Financial Life Planning Were you once a financial planner? Do you enjoy working with people, but not the regulation? Do you feel you have a few more years left in you? Could you do with the extra money? If yes, setting up as a Non-Intermediating Financial Planner could be for you. When you remove products … Continue reading Ten Things You Need To Know To Be A Non-Intermediating Financial Planner
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.
A New Movement In Financial Planning
The Happiness Navigator - HapNav Our mission at the Academy of Life Planning is to make you happier, healthier, and better equipped to face the future – whatever it holds. So, I’m excited to announce that The Happiness Navigator (or HapNav, as we call it) is live. HapNav is a financial planning tool for DIY … Continue reading A New Movement In Financial Planning
FCA Calls Time on Unfair Adviser Charges
Last week saw the publication of the FCA Consultation Paper CP21/13 "A New Consumer Duty", calling time on unfair adviser charges. CP21/13: A new Consumer Duty | FCA. If you are a financial adviser, how might this impact you and what steps do you need to take next to deal with the challenges ahead? The … Continue reading FCA Calls Time on Unfair Adviser Charges
As Big As The NHS! Cost To Brits Of Scams!!
Threatening messages from a scammer. Here are the kind of text messages you might expect when you tackle a scammer. Tackle them anyway. “Fraud is now costing the UK economy as much as the entire NHS. The annual figure for fraud given by the National Crime Agency is over £190Bn based on figures from three … Continue reading As Big As The NHS! Cost To Brits Of Scams!!
Different Perspectives on CPD for Life Planners
This exchange of emails between AoLP and KI was made at the request of KI. Dear George, I hope you do not mind me addressing you directly; given our close work history. I offer an apology for failing to read the small print on KI training as an olive branch. I simply wanted our disagreement … Continue reading Different Perspectives on CPD for Life Planners
Registered Life Planners to lose their status and listing
I was shocked recently to discover that I had been demoted on the Kinder Institute (KI) website of listed life planners. Not only am I no longer listed as a Master Life Planner. I have been listed as though I am inactive. I can assure you I am very much active. I have been life … Continue reading Registered Life Planners to lose their status and listing
My Review of “Life Centered Financial Planning”, by Mitch Anthony and Paul Armson
Life Centered Planning by Mitch & Paul Life-Centred Financial Planning (LCFP) and Non-Intermediating Financial Planning (NIFP): A Better Way to Plan Life-Centred Financial Planning is a brilliant book for any financial planner who prioritises clients over commissions. I couldn’t put it down—it’s an essential read for planners seeking resilience and readiness in an evolving world. … Continue reading My Review of “Life Centered Financial Planning”, by Mitch Anthony and Paul Armson
HAPNAV – The Happiness Navigator!
HapNav - The Happiness Navigator - http://www.hapnav.com We want to put people in control of their finances. We have the technology and a start-up pursuing that goal. HapNav, the Happiness Navigator. Can we succeed? We want to re-make the wealth cyberspace for people. We want to fix some of the problems that have handicapped the … Continue reading HAPNAV – The Happiness Navigator!
Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.
“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.”― Rumi Set up your own Non-Intermediating Financial Planning business. In a few months from now … Your established, successful, standalone business. 100% owned by you. Your very own income producing asset. Turnover £50k, £100k, £150k … Continue reading Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.
Is commoditisation of investment returns the future?
Commoditisation is viewed by some financial advice firms as a threat, but it should be seen as an opportunity, particularly with the unbundling of advice and distribution and the comfort consumers have found with “Netflix-style” digital delivery of advisory services in a post-covid economy. There is much talk about the growing issue, or problem, of … Continue reading Is commoditisation of investment returns the future?
