"First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. Then they fight you. Then you win."— Often attributed to Gandhi The Supreme Court’s decision this week to overturn the convictions of former City traders Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo is more than a legal victory. It is a moment of reckoning. A tipping point. And for … Continue reading Tipping Point: The Cracks Were Always There — And Change Is Coming
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.
Pisces or Aquarius? The PFS Spends £1 Million—But Whose Future Are They Funding?
“We’re building a profession,” they say. But are we still just dressing up distribution in a new robe?” This week, the Personal Finance Society (PFS), under the influence of its parent body the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), announced a £1 million initiative to recruit “new blood” into financial planning. They’ve called it Pathway to the … Continue reading Pisces or Aquarius? The PFS Spends £1 Million—But Whose Future Are They Funding?
Run-On, Not Run-Off: Why It’s Time to Reclaim Our Pensions from the Insurance Industry
“There comes a point where silence becomes betrayal.” — Martin Luther King Jr. For decades, workplace pension schemes have promised security in retirement. But behind the scenes, a silent transfer of power—and profit—is taking place. Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, once the gold standard of retirement provision, are being sold off en masse to life … Continue reading Run-On, Not Run-Off: Why It’s Time to Reclaim Our Pensions from the Insurance Industry
🚨 Regulatory Update: ESMA Extends Competence Requirements Under MiCA – What It Means for Trainers and Educators
Published: July 2025By: Academy of Life Planning 🧭 Why This Matters The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has now finalised new knowledge and competence guidelines under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). These rules significantly expand professional standards for anyone providing information or advice on crypto-assets in the European Union. If you train advisers … Continue reading 🚨 Regulatory Update: ESMA Extends Competence Requirements Under MiCA – What It Means for Trainers and Educators
The Growth Agenda Is Just Asset Hoovering—Now with Government Backing
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning “They call it growth. We call it extraction.” The Mansion House Accord is being hailed as a visionary step towards unlocking investment in the UK’s future. In reality, it’s a familiar game repackaged. We’ve seen this before in financial advice—now it’s the government’s turn to get a … Continue reading The Growth Agenda Is Just Asset Hoovering—Now with Government Backing
💼 The Three-Headed Lobby: How UK Finance, TheCityUK, and the City of London Corporation Shape the Rules of Extraction
“The system isn’t broken. It was built this way.” If we want to understand why so many financial reforms in Britain benefit institutions over individuals, we must look beyond surface policies to the power structures that design the game. Three key organisations stand at the heart of this architecture: UK Finance, TheCityUK, and the City … Continue reading 💼 The Three-Headed Lobby: How UK Finance, TheCityUK, and the City of London Corporation Shape the Rules of Extraction
The Growth Agenda: Asset Hoovering by Another Name
Why Deregulation Isn’t Growth—It’s Extraction, Repackaged “You can’t regulate for trust by dismantling the brakes.” In the wake of the Mansion House reforms, a familiar story is unfolding. The government’s so-called growth agenda is, in truth, a revival of the old Piscean order—an extractive financial system masquerading as economic progress. It’s not about real innovation … Continue reading The Growth Agenda: Asset Hoovering by Another Name
Bitcoin Doesn’t Inflate — But It Still Extracts
“Fixed supply doesn’t mean fair value.” Bitcoin is often hailed as the antidote to fiat money — a scarce digital asset immune to the whims of central banks. “You can’t print more Bitcoin,” say its advocates, “so it must be better than inflationary fiat.” But this argument misses something critical. Yes — Bitcoin doesn’t inflate … Continue reading Bitcoin Doesn’t Inflate — But It Still Extracts
Bitcoin’s Untold Backstory: Speculation, Gambling, and Market Mythology
“If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.” For years, Bitcoin has been marketed as a monetary messiah. A borderless, bankless utopia. A digital escape from inflation, central banks, and government control. But peel back the layers of myth, and a far more complex picture emerges—one involving gambling roots, market manipulation, and … Continue reading Bitcoin’s Untold Backstory: Speculation, Gambling, and Market Mythology
Enough is Enough: Readers Show More Wisdom Than the Experts on Pension Reform
The revival of the so-called Pension Commission has been welcomed by the usual suspects—industry insiders, policy heads, and providers all salivating at the prospect of more money flowing into their coffers under the guise of “solving” the pension crisis. But let’s be clear: it shouldn’t be called the Pension Commission at all. Why? Because it … Continue reading Enough is Enough: Readers Show More Wisdom Than the Experts on Pension Reform
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