For the victims. For the silenced. For the ones who still believe in fairness—and keep getting kicked for it. They say the system is working. But who is it really working for? Let’s be blunt: the advice industry is at it again. Not content with consumers now having to pay just to have the Financial … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When Justice Is Bought and Sold
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.
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE: Taxed for Dying, Fined for Ageing
By Steve Conley | Founder, Academy of Life Planning In memory of every forgotten pensioner—and every family grieving while being billed for the privilege. This is not a tax system.It’s a punishment mechanism—disguised in council logos and budget statements. You lose your mum. You inherit her tiny retirement flat. You try to sell it, but … Continue reading YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE: Taxed for Dying, Fined for Ageing
Financial Services: It’s Not All About You (or Your Products)
In the UK, FCA-regulated retail investments account for just 5% of total financial assets, according to the ONS Wealth & Assets Survey. Yet, you wouldn’t know it from the way the financial services industry behaves. Too often, we’re led to believe that investing in this fund or that ISA is the defining factor of financial … Continue reading Financial Services: It’s Not All About You (or Your Products)
Break Free: Why the Future of Financial Planning Starts with You
I remember the exact moment I knew I couldn’t stay silent anymore.There I was—at the top of my game. A senior leader in one of the biggest financial institutions in the UK, steering billions of pounds in investments, sitting at the table with the so-called “movers and shakers.” From the outside, I had it all: … Continue reading Break Free: Why the Future of Financial Planning Starts with You
Data Darkness vs. Digital Daylight – Why 2025 Feels Like the UK’s Transparency Tipping-Point
From the Post Office Horizon scandal to the fresh allegations in BBC Panorama’s Did Lloyds Bank Fail My Business?, 2025 has thrown the same problem into sharp relief: when organisations control the evidence and can afford heavy-hitting lawyers, consumer protection is the first casualty. Latest news & breaking headlinesThe Guardian Yet the very technologies once … Continue reading Data Darkness vs. Digital Daylight – Why 2025 Feels Like the UK’s Transparency Tipping-Point
City of London: Heading Toward Offshore-Style Deregulation?
A Shifting Landscape in London’s Financial Hub The City of London, long revered as a bastion of financial integrity, is showing signs of an unsettling transformation. Observers point out that Britain’s financial centre is increasingly mirroring smaller offshore jurisdictions – places like Malta, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands – where the local … Continue reading City of London: Heading Toward Offshore-Style Deregulation?
“Enough Is Enough: Why Victims of QROPS Pension Scams Deserve Answers”
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning For nearly a decade, victims of a sprawling international pension fraud—centred around QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes)—have been fighting for justice. These scams, many linked to the disgraced adviser John Maurice Pye, have devastated lives, wiping out life savings under the watch of multiple … Continue reading “Enough Is Enough: Why Victims of QROPS Pension Scams Deserve Answers”
Rebuild & Thrive: Reclaiming Your Life After Financial Crime
Now Enrolling for Cohort 2 – In Memory of Ian Davis 🌱 Have you been impacted by financial crime, fraud, or systemic injustice?You’re not alone—and your future is still yours to reclaim. We’re proud to announce that Cohort 2 of Rebuild & Thrive – In Memory of Ian Davis is now open for bookings.This free … Continue reading Rebuild & Thrive: Reclaiming Your Life After Financial Crime
Could There Be a Financial Advice Firm in Distress? Here’s How We Can Help.
In today's challenging climate, many financial advice firms find themselves in distress. With more than 16,000 UK financial services companies now classified as being in "significant distress" according to Begbies Traynor’s latest Red Flag Report, it’s clear: even the guardians of financial security are not immune. At the Academy of Life Planning, we’ve long championed … Continue reading Could There Be a Financial Advice Firm in Distress? Here’s How We Can Help.
From Rainmakers to Legacy Builders: How Strengths-Based Succession Can Save Family Farms
In the face of sweeping reforms to inheritance tax reliefs announced in the UK's 2024 Autumn Budget, small family farms are at a crossroads. With Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) now capped at £1 million, farms that have survived generations face an unprecedented threat: crippling tax bills that could force the … Continue reading From Rainmakers to Legacy Builders: How Strengths-Based Succession Can Save Family Farms
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