A Revelation for the Holistic Wealth Planner “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Adversary prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8 (Aramaic paraphrase) In the Aramaic world from which this scripture emerged, satānā did not simply mean “devil.” It meant adversary — the one who resists, distorts, … Continue reading 🕊️ The Two Adversaries: Outer Corruption and Inner Fear
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.
💔 When Debt Destroys Lives: Why We’re Building Get SAFE
Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy — and in the UK, more than 6,500 families faced that loss in 2022.According to new research from the Samaritans and the London School of Economics, each suicide costs society an estimated £1.46 million, with an overall annual cost of £9.58 billion. Behind these numbers lies a … Continue reading 💔 When Debt Destroys Lives: Why We’re Building Get SAFE
💎 The 0.001% Distraction: Why Society’s Wealth Conversation Is Upside Down
By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning | October 2025 A Sparkle in the Corner of the Room BlackRock’s new iShares Bitcoin ETP has the financial world buzzing.Commentators call it “historic” — a milestone for retail investors, an institutional validation of crypto, a bridge between DeFi and TradFi. But let’s pause. In reality, this … Continue reading 💎 The 0.001% Distraction: Why Society’s Wealth Conversation Is Upside Down
Holistic Wealth Planners in the Age of Agentic AI: How to Lead with Wisdom When Machines Can Think
As AI gains agency, the role of the planner shifts from expert to orchestrator — from authority to conscience. Introduction Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than any technology in living memory. The latest frontier—agentic AI—can not only generate ideas but act upon them, executing complex, multistep tasks once thought uniquely human. For CEOs, this shift … Continue reading Holistic Wealth Planners in the Age of Agentic AI: How to Lead with Wisdom When Machines Can Think
Lessons from Human Capital Research: Why the Future of Wealth Planning Is Human-Centred
“The growth of human capital and the growth of output are nearly synonymous.” — Robert Lucas, 1988 In a world obsessed with financial capital, one truth continues to resurface: it’s people, not money, who generate real wealth.A 2015 study by Dr. M. A. Lahori, “Human Capital – An Educational Institute Perspective,” revealed that institutions thrive … Continue reading Lessons from Human Capital Research: Why the Future of Wealth Planning Is Human-Centred
🌍 The Academy of Life Planning — A Brand Story for the Age of Empowerment
1. The Call to Adventure For generations, people have been taught to trust intermediaries —financial advisers to tell them what to do with their money,religious institutions to tell them what to believe,corporations and governments to tell them what to value. But something inside them whispers: There must be another way.A way to reclaim agency, rediscover … Continue reading 🌍 The Academy of Life Planning — A Brand Story for the Age of Empowerment
When Oversight Becomes Theatre: What the FCA Teaches Us About True Empowerment
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning “A watchdog that must keep its masters solvent cannot bite.” Britain is often praised for having one of the most tightly regulated financial systems in the world. Yet, time and again — from PPI to car-finance commissions — we witness the same grim pattern: abuse, denial, exposure, compensation, … Continue reading When Oversight Becomes Theatre: What the FCA Teaches Us About True Empowerment
When “Compliance” Becomes Control — and How Ethical Oversight Restores Trust
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life PlanningOctober 2025 – 5 min read When financial “compliance” is used well, it protects clients.When it’s misused, it protects power. That was the lesson behind our recent case study, “When Compliance Goes Wrong — How the Academy of Life Planning Stepped In to Restore Fairness and Professional Standards.” … Continue reading When “Compliance” Becomes Control — and How Ethical Oversight Restores Trust
From Fee-for-No-Service to Empowered Planning: A New Chapter for Ongoing Advice
In recent years, one of the most striking stories in UK wealth management has centred on SJP. What started as the promise of ongoing advice, review and service has instead, for many clients, become a worrying case-study of paying for something not delivered. The SJP story: When “ongoing advice” became a contested charge SJP has … Continue reading From Fee-for-No-Service to Empowered Planning: A New Chapter for Ongoing Advice
Detached, Ignorant, and Selfish? The Real Crisis Isn’t in the Treasury — It’s in Our Thinking
By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning A City broker’s outburst this week branded the UK Treasury “detached, ignorant, and selfish,” accusing policymakers of strangling enterprise and misunderstanding the very nature of economic growth. It’s a strong statement — but one that echoes a deeper truth we at the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP) … Continue reading Detached, Ignorant, and Selfish? The Real Crisis Isn’t in the Treasury — It’s in Our Thinking
Academy of Life Planning 