🌊 “The river does not argue with the rock. It flows around it—and wears it away.”

🌌 How Does the Age Shift Itself? The shift from the Age of Pisces (hierarchy, control, secrecy) to the Age of Aquarius (network, autonomy, transparency) is not orchestrated by the old guard, nor handed over by the gatekeepers of power. It happens through emergence. Like a tide turning, the age shifts itself by rising within … Continue reading 🌊 “The river does not argue with the rock. It flows around it—and wears it away.” →

Anti-Money Laundering: Why Monzo? Why Not the Isle of Man?

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” — Edmund Burke This week, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) handed Monzo a £21 million fine for systematic failures in its anti-money laundering (AML) controls. The neobank allegedly allowed customers to open accounts using blatantly fraudulent addresses—including Buckingham Palace … Continue reading Anti-Money Laundering: Why Monzo? Why Not the Isle of Man? →

💡 Does Finance Fulfil Purpose?

A Proposal for the New Age “The purpose of a ‘great company’ gives it a reason for being, defining its contribution to society.”— Pitt-Watson & Mann, Does Finance Fulfil Purpose? In their thoughtful report, David Pitt-Watson and Dr Hari Mann ask a foundational question that most in the industry still avoid:Does finance fulfil its purpose? … Continue reading 💡 Does Finance Fulfil Purpose? →

💡 Finance for What? Reclaiming Purpose in the Age of Aquarius

“Finance is not about making money per se…it exists to support other goals—those of society.”— Robert Shiller, Nobel Laureate For decades, we’ve accepted a version of finance that has become bloated, opaque, and detached from its true purpose. A recent paper, Does Finance Fulfil Purpose? by David Pitt-Watson and Dr Hari Mann, does something rare: … Continue reading 💡 Finance for What? Reclaiming Purpose in the Age of Aquarius →

Why White-Collar Britain Needs a GAME Plan

The age of AI has arrived — and it’s not the builders and bricklayers who should be worried. White-collar Britain is waking up to a rude shock. The cognitive class — long protected by degrees, desks, and digital skillsets — is now in the firing line of the very technology it helped create. The tables … Continue reading Why White-Collar Britain Needs a GAME Plan →

🚨 What’s Stopping You? 10 Financial Planning Myths Debunked

This is when the penny drops. You feel it, don’t you? The industry is changing. The clients are changing. You’re changing. And yet, something holds you back from making the shift—from Piscean financial adviser to Aquarian financial planner. Let’s bust the myths and break through the mental hurdles keeping you trapped in an outdated model. … Continue reading 🚨 What’s Stopping You? 10 Financial Planning Myths Debunked →

🐷 Hands Off Our Pensions: Why Mandating Investment Isn’t Reform—It’s Raid

By Steve Conley | 9 July 2025 This week, Parliament debated the new Pension Schemes Bill—a bill that, if passed, would allow government ministers to direct how private pension funds are invested. It's being sold as a benign “backstop,” but to many in the profession, it looks less like reform and more like requisition. Bank … Continue reading 🐷 Hands Off Our Pensions: Why Mandating Investment Isn’t Reform—It’s Raid →

💡 From Debt Prisoner to Life Planner: A Way Forward for Struggling Advisers

By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning They say we’re the experts.The ones people turn to for clarity, security, and peace of mind. But what happens when the financial adviser is the one feeling trapped? What happens when you are the one secretly battling the burden of debt? 🎭 The Hidden Reality of … Continue reading 💡 From Debt Prisoner to Life Planner: A Way Forward for Struggling Advisers →

Last Nail in the Coffin – But for Whom?

Last Nail in the Coffin – But for Whom? “You can’t build a strong economy by hollowing out its people.” As we approach the next Mansion House Speech on July 15, the spotlight once again turns to the cosy relationship between government and City lobbyists. Behind closed doors, the so-called “growth agenda” will be showcased … Continue reading Last Nail in the Coffin – But for Whom? →

Beyond the Perimeter: Why the Financial Ombudsman Is Failing Survivors of Financial Exploitation

"Justice too long delayed is justice denied." – Martin Luther King Jr. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) was meant to be a safety net—a free, fair, and accessible route for ordinary people to seek redress when the financial system fails them. But for thousands of victims of financial exploitation, that promise rings hollow. At the … Continue reading Beyond the Perimeter: Why the Financial Ombudsman Is Failing Survivors of Financial Exploitation →