There’s a lot of noise right now about crypto, DeFi, and the new “education academies” promising to show people how to get rich from them. I recently reviewed one such promotion, the Crypto & DEFI Academy, and I want to share what I found—not to rant, but to demonstrate what basic due diligence reveals. This … Continue reading 🚨 When “Crypto Education” Becomes a Risky Financial Promotion
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Why Investing in Yourself Beats Investing in the Market—Especially at 20
The case of Ella Coombs shows how non-intermediating planning unlocks real wealth creation. Case Study Summary: Ella Coombs – The 20-Year-Old Entrepreneur Defying Convention Source: The Telegraph, 8 August 2025 Ella Coombs, aged 20, works three jobs—including managing an RSPCA charity shop—and lives rent-free with her parents. She has earned nearly £10,000 pre-tax in 18 … Continue reading Why Investing in Yourself Beats Investing in the Market—Especially at 20
🎓 When the System Shuts You Out, Build Your Own Path
Why graduates need a GAME Plan for life beyond rejection It’s the question every graduate dreads: “What’s next?”For too many today, the answer is bleak. Rejections from AI-driven recruitment systems, unpaid internships, demoralising trips to the Jobcentre, and—inevitably—signing on for Universal Credit. Recent reports highlight a shocking reality: over 630,000 graduates are now claiming Universal … Continue reading 🎓 When the System Shuts You Out, Build Your Own Path
Finance Lobbying Is Out of Control – Here’s How We Take Back Balance
The financial lobby has more influence over UK policy today than at any time since the 2008 crash. Ministers and regulators are being nudged—some might say coerced—into promoting the growth of finance as if it were an unquestionable good. But history tells us otherwise. When finance grows unchecked, inequality widens, crises multiply, and society pays … Continue reading Finance Lobbying Is Out of Control – Here’s How We Take Back Balance
When £100,000 Isn’t an Investment but a Debt Trap
Author’s NoteWhenever I publish a critique involving popular brands such as St. James’s Place (SJP), I do so because there is a very real prospect of harm—financial, mental, and emotional—to individuals and their families. Yet the response from brand defenders is often not to address the substance of the critique but to sneer: “But you … Continue reading When £100,000 Isn’t an Investment but a Debt Trap
Human Capital: The Evidence for a New Way Forward
For too long, governments, corporations, and even individuals have treated money as the ultimate measure of progress. But research continues to prove what we at the Academy of Life Planning have long argued: the greatest source of wealth is not financial capital, but human capital. A study published in the European Journal of Social Impact … Continue reading Human Capital: The Evidence for a New Way Forward
Choosing the Harder Road: A Planner’s Pledge to Serve
I became a financial planner because I wanted to help people. Not to sell them things. Not to push them down a funnel. But to see them walk away lighter, more confident, and more in control of their lives. The truth is, that’s harder than it sounds. Our industry is built on the gravitational pull … Continue reading Choosing the Harder Road: A Planner’s Pledge to Serve
Britain’s Family Farms Face the Axe — All for a Misjudged Tax Grab
The government has seriously underestimated the damage its inheritance tax reforms will inflict on Britain’s small family farms. Far from targeting only wealthy landowners, the changes — due in April 2026 — will devastate hundreds of modest, working farms that have been in families for generations. The numbers are stark. According to the Centre for … Continue reading Britain’s Family Farms Face the Axe — All for a Misjudged Tax Grab
Your Path to Profit as an Academy Member
From your first affiliate link to running your own full-service practice — here’s how you can earn income while serving clients with integrity. You’ve joined the Academy of Life Planning because you believe in ethical, human-first financial planning. But how do you turn that passion into income? This guide shows you three simple, progressive ways … Continue reading Your Path to Profit as an Academy Member
Human Capital: The True Engine of Economic Growth
Economic debates often revolve around financial capital — savings rates, investment flows, and the mountain of funds managed in global markets. But a landmark body of research shows that human capital — the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of people — is far more critical for driving productivity and prosperity. When we measure economic growth through … Continue reading Human Capital: The True Engine of Economic Growth
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