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
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From Product Seller to Purpose Partner: The Rise of the Holistic Wealth Planner
“Financial capital is only part of the picture. True wealth is the life you build with it.” A question I often get asked is this: What’s the difference between a financial planner and a financial adviser? And what on earth is a “non-intermediating” financial planner? Let me demystify it.At the Academy of Life Planning, we … Continue reading From Product Seller to Purpose Partner: The Rise of the Holistic Wealth Planner
The Perimeter Prefect: Reclaiming Financial Planning Beyond Regulation
What if the future of financial planning didn’t lie within the rules of a product-based system—but just beyond them? In our recent Masterclass, The Perimeter Prefect, we explored how planners, coaches, and changemakers are redefining financial support outside the regulatory perimeter—offering clarity, empowerment, and purpose without the burden of unnecessary red tape. This isn’t about … Continue reading The Perimeter Prefect: Reclaiming Financial Planning Beyond Regulation
Retire from the Delegator Firm—And Build an Empowering Firm for the New Age
"Human beings interpret change in different ways—some through logic and evidence, others through intuition, cycles, and symbols. What follows may not resonate with everyone, but for many, the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius offers a compelling lens to understand what's unfolding in finance, politics, and society. Whether literal or … Continue reading Retire from the Delegator Firm—And Build an Empowering Firm for the New Age
From Delegation to Self-Realisation: Why Financial Planning Must Evolve with the Age
"Human beings interpret change in different ways—some through logic and evidence, others through intuition, cycles, and symbols. What follows may not resonate with everyone, but for many, the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius offers a compelling lens to understand what's unfolding in finance, politics, and society. Whether literal or … Continue reading From Delegation to Self-Realisation: Why Financial Planning Must Evolve with the Age
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?
From Transaction to Transformation: Why Aegon’s ‘Money:Mindshift’ Campaign Is a Step in the Right Direction
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning Something significant is stirring in the financial services world. This week, Aegon launched its Money:Mindshift campaign — a conscious attempt to challenge the traditional, transactional model of financial advice. Led by Dr Tom Mathar, the campaign invites us to move beyond the numbers and reconnect with what … Continue reading From Transaction to Transformation: Why Aegon’s ‘Money:Mindshift’ Campaign Is a Step in the Right Direction
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
Your Money or Your Life: When a Growth Agenda Becomes a Wrecking Ball
In memory of every family business under siege.For every next-generation entrepreneur told there's no room left for you. They call it a growth agenda.They tell you they’re rebuilding Britain.They wave the flag of fiscal responsibility. But look closer. This isn’t a growth agenda—it’s a controlled demolition. Taxes are rising. Wealth is fleeing. Public finances are … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When a Growth Agenda Becomes a Wrecking Ball
Break Free: Why the Future of Financial Planning Starts with You
I remember the exact moment I knew I couldn’t stay silent anymore.There I was—at the top of my game. A senior leader in one of the biggest financial institutions in the UK, steering billions of pounds in investments, sitting at the table with the so-called “movers and shakers.” From the outside, I had it all: … Continue reading Break Free: Why the Future of Financial Planning Starts with You
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