By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning “When a system protects itself by narrowing the narrative, don’t be surprised when those most needed for the solution are written out of the story.” The Lang Cat’s Advice Gap 2025 report, launched in London today, reveals much about the state of financial advice post-Consumer Duty. But as … Continue reading Who Gets a Mention? The Missing Mindsets in the Advice Gap Debate
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From Intermediation to Illumination: Reclaiming Financial Agency in the AI Age
We are living in a pivotal moment. A moment where technology has caught up with the promise of true financial empowerment — not through more intermediation, but through decentralised, accessible, person-led solutions. Yet 99% of financial planners still operate as agents of the system, not for the people. They’ve signed agency contracts. Their revenues depend … Continue reading From Intermediation to Illumination: Reclaiming Financial Agency in the AI Age
Time to Change the Playbook: From Half-Minded Exploitation to Full-Minded Healing
By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning We are suffering. Not by accident, but by design. For too long, society has operated under a playbook of separation—a legacy of half-mindedness, linear thinking, and systems that prioritise profit and power over people and planet. The results are visible everywhere: polarised communities, broken trust, mounting inequality, and … Continue reading Time to Change the Playbook: From Half-Minded Exploitation to Full-Minded Healing
Recording Client Meetings with AI: The Silent Erosion of Trust?
“Can I record this meeting?” It sounds like a simple, harmless question. Yet behind it lies a hidden complexity that the financial planning profession must urgently address — one that goes far beyond compliance and cuts to the heart of client trust. In his recent article, “The hidden AI reality behind ‘Can I record this … Continue reading Recording Client Meetings with AI: The Silent Erosion of Trust?
AI in Financial Services: What the Experts Missed at the Treasury Committee
By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning “It is not machines we should fear, but those who program the system to serve profit over people.” On June 24th, the UK Treasury Committee convened a panel of academic experts to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in financial services. The headlines were cautious—if … Continue reading AI in Financial Services: What the Experts Missed at the Treasury Committee
🚀 Beyond the Essay: Why AI Should Elevate Our Thinking, Not Replace It
By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning A recent study from MIT’s Media Lab sent ripples through the AI and education communities. It claimed that using ChatGPT to write SAT-style essays resulted in the lowest brain engagement among participants compared to those using Google Search or working unaided. EEG scans showed diminished neural activity, … Continue reading 🚀 Beyond the Essay: Why AI Should Elevate Our Thinking, Not Replace It
The Financial Planning Process for Young People: What Changes?
Financial planning for young people is not a simplified version of retiree planning—it’s a different game entirely. With lives marked by constant change, younger clients require a dynamic, adaptive approach grounded in cash flow management, emotional intelligence, and relationship-based service. At the Academy of Life Planning, we use the GAME Plan—a holistic, cyclical process that … Continue reading The Financial Planning Process for Young People: What Changes?
Pension Planning in Limbo: Ethical Advice in the Shadow of Pending Tax Reform
By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning "Do we plan for what is, or for what is coming?" It’s a question increasingly asked of financial planners as we edge closer to April 2027—the date when unused pension pots may no longer remain exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT), following proposals made in the 2024 … Continue reading Pension Planning in Limbo: Ethical Advice in the Shadow of Pending Tax Reform
“Reclaiming the Path: How the Rigged System Took Hold—And How We Heal”
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning Let me take you back in time—to a moment when the world was very different. A time when people lived in rhythm with nature, with the moon, the seasons, and the cycles of life. A time when knowledge was holistic, sacred, and shared. In those days, life … Continue reading “Reclaiming the Path: How the Rigged System Took Hold—And How We Heal”
Top 10 Tips for Citizen Investigators to Get Their Stories Listened to by the Press
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning Injustice thrives in silence. Yet far too often, victims of financial wrongdoing struggle to break through the noise of mainstream media. As citizen investigators, many of us face this uphill battle alone—armed with truth, evidence, and purpose, but unsure how to be heard. At a recent Transparency … Continue reading Top 10 Tips for Citizen Investigators to Get Their Stories Listened to by the Press
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