In recent discussions within the financial sector, see FT Adviser 'Retirement needs to be considered in the wider picture of financial resilience', a prevalent narrative pushed by many bankers and supported implicitly by governmental actions is the utilisation of pension funds to bolster … Continue reading Redefining Retirement: Embracing a Holistic Approach to Financial Resilience
Unmasking the Highway Robbers: New Strategies at Companies House to Safeguard Your Wealth
Introducing ECCTA In an era where financial security is paramount, the Academy of Life Planning emphasises not just the importance of wealth in every area of life but also the necessity of vigilance against the insidious threat of economic crime. The newly implemented Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduces robust measures aimed … Continue reading Unmasking the Highway Robbers: New Strategies at Companies House to Safeguard Your Wealth
Rebirth at Sixty: The Cultural Significance of Kanreki (還暦) in Japanese Tradition
Kanreki is a traditional Japanese celebration that marks a person's 60th birthday. This significant milestone is based on the ancient East Asian sexagenary cycle, which completes a full cycle every 60 years, meaning that a person who reaches the age of 60 has completed one full cycle of the zodiac calendar. The term "Kanreki" literally … Continue reading Rebirth at Sixty: The Cultural Significance of Kanreki (還暦) in Japanese Tradition
Filling the Support Gap in Financial Services: An Affordable Path for Everyone
In the financial advisory sector, there's a common narrative that 95% of the UK population does not receive financial advice annually, primarily due to limited wealth and high adviser thresholds. This phenomenon is often labelled as "the advice gap." I propose a different perspective: this isn't an advice gap; it's a "support gap." Redefining the … Continue reading Filling the Support Gap in Financial Services: An Affordable Path for Everyone
Academy of Life Planning 