When Purpose Becomes the Bait There was a time when financial advice was sold as a career of prestige, profit, and professionalism. But not anymore. The new recruitment language of our industry has changed — and it tells us something profound about where society is heading. Last week, St. James’s Place — the UK’s largest … Continue reading 🌍 Meaning Is the New Currency of Recruitment
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.
What Economists Teach Us About Human Capital — Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners
“To reduce unduly expenditure on children may greatly lower their efficiency in after-life.” — Arthur Pigou, The Economics of Welfare (1928) Economists have long recognised that people—not money—are the true source of wealth. A recent academic study by Lucia Rizzica at University College London, Essays on the Economics of Human Capital, offers valuable lessons for … Continue reading What Economists Teach Us About Human Capital — Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners
From Prudence to Profit: How the FCA–PRA ‘Scale-Up Unit’ Marks a Shift from Consumer Protection to Capital Expansion
By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning & Global Ambassador – Transparency Task Force The Announcement On 24 October 2025, the Chancellor unveiled a new “Scale-Up Unit” within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).Its purpose: to “supercharge growth” across the UK’s financial sector by giving fast-growing banks and … Continue reading From Prudence to Profit: How the FCA–PRA ‘Scale-Up Unit’ Marks a Shift from Consumer Protection to Capital Expansion
🌍 The Redemption of the People: From Exploitation to Empowerment
by Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,to set the oppressed free.” — Luke 4:18 1. The Call to … Continue reading 🌍 The Redemption of the People: From Exploitation to Empowerment
🌿 Gnostic Economics: The Economy of Wholeness
by Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning “Set thy heart upon thy work, but never on its reward.” — Bhagavad Gita “I do not serve God for heaven’s sake, but because I love Him.” — Catherine of Siena 1 The Search for Wholeness Modern economics is built on separation.We divide capital from conscience, money … Continue reading 🌿 Gnostic Economics: The Economy of Wholeness
💼 Lessons from the SJP Succession Crisis: Why Holistic Wealth Planners Must Build for Legacy, Not Leverage
As headlines question whether St. James’s Place (SJP) is facing a succession crisis, the financial planning profession finds itself at a crossroads. Behind the numbers — the £847 million adviser debt pile, the slowdown in practice sales, and the growing exodus of partners — lies a deeper warning about what happens when a profession loses … Continue reading 💼 Lessons from the SJP Succession Crisis: Why Holistic Wealth Planners Must Build for Legacy, Not Leverage
🌍 Human Capital, Poverty, and Income Distribution: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners
“The true wealth of a nation lies in the health, education, and moral strength of its people.”— Adapted from Adam Smith When we talk about wealth, we often talk about money. But money is not wealth — it is only the means of exchange for what truly matters: human flourishing.In his empirical study Human Capital, … Continue reading 🌍 Human Capital, Poverty, and Income Distribution: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners
🌿 The Sacred Pursuit of Enough: Redefining Money Through Ministry
For centuries, spiritual seekers and professionals alike have wrestled with a painful paradox:Is the pursuit of money wrong? Luke 16:13 reminds us, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” Many interpret this as a rejection of wealth itself — a command to forsake material ambition in favour of spiritual … Continue reading 🌿 The Sacred Pursuit of Enough: Redefining Money Through Ministry
2026: The Extinction of Lifetime Cashflow Modeller Businesses
2026 will mark the end of an era for lifetime cashflow modelling software — and possibly for many advisers who depend on it. We’ve seen them all: Voyant, Timeline, Prestwood Truth, CashCalc — once considered cutting-edge tools for financial planning. These systems were designed to help advisers demonstrate value and justify asset-based fees by answering … Continue reading 2026: The Extinction of Lifetime Cashflow Modeller Businesses
🌟 Why You Are Here: Turning Talents into Service through the GAME Plan
“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.”— 1 Peter 4:10 (Living Bible) The Calling Within In the Academy of Life Planning, we begin with a simple but profound truth: you were designed on purpose, for … Continue reading 🌟 Why You Are Here: Turning Talents into Service through the GAME Plan
Academy of Life Planning 