By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning What happens when you follow the rules—and the rules betray you? Gary, a British retiree, entrusted his pension to a government-approved scheme. He acted in good faith. He relied on approvals issued by UK authorities. And yet, he lost everything. His story is not unique. But it is … Continue reading When Regulators Enable Fraud: The Case of Gary and the QROPS Trap
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.
Who’s Responsible? The Legal Duty to Prevent Pension Transfer Scams in the UK
In the wake of widespread pension transfer scandals—many involving unregulated overseas schemes and unqualified advisers—a fundamental legal question arises: who is responsible for ensuring pension transfer advice is lawful, regulated, and safe? This is not a hypothetical debate. Real victims have lost life savings. These cases expose regulatory cracks across the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), … Continue reading Who’s Responsible? The Legal Duty to Prevent Pension Transfer Scams in the UK
Your Money or Your Life: When a Growth Agenda Becomes a Wrecking Ball
In memory of every family business under siege.For every next-generation entrepreneur told there's no room left for you. They call it a growth agenda.They tell you they’re rebuilding Britain.They wave the flag of fiscal responsibility. But look closer. This isn’t a growth agenda—it’s a controlled demolition. Taxes are rising. Wealth is fleeing. Public finances are … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When a Growth Agenda Becomes a Wrecking Ball
Guarding the Rule of Law in the Face of Financial Power: The UK’s Crossroads Moment
By Steve Conley Founder, Academy of Life Planning | Get SAFE | Transparency Task Force Ambassador In today’s political economy, the greatest threats to the rule of law often arise not from overt illegality, but from a deep entanglement between finance and state power—where policy is shaped less by democratic will and more by private … Continue reading Guarding the Rule of Law in the Face of Financial Power: The UK’s Crossroads Moment
“A Life Sentence Without Trial”: When Institutions Fail to Protect the Public
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning Across the UK and beyond, countless individuals have been left devastated by complex financial schemes that promised security but delivered ruin. For many, these weren’t speculative bets or risky ventures—they were pension transfers, recommended by regulated advisers, into vehicles that were supposedly safe, regulated, and compliant. Yet, when … Continue reading “A Life Sentence Without Trial”: When Institutions Fail to Protect the Public
The Watchdog Without Teeth: Why the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner Can’t Fix What’s Broken
By Steve Conley When financial regulators fail, where can the public turn? For many, the answer is the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner (FRCC)—the body set up to provide independent redress when the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), or Bank of England act unfairly or ineffectively. But as more victims of regulatory failure … Continue reading The Watchdog Without Teeth: Why the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner Can’t Fix What’s Broken
From Chaos to Coherence: Mapping the Fractal Soul with the GAME Plan
By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning In the dance of the cosmos, nothing is truly random. Life may appear messy, unpredictable — even chaotic. But look closely, and you’ll see the spiral of galaxies, the symmetry of shells, the rhythms of breath and season. Beneath the surface noise is a song — a … Continue reading From Chaos to Coherence: Mapping the Fractal Soul with the GAME Plan
The Hidden Cost of Advice: How Secret Commissions Are Still Draining Pensioners’ Funds
Have you ever wondered who’s really profiting from your pension? Behind the glossy brochures and reassuring conversations, a darker truth may be hiding in plain sight: secret commissions—undisclosed payments from your retirement savings to financial intermediaries—are still happening. And in many cases, these payments are made without your knowledge or consent. 🕵️♂️ What Are Secret … Continue reading The Hidden Cost of Advice: How Secret Commissions Are Still Draining Pensioners’ Funds
The Blame Game: How UK Regulators Are Failing Victims of Pension Fraud
When Responsibility Becomes a Hot Potato Victims of pension fraud—often robbed of their life savings and left emotionally scarred—expect at the very least one thing from the authorities: accountability. Instead, what they get is a game of regulatory pass-the-parcel. As exposed through recent correspondence shared by campaigners, victims who report fraud find themselves bounced between … Continue reading The Blame Game: How UK Regulators Are Failing Victims of Pension Fraud
How UK Regulators Became Silent Partners in a Decade of Pension Fraud
Why the FSCS, FCA, and Action Fraud must face public scrutiny for their failure to protect the people they serve For more than a decade, pension savers have been quietly robbed—of money, of trust, and of justice. Yet, the regulators charged with safeguarding them have not only failed to stop the fraud, they’ve arguably enabled … Continue reading How UK Regulators Became Silent Partners in a Decade of Pension Fraud
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