Most people enter financial planning with the best intentions. They want to help clients live better lives, not just manage their money. But somewhere along the way, the system twists the purpose. You’re taught that the “business model” of planning depends on assets under management. You measure success by the size of your client’s pot … Continue reading From Exploitation to Empowerment: Why Life Planning Needs a Revolution
Tag: budgeting
The 16 Essentials of a Life Plan: Building Your GAME Plan for Sovereign Living
At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe that true wealth begins not with money, but with meaning. Before you plan your finances, you must plan your life. That’s why we created the GAME Plan — a holistic framework designed to align your values, purpose, and resources with the life you were meant to live. … Continue reading The 16 Essentials of a Life Plan: Building Your GAME Plan for Sovereign Living
🌍 A Vision of Global Empowerment through Life Planning
Imagine a world where every community, no matter how wealthy or resource-constrained, has access to the tools of life planning. Children in schools learn from an early age how to define their goals, recognise their talents, and align their education with purpose. Young adults no longer drift into jobs or debt without direction, but enter … Continue reading 🌍 A Vision of Global Empowerment through Life Planning
Building Futures in El Salvador: How Life Planning is Driving Social Transformation
In late 2023, the government of El Salvador created a new national institution — the Dirección de Integración — with a bold mission: to strengthen social inclusion, reduce poverty, and foster a culture of integration across the country. At the heart of this initiative is the ADN Program on Poverty and the Culture of Integration, … Continue reading Building Futures in El Salvador: How Life Planning is Driving Social Transformation
Human Capital—not Financial Products—is the True Foundation of Prosperity
We’ve been sold a dangerous illusion: that prosperity comes from financial products. Pensions, ISAs, insurance, investments—these are the shiny wrappers that the industry pushes as the answer to our future security. But let’s be clear: no financial product has ever created real wealth. The true source of prosperity lies elsewhere. It resides in us. The … Continue reading Human Capital—not Financial Products—is the True Foundation of Prosperity
🌱 Staying the Course: Why Integrity Wins in the End
In financial services, it can sometimes feel like the world has been turned upside down. The extractors—the ones who profit by keeping people dependent, confused, and exploited—seem to live richly. Meanwhile, those who choose the higher path of transparency, empowerment, and integrity often find themselves scraping by. It’s tempting to ask: is it worth it? … Continue reading 🌱 Staying the Course: Why Integrity Wins in the End
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
Why a Financial Life Coach Is Not What You Think — And Exactly What You Might Need
When people hear the term Financial Life Coach, they often picture someone poring over their bank statements, telling them to stop buying lattes, or helping them unpack childhood money trauma. That’s not what we do.Not at the Academy of Life Planning. Not even close. We’re not therapists.We’re not financial advisers.We’re not product pushers, budget cops, … Continue reading Why a Financial Life Coach Is Not What You Think — And Exactly What You Might Need
💻 The Death of Intermediation Software Apps in the Age of Empowerment
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning There’s a quiet revolution underway in financial planning—and some legacy tech players are pretending it isn’t happening. As the Age of Aquarius rises, empowerment replaces extraction. People are waking up. And the old guard—the intermediation platforms built for sales agents masquerading as planners—are fading into obsolescence. 🚧 “You’re … Continue reading 💻 The Death of Intermediation Software Apps in the Age of Empowerment
Beyond the Growth Agenda: 86% Wealthy Brits Are Already Choosing Empowerment Over Extraction
A recent study reveals a telling statistic: 86% of UK adults with over £100,000 in investable assets are not using a financial adviser. That’s more than 16 million people, rejecting delegation and choosing empowerment. And yet, the financial establishment continues to frame this as a “missed opportunity” — not for the people, but for the … Continue reading Beyond the Growth Agenda: 86% Wealthy Brits Are Already Choosing Empowerment Over Extraction
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