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.

More Than a Million Young Britons Are Drifting. We Need to Talk About Agency.

More Than a Million Young Britons Are Drifting. We Need to Talk About Agency. By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning. Check out the free app at http://www.totalwealthplan.net. A deeply troubling reality emerged this week from a major government-backed review into youth inactivity in the UK. More than half of economically inactive young people have … Continue reading More Than a Million Young Britons Are Drifting. We Need to Talk About Agency. →

Advice Out. Agency In. Why the FCA’s ‘Two Hats’ Issue Is About to Reshape Financial Planning

Why the FCA “Two Hats” Problem Is About to Become One of the Biggest Strategic Issues in Financial Planning For years, the UK financial advice profession has operated within a relatively stable identity structure. You were either: an authorised firm, an appointed representative, or a regulated financial adviser operating under a regulated permissions framework. The … Continue reading Advice Out. Agency In. Why the FCA’s ‘Two Hats’ Issue Is About to Reshape Financial Planning →

Simplified Advice or Simplified Distribution?

Why the latest FCA “advice gap” narrative deserves closer inspection. By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning The financial services industry has once again discovered a crisis it now wishes to solve. This time, it is the “advice gap.” According to recent commentary surrounding the FCA’s consultation on simplifying pensions and investment advice rules, millions … Continue reading Simplified Advice or Simplified Distribution? →

We Built a BS Checker for Financial Narratives. Because Somebody Had To.

Every morning, millions of people read financial articles, adviser communications, product brochures, and institutional announcements that shape how they think about money. Most never question the framing. Because the language sounds professional.The logos look trustworthy.The terminology feels authoritative. And yet many people still walk away feeling vaguely uneasy. You know the kind of article. The … Continue reading We Built a BS Checker for Financial Narratives. Because Somebody Had To. →

Can AI Become the Honest Advocate Consumers Never Had in Financial Services?

QUESTION: Can AI help ordinary people see through the complexity, incentives, and institutional narratives embedded within modern financial services? “I’m wondering to what extent AI can genuinely act as an honest advocate for individuals within financial services. Not as a salesperson.Not as an institutional gatekeeper.But as a truth-seeking assistant helping ordinary people navigate complexity, opacity, … Continue reading Can AI Become the Honest Advocate Consumers Never Had in Financial Services? →

We Built Something to Level the Playing Field. It’s Now Live.

By Steve Conley, Founder — Academy of Life Planning & Get SAFE There is a moment most of us have experienced. You are about to sign something. A contract, an agreement, a set of terms and conditions. The other party hands you a document — sometimes thick, sometimes thin, always dense — and waits. There … Continue reading We Built Something to Level the Playing Field. It’s Now Live. →

Financial Planning or Financial Conditioning? Why Human Capital May Matter More Than Financial Products

The Octopus Money research is interesting — and in many ways encouraging. People who received guidance, structure, and support reported feeling more resilient, more hopeful, and more engaged with saving and investing. That matters. In summary, the survey suggests that people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds can experience significantly improved financial confidence and resilience when they … Continue reading Financial Planning or Financial Conditioning? Why Human Capital May Matter More Than Financial Products →

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire?

Should Financial Advice Academies Market Themselves as a Wellbeing Escape Route? There was something in a recent recruitment message from St. James's Place that genuinely stopped me in my tracks. The campaign highlighted rising levels of burnout, stress, emotional exhaustion, and poor mental wellbeing across the UK workforce. It cited research suggesting: 1 in 4 … Continue reading Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire? →

Human Capital Is the New Financial Capital: What Total Wealth Planners Can Learn from Development Economics

There is a quiet but profound shift happening beneath the surface of financial planning. For decades, much of the profession has focused on managing financial capital:pensions, ISAs, investments, tax wrappers, accumulation rates, withdrawal strategies. But a deeper question is now emerging: What actually creates sustainable human prosperity in the first place? A fascinating academic paper … Continue reading Human Capital Is the New Financial Capital: What Total Wealth Planners Can Learn from Development Economics →