Exposing the Invisible Hand That Keeps the Status Quo in Place “Minister, the ship of state is the only ship that leaks from the top.”—Sir Humphrey Appleby, Yes Minister In the battle for financial reform, it’s not always the elected officials who block change—it’s the quiet, well-dressed figures in the background. The ones who never … Continue reading 🕴️ Who Is Sir Humphrey?
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.
🌍 Awakening the Aquarian Age: A Strategy to Transform the System from the Ground Up
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old one obsolete.” — Buckminster Fuller We are entering a new era—one defined not by hierarchy and control, but by decentralisation, transparency, and collective empowerment. The Academy of Life Planning, alongside Get SAFE and the M-POWER … Continue reading 🌍 Awakening the Aquarian Age: A Strategy to Transform the System from the Ground Up
🌍 Why ISO 22222 Backs the Aquarian Shift in Financial Planning
Does Finance Fulfil Purpose? Part 2: How international standards support client-led, purpose-driven advice models In the Age of Aquarius, we are witnessing a profound shift in how financial planning is delivered—and more importantly, who holds the power. At the Academy of Life Planning, we champion a model where the client, not the planner, retains full … Continue reading 🌍 Why ISO 22222 Backs the Aquarian Shift in Financial Planning
🌊 “The river does not argue with the rock. It flows around it—and wears it away.”
🌌 How Does the Age Shift Itself? The shift from the Age of Pisces (hierarchy, control, secrecy) to the Age of Aquarius (network, autonomy, transparency) is not orchestrated by the old guard, nor handed over by the gatekeepers of power. It happens through emergence. Like a tide turning, the age shifts itself by rising within … Continue reading 🌊 “The river does not argue with the rock. It flows around it—and wears it away.”
Anti-Money Laundering: Why Monzo? Why Not the Isle of Man?
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” — Edmund Burke This week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) handed Monzo a £21 million fine for systematic failures in its anti-money laundering (AML) controls. The neobank allegedly allowed customers to open accounts using blatantly fraudulent addresses—including Buckingham Palace … Continue reading Anti-Money Laundering: Why Monzo? Why Not the Isle of Man?
💡 Does Finance Fulfil Purpose?
A Proposal for the New Age “The purpose of a ‘great company’ gives it a reason for being, defining its contribution to society.”— Pitt-Watson & Mann, Does Finance Fulfil Purpose? In their thoughtful report, David Pitt-Watson and Dr Hari Mann ask a foundational question that most in the industry still avoid:Does finance fulfil its purpose? … Continue reading 💡 Does Finance Fulfil Purpose?
💡 Finance for What? Reclaiming Purpose in the Age of Aquarius
“Finance is not about making money per se…it exists to support other goals—those of society.”— Robert Shiller, Nobel Laureate For decades, we’ve accepted a version of finance that has become bloated, opaque, and detached from its true purpose. A recent paper, Does Finance Fulfil Purpose? by David Pitt-Watson and Dr Hari Mann, does something rare: … Continue reading 💡 Finance for What? Reclaiming Purpose in the Age of Aquarius
Why White-Collar Britain Needs a GAME Plan
The age of AI has arrived — and it’s not the builders and bricklayers who should be worried. White-collar Britain is waking up to a rude shock. The cognitive class — long protected by degrees, desks, and digital skillsets — is now in the firing line of the very technology it helped create. The tables … Continue reading Why White-Collar Britain Needs a GAME Plan
🚨 What’s Stopping You? 10 Financial Planning Myths Debunked
This is when the penny drops. You feel it, don’t you? The industry is changing. The clients are changing. You’re changing. And yet, something holds you back from making the shift—from Piscean financial adviser to Aquarian financial planner. Let’s bust the myths and break through the mental hurdles keeping you trapped in an outdated model. … Continue reading 🚨 What’s Stopping You? 10 Financial Planning Myths Debunked
🐷 Hands Off Our Pensions: Why Mandating Investment Isn’t Reform—It’s Raid
By Steve Conley | 9 July 2025 This week, Parliament debated the new Pension Schemes Bill—a bill that, if passed, would allow government ministers to direct how private pension funds are invested. It's being sold as a benign “backstop,” but to many in the profession, it looks less like reform and more like requisition. Bank … Continue reading 🐷 Hands Off Our Pensions: Why Mandating Investment Isn’t Reform—It’s Raid
Academy of Life Planning 