The Birth of the Holistic Wealth Planner How a conversation with Don MacIntyre helped name a movement. A Profession at a Crossroads In the autumn of 2024, I reconnected with Don MacIntyre, then Chief Executive of the Personal Finance Society (PFS). The profession was in flux. Questions were rising about integrity, independence, and identity. Was … Continue reading The Birth of the Holistic Wealth Planner
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.
🌀 The Way, the Truth, and the Life: The Hidden Blueprint of the GAME Plan
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6 Few lines in scripture have been quoted more — or misunderstood more deeply — than this one. Taken literally, it can sound like an ultimatum: worship a specific man or be cut off from … Continue reading 🌀 The Way, the Truth, and the Life: The Hidden Blueprint of the GAME Plan
Lesson in Focus: Why Human Capital, Not Money, Drives Sustainable Prosperity
“Prosperity flows from the compounding of human capital, not the hoarding of financial capital.” A fascinating study from the CESifo Institute in Munich has reaffirmed something we at the Academy of Life Planning have long known: wealth begins in the mind, not the market.In their paper Human Capital Formation, Income Inequality and Growth, economists Viaene … Continue reading Lesson in Focus: Why Human Capital, Not Money, Drives Sustainable Prosperity
Revealing the Invisible Sixth Element: From Gallup’s Piscean Lens to the Aquarian Age of Empowerment
For decades, Gallup has studied well-being. Their five-pillar model — social, financial, physical, community, and work — is now cited globally as the framework for understanding human flourishing. On the surface, it is rigorous, credible, and useful. But at its heart, it remains ego-bound. Gallup’s model measures what can be seen and quantified: relationships, money, … Continue reading Revealing the Invisible Sixth Element: From Gallup’s Piscean Lens to the Aquarian Age of Empowerment
Beyond Gallup’s Five Pillars: Why Holistic Wealth Planning Must Embrace Spiritual Well-Being
At a recent President’s Speaker Series event, Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, shared insights from his book Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It. His message was clear: the world is becoming unhappier, and traditional economic measures—like GDP or unemployment—can’t explain why. Instead, Gallup has spent the past two decades … Continue reading Beyond Gallup’s Five Pillars: Why Holistic Wealth Planning Must Embrace Spiritual Well-Being
Reducing Inequality, Building Sustainable Prosperity: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners
“Wealth is not what you have—it’s what you grow in yourself, your family, and your community.” As holistic wealth planners, we know that prosperity is more than numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about empowering people to thrive in every dimension of life—financially, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet the reality is stark: inequality is rising, … Continue reading Reducing Inequality, Building Sustainable Prosperity: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners
Why become a Holistic Wealth Planner professional?
The Holistic Wealth Planner (HWP) pathway is designed for professionals who want to redefine financial planning for the 21st century. Unlike product-driven advice, Holistic Wealth Planning is client-centred, transparent, and empowerment-focused, equipping you to help people align their money with their values, purpose, and well-being. As a Holistic Wealth Planner, you’ll gain the skills, tools, … Continue reading Why become a Holistic Wealth Planner professional?
📰 From Headlines to Justice: How Citizen Investigators Can Use AI to Track Their Cases
“Information is power — but only if you can keep hold of it.” One of the biggest frustrations for victims of financial exploitation is that stories flare up in the news and then… nothing. Months go by. Updates are hidden behind paywalls or buried in regulatory filings. By the time the next development surfaces, it’s … Continue reading 📰 From Headlines to Justice: How Citizen Investigators Can Use AI to Track Their Cases
FCA Opens Door to Adviser Charging for Targeted Support – But Who Will Pay?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has on Friday published its latest consultation paper (CP25/26), opening the door for adviser firms to charge consumers for “targeted support”. This new category of regulated activity is pitched as a middle ground between full financial advice and generic guidance, aimed at helping millions of people who may not be … Continue reading FCA Opens Door to Adviser Charging for Targeted Support – But Who Will Pay?
📉 Consolidation or Collapse? What Deauthorisations Mean for Holistic Wealth Planners
A new Landscape Report based on FCA Register data has revealed that 7,860 FCA-registered firms have deauthorised in 2025 alone. That’s almost 3,500 net exits in just eight months. While headlines may focus on the “winners” — St. James’s Place, Quilter, and other large networks expanding adviser headcount — the real story is one of … Continue reading 📉 Consolidation or Collapse? What Deauthorisations Mean for Holistic Wealth Planners
Academy of Life Planning 