For decades, human capital theory has dominated the way economists explain income and productivity. It suggests that individuals who earn more do so because they are more productive — their skills, education, and abilities are framed as “capital” that generates higher returns. But a closer look reveals deep flaws in this way of thinking. In … Continue reading Beyond Human Capital: Lessons for Holistic Wealth Planners →

“Wealth is not just what you own, it’s what you embody.” A fascinating study on Human Capital, Poverty, and Income Distribution in developing countries offers powerful lessons not only for governments but for us as planners. The findings show that investments in education, health, gender equity, and nutrition are as crucial to reducing poverty and … Continue reading Wealth Beyond Money: Lessons from Human Capital Research →

Artificial intelligence has just cleared another milestone. An AI system called Aida sat the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Diploma in Financial Advice—and outperformed human advisers on average across all six exams. For the advice industry, this is a shockwave. For the public, it’s a wake-up call. The message is clear: machines are learning financial advice faster … Continue reading Why the Robots Are Beating Advisers – And Why That’s Good News for You →

When regulators finally banned Ex-Barclays CEO Jes Staley from senior management in June 2025, it was presented as proof that integrity matters at the top of financial services. The FCA found that Staley misled them over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, approving letters that downplayed their closeness and contact timeline. The Upper Tribunal agreed he … Continue reading From the Top Down: How Jes Staley’s Barclays Culture Harmed Customers — And Why We Need Empowerment Models Now →

For too long, financial planning has been trapped in a narrow frame: wealth as numbers on a balance sheet, capital as assets to be managed, and success as market returns. But what if we’ve been missing the bigger picture all along? The truth is simple yet profound: wealth is not just financial capital – it’s … Continue reading Wealth Beyond Money: Why Human Capabilities Matter More Than Capital →

The financial planning profession stands at a crossroads. For decades, the dominant model has been extraction—advisers taking a percentage of client assets under management, year after year, regardless of whether real value was delivered. But a profound shift is under way, and those who fail to adapt risk being left behind. The Great Wealth Transfer … Continue reading Why Now? Why Financial Planners Must Switch from Extraction to Empowerment →

When the UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, told private equity bosses she plans to “take out more regulators,” she was clear: oversight is no longer a priority. Growth is. In recent months, Reeves has: Sacked the Chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Shut down the Payments Regulator, “Severely constrained” the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), … Continue reading Regulators Retreat, Empowerment Must Rise →

This week, the UK government announced that a new AI tool helped recover nearly £500 million lost to fraud in just one year. Ministers hailed it as the largest anti-fraud clawback ever achieved, with savings now earmarked for public services. On the surface, this is good news. It proves something important: AI works in the … Continue reading AI for the Treasury vs. AI for the People: Why Justice Must Be Bottom-Up →