Could You Make a Living Teaching Citizens to Use AI—Instead of Managing Their Money for Them?

From Assets Under Management to Agency Under Development. For decades, the financial-services business model has been built around a simple proposition: People do not understand money well enough to manage it themselves. So they should delegate. Delegate the analysis.Delegate the decisions.Delegate the implementation.Delegate the ongoing management. Then pay someone, often indefinitely, for the privilege. Artificial … Continue reading Could You Make a Living Teaching Citizens to Use AI—Instead of Managing Their Money for Them?

Introducing GiftFlow™: Restoring Human Agency, One Gift at a Time

Today we're delighted to announce the launch of GiftFlow™, the latest addition to the Academy OS ecosystem. GiftFlow is available now at: https://gift-flow.app/ GiftFlow exists for one simple reason. Most families don't struggle because inheritance tax law is complicated. They struggle because the evidence disappears. Seven years of gifts.Bank transfers spread across multiple accounts.Regular support … Continue reading Introducing GiftFlow™: Restoring Human Agency, One Gift at a Time

When a Business Model Starts to Crack: What the SJP Departures Tell Us About the Future of Financial Planning

Over the past year, a series of high-profile departures from St. James's Place has attracted increasing attention. Over the past year, the departures from St. James's Place have become increasingly difficult to dismiss as ordinary adviser turnover. While normal churn happens in every large network, the recent exits have involved some of the firm's largest … Continue reading When a Business Model Starts to Crack: What the SJP Departures Tell Us About the Future of Financial Planning

The Profession Is Investing in More Professionals. But Who Is Investing in More Capable Citizens?

We've Invested in Professionals. Now Let's Invest in People. The Personal Finance Society has announced that it will continue investing its reserves to attract new entrants into the financial planning profession. It is a significant commitment, building on a £1 million programme to remove barriers, fund qualifications and promote financial planning as a career. That … Continue reading The Profession Is Investing in More Professionals. But Who Is Investing in More Capable Citizens?

The Next Great Transition Is From Institutional Authority to Human Agency

For decades, society has been built on the assumption that institutions hold decision authority on our behalf. But confidence in those institutions is falling, while AI is making knowledge and reasoning available to everyone. The challenge of our age is not deciding whether to trust AI or institutions. It is restoring human agency so that … Continue reading The Next Great Transition Is From Institutional Authority to Human Agency

The Next Battle Isn’t for the Customer Interface. It’s for Human Agency.

Where does the long-term economic power probably sit? With Institutions or Citizens? Jason Butler recently published an insightful LinkedIn post arguing that the future of financial services will not be won through better investment research or faster suitability reports. Instead, he suggests the real strategic battleground is interface control, behavioural data, engagement frequency and trusted … Continue reading The Next Battle Isn’t for the Customer Interface. It’s for Human Agency.

Don’t Fix the Supply Side. Empower the Demand Side.

Most organisations are trying to make the supply side more efficient. The Academy is helping the demand side become more capable. For decades, innovation in financial planning has focused on improving the supply side of the market: better platforms, better products, better regulation, better adviser technology and, more recently, AI for advisers. The Academy of … Continue reading Don’t Fix the Supply Side. Empower the Demand Side.

Human Agency, Personal Sovereignty, Governance and Stewardship: Four Ideas That Belong Together

As artificial intelligence becomes more capable, a new question is emerging: How do we ensure technology strengthens people rather than quietly taking their place? At the Academy of Life Planning, our answer has always begun with one idea: Restore human agency. Agency is a person's ability to think clearly, question confidently, make informed decisions and … Continue reading Human Agency, Personal Sovereignty, Governance and Stewardship: Four Ideas That Belong Together

When Clients Arrive Having Already Asked ChatGPT, the Advice Model Has Already Changed

Advisers Are Talking About Cutting Fees. The Bigger Story Is Why. A recent Citywire interview with Ian Else carried a headline that should make every financial planner stop and think: "I'm looking at cutting my advice fees because of AI." It's a rational response. If AI reduces the time it takes to research, analyse, write … Continue reading When Clients Arrive Having Already Asked ChatGPT, the Advice Model Has Already Changed