A Free-to-Need Toolkit for Justice After Financial Exploitation When the system lets you down, the power to investigate, expose, and seek redress must come from you. That’s why we created the Citizen Investigator’s Playbook — a structured, AI-supported toolkit from Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation). This Playbook is offered on a Free to Need … Continue reading 🕵️♀️ The Citizen Investigator’s Playbook
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Financial “Growth” Authority: Says “Risk Is Good”? The Language of a Captured Regulator
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning "Risk is good," proclaims the watchdog. But when the guard dog starts wagging its tail at the City, who’s protecting the public? Last week, FT Adviser reports that at the Global Management Summit, Simon Walls—Executive Director of Markets at what is still officially called the Financial Conduct … Continue reading Financial “Growth” Authority: Says “Risk Is Good”? The Language of a Captured Regulator
Behind the Curtain: How Anonymous Private Equity Voices Are Shaping the Advice Industry Narrative
“If you want to know who’s in control, ask who’s writing the story—and who’s paying to print it.” A curious phenomenon is emerging in the UK financial media. At the very moment private equity’s influence over financial advice is accelerating—drawing scrutiny from regulators, parliamentarians, and consumers—some PE firms are opting not for transparency, but anonymity. … Continue reading Behind the Curtain: How Anonymous Private Equity Voices Are Shaping the Advice Industry Narrative
💬 My Position on Bitcoin: A Mirage of Innovation?
While some investors promote Bitcoin as a revolutionary asset or hedge against systemic failure, I see something far more troubling — a slow-motion Ponzi scheme, enriching early adopters at the expense of future generations. While I respect the curiosity and critical thinking that Bitcoin inspires in many, I remain deeply sceptical. To me, Bitcoin is … Continue reading 💬 My Position on Bitcoin: A Mirage of Innovation?
🏝️ The Isle of Scam: A Systemic Governance Breakdown
“The real scandal isn’t just the fraud—it’s the silence of those paid to prevent it.” When news broke that Wilton Group (Isle of Man) was being investigated by police over money laundering allegations, it barely registered with the mainstream press. But for victims of cross-border pension fraud—especially those caught in the web of QROPS schemes—this … Continue reading 🏝️ The Isle of Scam: A Systemic Governance Breakdown
🔍 Another Regulator. Another Excuse. Another Victim Left Behind.
When the FCA refuses to act on clear evidence of fraud, it’s not just a bureaucratic failure—it’s a betrayal of public trust. Victims like Paul Birch warned the FCA as early as 2017 that a so-called adviser, John Maurice Pye, was fraudulently claiming FCA authorisation. Internal FCA emails acknowledged the evidence. So did the Chartered … Continue reading 🔍 Another Regulator. Another Excuse. Another Victim Left Behind.
AI Won’t Wait — And Neither Should You
When it comes to preparing for an AI-powered future, Gen Z has been left hanging.Schools aren’t teaching it. Employers aren’t training for it. Policymakers are watching from the sidelines. And yet, AI is transforming the world of work — right now. According to a recent Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report, while 43% of Heartland … Continue reading AI Won’t Wait — And Neither Should You
Regulatory Silence, Revolving Doors, and the Great Pension Betrayal
“Any organisation that prioritises being within the rules over doing the right thing will not stand up to scrutiny for long.”– Andrew Bailey, FCA Annual Public Meeting, July 2019 While victims of pension fraud pleaded for justice, the silence from Britain’s top regulators grew louder. What began as isolated complaints has become a national disgrace: … Continue reading Regulatory Silence, Revolving Doors, and the Great Pension Betrayal
Financial Education in Schools: Why the Law Must Change
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning Early Investment: Why Human Capital Matters Most At the Academy of Life Planning, we advocate for a definition of wealth that goes beyond bank balances. The CFA Institute’s 2024 study Lifetime Financial Advice: A Personalized Optimal Multilevel Approach defines total wealth as: Total Wealth = … Continue reading Financial Education in Schools: Why the Law Must Change
🎩 “Meet the Advice CIO?” Or Meet the Unaccountable Power Behind £16bn?
By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning A recent Citywire profile introduces Dean Cheeseman as the newly empowered Chief Investment Officer at Mattioli Woods, now steering over £16bn of client assets. It paints the picture of a once-‘directionless’ accounting student turned titan of investment advice, just as Mattioli Woods announces a merger with Kingswood … Continue reading 🎩 “Meet the Advice CIO?” Or Meet the Unaccountable Power Behind £16bn?
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