In December 2025, Parliament will once again host a vital conversation about justice — this time, concerning the Post Office Scandal.After years of heart-rending testimony, the police have confirmed that corporate manslaughter charges are now under consideration in relation to the Horizon IT failures that ruined hundreds of lives and, tragically, cost some their own. … Continue reading 💠 Should the Same Moral and Legal Standards Apply — Whether the Perpetrators Wear Post Office Badges or Bank Ties?
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.
💥 Captured Watchdogs Rip Up the Rulebook: Deregulation Returns — and Citizens Will Pay the Price
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have just announced they’re scrapping the Building Societies Sourcebook — the cornerstone rulebook that governed mutual lending practices. They call it a “growth boost.”I call it a warning sign. The Disguise of “Empowerment” In a move hailed by City Minister Lucy Rigby as part of … Continue reading 💥 Captured Watchdogs Rip Up the Rulebook: Deregulation Returns — and Citizens Will Pay the Price
💠 Deprogramming the Exploitation Mindset: Why Advisers Confuse Freedom with Greed
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning The Industry’s Hidden Shadow Scroll through today’s adviser recruitment ads and you’ll see a familiar theme — luxury cars, seven-figure dreams, and promises of total freedom.But look beneath the surface, and you’ll find a culture not of empowerment, but of exploitation — of advisers and … Continue reading 💠 Deprogramming the Exploitation Mindset: Why Advisers Confuse Freedom with Greed
💠 When the System Fails: How One Citizen Exposed the Hidden Mechanics of Financial Exploitation
By Steve Conley, Founder – Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation) 1. The Case Behind the Curtain A citizen came to Get SAFE in 2025, convinced that something deeply wrong had occurred in the transfer and possession of her home. Over time she uncovered evidence that no lawful authority existed for the “repossession” that had … Continue reading 💠 When the System Fails: How One Citizen Exposed the Hidden Mechanics of Financial Exploitation
Lloyds Says Hoarding Capital Slows Growth — But Whose Growth Are We Talking About?
Charlie Nunn, chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group When the chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group — the UK’s largest retail bank and one of the biggest recipients of post-crisis bailouts — calls on government to “go further” in deregulation, it’s worth pausing to ask: for whom? Charlie Nunn’s latest comments frame prudence as a … Continue reading Lloyds Says Hoarding Capital Slows Growth — But Whose Growth Are We Talking About?
The Rules of the Game Are Being Rewritten — and the Referees Are Looking the Other Way
By the Academy of Life Planning As 2025 draws to a close, the Bank of England has sent a mixed message:⚠️ Financial stability risks are rising, yet 🪓 capital requirements for banks are being cut. It’s a move that captures the paradox of modern finance — one hand tightening supervision of shadow banks like Goldman … Continue reading The Rules of the Game Are Being Rewritten — and the Referees Are Looking the Other Way
💠 Captured AI: When the Regulator Becomes the Sandbox
By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life PlanningDecember 2025 | 5 Minutes Read 🧩 The New Frontier — or the Same Old Game? The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has just launched what it calls a “safe space for AI” — a controlled testing environment where the UK’s largest financial firms can experiment with artificial … Continue reading 💠 Captured AI: When the Regulator Becomes the Sandbox
Regulators Finally Blink: The Shadow Banking Stress Test Citizens Have Waited For
By Get SAFE – Support After Financial Exploitation For the first time, Britain’s regulators have turned their gaze toward the murky world of shadow banking.This week, the Bank of England confirmed that giants like Goldman Sachs, Oaktree, Carlyle, and ICG will take part in a system-wide “exploratory scenario” — a stress test designed to expose … Continue reading Regulators Finally Blink: The Shadow Banking Stress Test Citizens Have Waited For
We Don’t Need More Intermediaries — We Need to Democratise Financial Planning
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning The Industry’s Blind Spot Every few months, headlines lament the “advice gap.” We’re told there aren’t enough advisers, that regulation is too heavy, and that clients can’t access affordable advice. The response? Train more advisers. Build more academies. Loosen the rules. But this narrative misses the deeper … Continue reading We Don’t Need More Intermediaries — We Need to Democratise Financial Planning
💡 When the OECD Calls It a Constraint, We Call It a Recalibration
Why Britain’s New Tax Era Could Unlock Human Capital Growth “A nation can tax wealth and still grow — if it grows its people.”— Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning ⚖️ The Headlines Mislead The OECD has warned that Rachel Reeves’s record tax rises will “constrain economic growth for years” and “deter saving.”Their logic is … Continue reading 💡 When the OECD Calls It a Constraint, We Call It a Recalibration
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