For every saver manipulated. Every pensioner misled. Every dream deferred by a smile in a suit. They didn’t point a gun.They didn’t need to. They used a prospectus.A policy.A polite phone call. This is the perfect crime—played out in boardrooms, bank branches, and brokerages. No blood spilled. Just lives unravelled. Slowly. Silently. And worst of … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Silent Crime That Steals Your 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.
“A Stain on Our Industry”: SJP Acknowledges Past Failings in the Protection Market
In the shadows of the financial advice world, where trust should be sacred and transparency non-negotiable, a quiet reckoning has begun. One of the UK’s largest and most influential advice firms, St. James’s Place (SJP), has finally broken rank and spoken out. Not about success. Not about service. But about failure. Let’s call it what … Continue reading “A Stain on Our Industry”: SJP Acknowledges Past Failings in the Protection Market
Your Money or Your Life: The Scam That Stole £56 Million – And What You Can Do Now
From silence to strength: Fighting back against investment fraud in Britain 🕯️ For those who lost everything and heard only silence. For those still searching for answers. For those ready to rise. 🔍 The Injustice Unmasked They called you on a weekday afternoon. Maybe you were at home, maybe you were tired. Maybe you just … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Scam That Stole £56 Million – And What You Can Do Now
Transparency Over Commission: Why the Academy of Life Planning Supports a Fairer Protection Market
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a review into the pure protection insurance market, raising serious concerns about commission-driven practices. Some have criticised my vocal support for this investigation. Let me be clear: the Academy of Life Planning welcomes this review. We believe it's … Continue reading Transparency Over Commission: Why the Academy of Life Planning Supports a Fairer Protection Market
Discovering Our Talents: Turning Adversity into Purpose through the GAME Plan
In the Academy of Life Planning’s GAME Plan—Goals, Actions, Means, Execution—the Talents session plays a pivotal role in the “Goals” stage. It follows the Personal Values Assessment, where individuals explore “Who I Am.” In Talents we explore, “Why I’m Here.” Together, these form the cornerstone of authentic living and purposeful planning. The Talents session answers … Continue reading Discovering Our Talents: Turning Adversity into Purpose through the GAME Plan
Your Money or Your Life: The Hidden Cost of “Protection”
Unmasking the Commission Trap in the Pure Protection Market 🕯️ For every client mis-sold a promise. For every policy that failed when it mattered most. This one’s for you. 🔍 The Injustice Unmasked They call it “protection”. But protection from what—and for whom? The Financial Conduct Authority just opened a formal market study into how … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Hidden Cost of “Protection”
Finding Happiness: What the Gallup Report Tells Us About a Better Life
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning What does it really mean to live a happy life? Each year, the World Happiness Report offers fresh insights backed by rigorous global data. The 2025 edition, recently released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, places … Continue reading Finding Happiness: What the Gallup Report Tells Us About a Better Life
Restoring the Soul of Psychotherapy: A Conversation with Andrew Hartz of the Open Therapy Institute
In a recent episode of Calm Conversations, Benjamin Boyce sat down with psychologist Dr. Andrew Hartz, founder of the Open Therapy Institute (OTI), for an enlightening discussion that went far beyond the surface of psychotherapy. They explored the gaps in modern mental health care, the secularisation of soul work, and the urgent need for a … Continue reading Restoring the Soul of Psychotherapy: A Conversation with Andrew Hartz of the Open Therapy Institute
Why Holistic Wealth Planning Is the Ultimate Gen Z Career Opportunity
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning “The industry teaches about products instead of people.”It’s a statement that reflects a seismic shift already underway in financial services—one being led by Gen Z. A generation that won’t settle for less than meaning, autonomy, and impact in their careers. ‘Financial planning is dying’ - … Continue reading Why Holistic Wealth Planning Is the Ultimate Gen Z Career Opportunity
Spiritual Wellbeing in the World Happiness Report 2025
While not a central focus, the World Happiness Report 2025 acknowledges spiritual wellbeing as an important dimension of human flourishing. The Global Flourishing Study (GFS) dataset—used in the report—includes measures of spirituality and religion alongside health, psychological, and economic variables. Additionally, referenced studies highlight how spiritual capital is linked to life satisfaction, particularly among volunteers, … Continue reading Spiritual Wellbeing in the World Happiness Report 2025
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