The South African financial planning profession stands at a pivotal crossroads. Insights from the recent Adviser Barometer 2024/25 webinar, presented by Taryn Duncan of Allan Gray and Mark Polson of UK-based consultancy The Lang Cat, reveal a powerful global trend: the future of advice is moving away from product selection and towards client empowerment through … Continue reading Why Now is the Time for South African Financial Planners to Embrace a Planning-Led, Relationship-Driven Future
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.
Whistleblowing, Accountability, and the Need for Change: A Reflection on the FCA Case
https://youtu.be/6iTgqUucfIk?si=0shDwDZvi1GQqud9 The recent conversation between Marcello Hamel and Mike Conway of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) — now publicly available — is deeply troubling. It highlights systemic failings within one of the UK's most powerful regulatory bodies: delays, breaches of due process, disregard for grievance procedures, and attempts to manage disputes through minimal compensation rather … Continue reading Whistleblowing, Accountability, and the Need for Change: A Reflection on the FCA Case
100 Human Capital Strategies to Generate Extra Income (No Financial Capital Needed)
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."— Arthur Ashe If you're finding it harder each month to make ends meet — juggling bills, debts, and rising living costs with little or no savings to fall back on — you are not alone. Many … Continue reading 100 Human Capital Strategies to Generate Extra Income (No Financial Capital Needed)
Academy of Life Planning (AoLP) Compliance Charter
Introduction At the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP), we deliver financial planning services that are client-centred, transparent, and ethically grounded.While we operate outside the FCA regulatory perimeter — because we do not provide regulated financial advice — we are not unregulated.We are proudly governed by UK consumer protection law and overseen by the Competition and … Continue reading Academy of Life Planning (AoLP) Compliance Charter
Your Money or Your Life: Fill the Public’s Pockets—Not the Fat Cats’
They told you deregulation would fuel growth. They told you trickle-down would raise your standard of living. They told you they needed your money—your savings, your security, your future—to make it all happen. But here’s the truth, buried under a mountain of spin and billion-pound PR budgets: The fat cats are fattening themselves—and starving the … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: Fill the Public’s Pockets—Not the Fat Cats’
Planning the Person, Not the Portfolio: The Future of Financial Life Planning
In the world of traditional financial advice, the focus has too often been on the portfolio rather than the person.The processes of factfinding, risk profiling, and cashflow modelling have been framed as the core of “planning” — yet these steps have been primarily designed to lead clients towards product implementation. At the Academy of Life … Continue reading Planning the Person, Not the Portfolio: The Future of Financial Life Planning
A Different Story During the Crisis: How We Launched the World’s Best Investment Product
While neighbouring banks were busy rigging Libor during the Global Banking Crisis, my team at HSBC was working on something altogether different — something that showed what finance could achieve when directed by purpose, not greed. As Head of Investments at HSBC, I had the privilege to lead the launch of the HSBC Vaccine Bond … Continue reading A Different Story During the Crisis: How We Launched the World’s Best Investment Product
Reclaiming the Future: A Response to Britain’s Mental Health Crisis
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning Official figures reveal that £3.4 billion was spent last year on Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) to support individuals suffering from anxiety and depression—one-sixth of the total disability benefit spending. Since the pandemic, claims for mental health conditions have surged, now surpassing arthritis as the most costly category. … Continue reading Reclaiming the Future: A Response to Britain’s Mental Health Crisis
Psychopathic Traits in Financial Services: Prevalence, Impact, and Regulatory Responses
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning Author’s Note: A Personal Prelude In December 2007, just months before the Global Financial Crisis erupted and Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) became one of the most infamous taxpayer bailouts in history, I was made redundant from my role as Head of Savings and Investments Strategy. … Continue reading Psychopathic Traits in Financial Services: Prevalence, Impact, and Regulatory Responses
How Planning Your Life and Money Can Help You Recover from the Hardest of Times
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe that no setback is final. The path from crisis to contribution, from despair to dignity, is not only possible—it’s a journey that can be mapped, planned, and walked with intention. The stories of Jamie Walker and Casey Fuller, two … Continue reading How Planning Your Life and Money Can Help You Recover from the Hardest of Times
Academy of Life Planning 