A practical guide for the 90% of people who will never receive regulated investment advice In the UK today, more than 90% of people do not receive regulated financial advice. This is not because people do not need help.It is largely because the economics of retail advice firms make it impossible to serve most households. … Continue reading How to Be Self-Directed with Retail Investments in the UK
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.
Why Human Capital Must Become a Core Part of Financial Planning
The Missing Asset in Traditional Advice For decades, financial planning has been dominated by one assumption: that wealth primarily comes from financial capital—investments, pensions, property, and portfolios. But economists have long known that the largest asset most people possess is not financial capital at all. It is human capital. Human capital refers to the knowledge, … Continue reading Why Human Capital Must Become a Core Part of Financial Planning
1,000 female advisers at St. James’s Place.
1,000 female advisers at St. James’s Place. That’s a milestone worth acknowledging. The financial advice profession has long struggled with gender imbalance, and bringing more diverse voices into the industry is unquestionably a positive step. But the announcement also arrives at a fascinating moment for wealth management. Across the sector, another conversation is unfolding. AI. … Continue reading 1,000 female advisers at St. James’s Place.
If I Were a St. James’s Place Adviser, What Would I Be Thinking Right Now?
There has been a noticeable shift in the conversation around wealth management recently. We’ve seen a sell-off in wealth management stocks. Commentators are debating whether artificial intelligence will transform the industry. Veteran investors argue that AI will simply make advisers more efficient rather than replacing them. Maybe they are right. But if I were an … Continue reading If I Were a St. James’s Place Adviser, What Would I Be Thinking Right Now?
Applied Institutional Economics for Personal Wealth
Conley, S. (2026).Applied Institutional Economics for Personal Wealth: The Case for Personal Wealth Governance.Academy of Life Planning. The Total Wealth Planning framework synthesises insights from institutional economics, behavioural economics, human capital theory, and decision science to develop a practical governance model for personal wealth. Why Wealth Governance Is the Missing Discipline in Financial Planning For … Continue reading Applied Institutional Economics for Personal Wealth
The Advice Gap Is a Myth
The Real Problem Is Product Distribution Disguised as Advice Every few months the same headline appears in the financial press. “Millions cannot access financial advice.”“The advice gap is widening.”“Consumers are underserved.” The conclusion usually follows quickly: we need more advisers, simpler regulation, or scaled advice models. But there is a fundamental flaw in this narrative. … Continue reading The Advice Gap Is a Myth
Why Structured Product Scandals Keep Repeating Every 10–15 Years
And What Total Wealth Planners Must Learn From the Pattern Financial history has a rhythm. Roughly every decade or so, a scandal emerges involving complex structured investment products. Markets are shocked, regulators respond, and investors ask the same question: “How did this happen again?” Yet the truth is uncomfortable. These scandals are not anomalies.They are … Continue reading Why Structured Product Scandals Keep Repeating Every 10–15 Years
A New Profession Is Emerging in Financial Planning
Introducing the Total Wealth Planner For decades, financial planning has been organised around a simple idea: Help clients manage their financial capital. Investments.Pensions.Insurance.Portfolios. That model made perfect sense in a world where financial markets were opaque, products were complex, and consumers had little direct access to financial tools. But that world is changing rapidly. Three … Continue reading A New Profession Is Emerging in Financial Planning
With Over £25 Trillion at Stake, Financial Planners Must Learn to Plan for Human Capital
For decades, financial planning has focused on one thing above all else: financial capital. Portfolios.Pensions.Investments. Yet the largest asset most people will ever possess is not their investment portfolio. It is their human capital. Human capital — the ability to generate income through skills, knowledge, health, and experience — has become the primary driver of … Continue reading With Over £25 Trillion at Stake, Financial Planners Must Learn to Plan for Human Capital
The Most Important Asset Your Clients Own Is Under Threat
Why Financial Planners Must Add Human Capital Strategy to Deliver True Total Wealth Planning For decades, financial planning has focused primarily on financial capital. Pensions.ISAs.Investment portfolios.Tax wrappers. But the research is becoming increasingly clear: these are not the largest assets in most households. The largest asset most people possess is their ability to earn. In … Continue reading The Most Important Asset Your Clients Own Is Under Threat
Academy of Life Planning 