By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning There couldn’t be a starker image of the disconnect between Government mandarins and the real-world suffering outside the ivory towers of Great George Street. While farmers prepare to lose generational land and pensioners face the prospect of their hard-earned nest eggs being taxed after death, HMRC has … Continue reading Pensioners and Farmers Decimated—And They Give Him an Award?
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.
Redemption, Restitution, and Responsibility: Why This Debate Matters
The recent debate surrounding the BBC's platforming of convicted fraudster Alex Wood has sparked important—and at times uncomfortable—questions about who gets to lead the conversation on fraud prevention. Let me be clear: I believe in redemption. People can change. But redemption is not the same as rebranding. When we place those who once caused harm … Continue reading Redemption, Restitution, and Responsibility: Why This Debate Matters
Empowered for What, Exactly? Why We Do What We Do
“The aim of life is self-development. To realise one’s nature perfectly—that is what each of us is here for.” — Oscar Wilde At the Academy of Life Planning, empowerment isn’t a buzzword. It’s a mission. A movement. A model. But empowered for what, exactly? The answer is simple, yet profound:To live your life plan. Fully. … Continue reading Empowered for What, Exactly? Why We Do What We Do
Imagine If Ofwat Had a Growth Mandate — We’d Need Snorkels by Now
Inspired by Dan Cooper’s thought-provoking piece in Money Marketing, which asks, “Who’d want to be a regulator, eh?” — I couldn’t help but reflect on our own well-chlorinated experiences with the FCA. Dan’s article dives into Ofwat’s spectacular collapse under the weight of its own inaction, drawing a tidy line between regulatory oversight and public … Continue reading Imagine If Ofwat Had a Growth Mandate — We’d Need Snorkels by Now
🕵️♂️ Redemption or Reputation Laundering?
The Curious Case of Alexander Wood, ‘Reformed Fraudster’ "I stole £1.2m in 40 minutes, then blew it all in Harrods."That’s the chilling headline from a recent article in The Sunday Times, profiling Alexander Wood—a man who claims to have swindled over £50 million through authorised push payment (APP) scams before reinventing himself as an anti-fraud … Continue reading 🕵️♂️ Redemption or Reputation Laundering?
From Victim to Visionary: How One Survivor Is Redefining Corporate Compassion After Fraud
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning We often say that even the darkest events in life can carry the seeds of purpose. That purpose, when nurtured, becomes a gift we give to others. Few embody this truth more powerfully than Ayleen Charlotte. Ayleen was thrust into the public eye through the 2022 Netflix documentary … Continue reading From Victim to Visionary: How One Survivor Is Redefining Corporate Compassion After Fraud
💻 The Death of Intermediation Software Apps in the Age of Empowerment
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning There’s a quiet revolution underway in financial planning—and some legacy tech players are pretending it isn’t happening. As the Age of Aquarius rises, empowerment replaces extraction. People are waking up. And the old guard—the intermediation platforms built for sales agents masquerading as planners—are fading into obsolescence. 🚧 “You’re … Continue reading 💻 The Death of Intermediation Software Apps in the Age of Empowerment
💥 A Watershed Moment: TTF Exposes Car Finance Fraud and Regulatory Complicity
“Real money. Real lives. Real fraud. It’s time the truth came out.” On the heels of historic Supreme Court victories and a deepening crisis of public trust in UK financial regulators, the Transparency Task Force (TTF) convened a powerful exposé led by founder Andy Agathangelou and whistleblower Paul Carlier. What unfolded was a raw, forensic … Continue reading 💥 A Watershed Moment: TTF Exposes Car Finance Fraud and Regulatory Complicity
🌀 The Clock Keeps Ticking: Breaking the Cycle of Regulatory Amnesia
“Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything.”— The Kybalion, The Law of Rhythm We’ve been here before.Lehman. Brexit. COVID. Car finance. SJP. QROPS. Each crisis sparks an outcry.Each outcry invites regulation.Each regulation eventually becomes red tape.And then… deregulation begins again. JB Beckett, in … Continue reading 🌀 The Clock Keeps Ticking: Breaking the Cycle of Regulatory Amnesia
💣 The Myth of Neutral AI: When Truth Becomes Political Propaganda
By Steve Conley | Founder, Academy of Life Planning “The illusion of neutrality is the most dangerous form of control. It masks power as fairness, and bias as truth.” On July 23, 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order that could change the trajectory of artificial intelligence forever — not just in the U.S., but … Continue reading 💣 The Myth of Neutral AI: When Truth Becomes Political Propaganda
Academy of Life Planning 