By Steve Conley | 9 July 2025 This week, Parliament debated the new Pension Schemes Bill—a bill that, if passed, would allow government ministers to direct how private pension funds are invested. It's being sold as a benign “backstop,” but to many in the profession, it looks less like reform and more like requisition. Bank … Continue reading 🐷 Hands Off Our Pensions: Why Mandating Investment Isn’t Reform—It’s Raid
Tag: economics
Last Nail in the Coffin – But for Whom?
Last Nail in the Coffin – But for Whom? “You can’t build a strong economy by hollowing out its people.” As we approach the next Mansion House Speech on July 15, the spotlight once again turns to the cosy relationship between government and City lobbyists. Behind closed doors, the so-called “growth agenda” will be showcased … Continue reading Last Nail in the Coffin – But for Whom?
“Putting Profits Before People”: Lords Demand FOS Rollback to Serve the Growth Agenda
“Justice should never be an obstacle to growth. But neither should growth be a justification for erasing justice.” Yesterday’s report from the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee confirms what many of us have suspected: consumer advocacy is once again under threat—not by accident, but by design. In a sweeping call for reform, the … Continue reading “Putting Profits Before People”: Lords Demand FOS Rollback to Serve the Growth Agenda
Systemic Elitism: The Silent Engine Behind Financial Injustice
By Steve Conley | Academy of Life Planning "If you're not at the table, you're probably on the menu." For decades, the financial system has carefully cultivated the illusion of fairness, accountability, and oversight. But behind the curtain lies a truth that few dare to say aloud: a small, self-reinforcing elite has captured both the … Continue reading Systemic Elitism: The Silent Engine Behind Financial Injustice
From Earnings to Impact: Redefining Human Capital through Holistic Wealth Planning
From Earnings to Impact: Redefining Human Capital through Holistic Wealth Planning By Steve Conley In the conventional world of financial planning, human capital is often reduced to a mathematical abstraction—the present value of future earnings. This narrow view, rooted in neoclassical economic thought, fails to capture the full spectrum of human potential and the expansive … Continue reading From Earnings to Impact: Redefining Human Capital through Holistic Wealth Planning
The Great Tax Injustice: Why Ordinary Citizens Pay While Corporations Play
While UK governments talk tough on tightening public finances, their actions tell a different story. In an era of crumbling infrastructure, spiralling inequality, and unprecedented pressure on public services, it is not the wealthiest who are shouldering the burden—but ordinary citizens. From austerity to stealth taxes, successive governments have steadily shifted the financial weight onto … Continue reading The Great Tax Injustice: Why Ordinary Citizens Pay While Corporations Play
The Growth Agenda Trap: How City Bankers Shape Government Policy to Serve Their Own Interests
For decades, City bankers have dictated the civil service playbook, driving a relentless “growth agenda” that prioritises financial products over real solutions. This leads to a cycle of government-sponsored financial schemes, marketed as the ultimate solution to economic and social challenges. These products, however, rarely deliver on their promises. Instead, they serve the financial institutions … Continue reading The Growth Agenda Trap: How City Bankers Shape Government Policy to Serve Their Own Interests
Rethinking the UK’s Growth Agenda: Why Banking Alone Isn’t Enough
The UK Government’s focus on UK capital markets as a driver for economic growth raises important questions. While banking is a cornerstone of the economy, relying heavily on it risks overlooking opportunities in faster-growing, innovation-driven sectors. Here's what bankers are sharing with the government, shaping the direction of their "growth agenda": Losing our place as … Continue reading Rethinking the UK’s Growth Agenda: Why Banking Alone Isn’t Enough
Unlocking Human Potential: A Holistic View of Human Capital
When we think of human capital, education often takes centre stage. But human capital is far more complex and multifaceted. To truly understand its potential for transforming lives and reducing inequality, we need to expand our definition and adopt a holistic approach. Education alone, like maintaining the water temperature in a tropical fish tank, won’t … Continue reading Unlocking Human Potential: A Holistic View of Human Capital
Exploring Human Capital: An Inclusive Understanding of Intangible Wealth
In the evolving discourse around wealth and income, the interplay between human capital and financial capital takes centre stage. Total wealth, as I see it, is the sum of human capital and financial capital, net of financial liabilities. Here, financial capital represents tangible assets—those you can see and touch. Human capital, in contrast, is an … Continue reading Exploring Human Capital: An Inclusive Understanding of Intangible Wealth
