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.

Reframing Wealth: What Human Capital Teaches Us About Growth and Equality

In the pursuit of prosperity, policymakers have long debated the balance between growth and fairness. Yet a seminal study by Jean-Marie Viaene and Itzhak Zilcha — “Human Capital Formation, Income Inequality and Growth” (CESifo, 2001) — offers a powerful reminder: the true engine of both progress and equality is education, not capital. Their model, built … Continue reading Reframing Wealth: What Human Capital Teaches Us About Growth and Equality →

💡 Budget Watch: What Rachel Reeves’ 100-Measure Budget Could Mean for You

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is reportedly weighing over a hundred separate tax and spending measures as she prepares the 2025 Budget— the next UK Budget is confirmed for Wednesday 26 November 2025. With the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warning of slower growth and tighter fiscal space, the government faces difficult choices about who pays, … Continue reading 💡 Budget Watch: What Rachel Reeves’ 100-Measure Budget Could Mean for You →

The Gospel of Thomas on Rich and Poor: Reclaiming True Wealth

“I marvel at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty.”— Gospel of Thomas, Saying 29 The Gospel of Thomas speaks of wealth and poverty not as economic conditions, but as states of being. In its wisdom, the poor are not deprived, and the rich are not secure. Rather, the poor are … Continue reading The Gospel of Thomas on Rich and Poor: Reclaiming True Wealth →

🔥 The Lamplighters — When the Inner Light Turns On

“There is light within a man of light,and it lights up the whole world.If he does not shine,he is in darkness.”— Gospel of Thomas 24 The Lost Saying of Illumination Among the early Christian writings discovered at Nag Hammadi in 1945, the Gospel of Thomas stands apart.It contains 114 short sayings of Jesus — not … Continue reading 🔥 The Lamplighters — When the Inner Light Turns On →

💣 The Leverage Trap: Why Advice Consolidation Is the Next Financial Stability Risk

Replacing Extraction with Empowerment — Restoring Truth, Trust & Freedom in FinanceBy Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP) & Get SAFE The Financial Conduct Authority has just sounded another quiet alarm. In a review published on 31 October 2025, the FCA warned that mounting debt, weak governance, and conflicted incentives within … Continue reading 💣 The Leverage Trap: Why Advice Consolidation Is the Next Financial Stability Risk →

💫 How Much Can a Holistic Wealth Planner Earn Per Month?

Beyond money, a Holistic Wealth Planner earns meaning — yet the financial rewards can be life-changing too. In a world where traditional advisers chase assets and commissions, Holistic Wealth Planners (HWPs) are building livelihoods rooted in purpose, transparency, and genuine impact. They don’t sell products; they empower people. They’re not brokers of wealth — they’re … Continue reading 💫 How Much Can a Holistic Wealth Planner Earn Per Month? →

🌍 From Fragile Peace to Inner Harmony: How the GAME Plan Restores the World’s Emotional Health

By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning The world stands on an emotional precipice.According to Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health report (2025), nearly four in ten adults worldwide felt worry or stress for much of the previous day. Emotional pain is now as universal as hunger once was. These aren’t isolated feelings—they are … Continue reading 🌍 From Fragile Peace to Inner Harmony: How the GAME Plan Restores the World’s Emotional Health →

Retirement Decumulation: What to Consider When You’re Managing Your Own Finances

Understanding your options before you start drawing down your wealth Retirement isn’t just the end of work — it’s the beginning of a new financial rhythm.For those managing their own finances, the decumulation stage can be both liberating and daunting. You’ve built up your savings over decades — now the challenge is to turn that … Continue reading Retirement Decumulation: What to Consider When You’re Managing Your Own Finances →

Human Capital Inequality and Life Expectancy: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners

“The true wealth of a nation lies not in its stock markets or its banks, but in the health, knowledge, and purpose of its people.” A 2008 study by Amparo Castelló-Climent and Rafael Doménech in The Economic Journal offers profound insights that every Holistic Wealth Planner should understand. Beneath its formal econometric modelling lies a … Continue reading Human Capital Inequality and Life Expectancy: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners →