For decades, wealth management has been dominated by financial intermediaries—agents of product companies who sit across the table from clients, selling investments and policies. But the next generation of investors is sending a clear message: they don’t want product pushers, they want professional allies. A seismic shift is underway. Capgemini’s 2025 World Wealth Report finds … Continue reading The Future of Financial Planning Is Outside the Regulatory Perimeter
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.
Human Capital—not Financial Products—is the True Foundation of Prosperity
We’ve been sold a dangerous illusion: that prosperity comes from financial products. Pensions, ISAs, insurance, investments—these are the shiny wrappers that the industry pushes as the answer to our future security. But let’s be clear: no financial product has ever created real wealth. The true source of prosperity lies elsewhere. It resides in us. The … Continue reading Human Capital—not Financial Products—is the True Foundation of Prosperity
Football’s Financial Shame: What the V11 Story Teaches Us About Trust, Exploitation, and the Need for Change
When Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal in 1992, it symbolised the dawn of a new era. Money flooded into football, players became celebrities overnight, and with wealth came new risks. Fast-forward thirty years, and we now see the dark side of that era: a generation of players—household names like Danny Murphy, … Continue reading Football’s Financial Shame: What the V11 Story Teaches Us About Trust, Exploitation, and the Need for Change
💡 The Cost—and Power—of Telling the Truth
At the Academy of Life Planning, we often say we are not here to manage money—we are here to help people reclaim their power. But with that mission comes a hard reality: truth-tellers are rarely embraced. More often, they are ignored, ridiculed, or even pushed to the margins. Why? Because truth unsettles. 💥 Why Truth-Tellers … Continue reading 💡 The Cost—and Power—of Telling the Truth
🌱 Staying the Course: Why Integrity Wins in the End
In financial services, it can sometimes feel like the world has been turned upside down. The extractors—the ones who profit by keeping people dependent, confused, and exploited—seem to live richly. Meanwhile, those who choose the higher path of transparency, empowerment, and integrity often find themselves scraping by. It’s tempting to ask: is it worth it? … Continue reading 🌱 Staying the Course: Why Integrity Wins in the End
The Evolution of Life Planning: From Exploitation to Empowerment to Saving Lives
When Justice Still Feels Like Defeat Even when victims win, they often lose again. Legal fees, corporate negotiations, and drawn-out settlements can devour most of the compensation survivors fight for. The Post Office Horizon scandal is a prime example. In the Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd group litigation: The Post Office agreed to … Continue reading The Evolution of Life Planning: From Exploitation to Empowerment to Saving Lives
A New Chapter for the Academy of Life Planning
For over a decade, the Academy of Life Planning has stood for one simple truth: plan life first, money second. We’ve trained planners and empowered individuals around the world to make financial planning transparent, product-free, and life-centred. Now, as we step into a new season, we’re entering an exciting new chapter. The Academy is evolving … Continue reading A New Chapter for the Academy of Life Planning
Reconceptualising Human Capital: Why the GAME Plan™ Puts the Whole Person First
“Wealth is more than money. It is the sum of who you are, what you can do, and how you contribute to the world.” For decades, mainstream economics treated human capital narrowly: education, skills, and health that could be measured in financial returns. Useful, yes—but partial. A recent study by Paula England and Nancy Folbre … Continue reading Reconceptualising Human Capital: Why the GAME Plan™ Puts the Whole Person First
When Even the Regulators Are Impersonated: Why Empowerment Matters in a World of Exploitation
Fraudsters are getting bolder. This week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed that nearly 5,000 people reported scams in the first half of 2025 where criminals impersonated the regulator itself. Almost 500 victims handed over money, believing they were dealing with the official body tasked with protecting them. Pause for a moment: what does it … Continue reading When Even the Regulators Are Impersonated: Why Empowerment Matters in a World of Exploitation
Empowering Spilsby: What the Academy of Life Planning Brings to Our Community
At the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP), our mission has always been simple yet radical: put people back in charge of their own wealth and wellbeing. For over a decade, we’ve been building a global network of Holistic Wealth Planners and Financial Life Coaches who sit entirely on the client’s side of the table — … Continue reading Empowering Spilsby: What the Academy of Life Planning Brings to Our Community
Academy of Life Planning 