When governments test education reforms, we often find lessons that resonate far beyond schools and universities. One such lesson comes from the economics of human capital research [Essays on the economics of human capital accumulation By Lucio Rizzica]: raising aspirations alone is not enough. The UK’s Widening Participation initiative in the 1990s, for example, encouraged teenagers … Continue reading From Policy to Practice: Lessons on Empowerment for Planners
Tag: education
🌱 Introducing The Empowerment Cohort: Turning Human Capital into Sovereign Living
At the Academy of Life Planning, we’ve always believed that real wealth is not measured in money alone, but in human capital — our skills, passions, networks, creativity, and purpose. Yet too often, financial systems and even “planning” conversations strip people of agency, leaving them dependent, isolated, or defined by what they lack. It doesn’t … Continue reading 🌱 Introducing The Empowerment Cohort: Turning Human Capital into Sovereign Living
Goliathon: The Battle Mech for Justice
Justice is under siege. Ordinary people are outmatched by systems designed to exhaust, confuse, and intimidate. When faced with bureaucracy, corporate power, or financial exploitation, the individual often feels like a lone foot soldier staring up at a towering machine. That’s why we built Goliathon—a battle mech designed for the citizens’ side of the fight. … Continue reading Goliathon: The Battle Mech for Justice
Five Tips for a Graduate GAME Plan in a Cooling Job Market
The news is sobering. According to new data from Adzuna, entry-level vacancies in the UK have dropped to their lowest level in five years. Employers are cutting back on lower-paid roles for younger staff in the wake of higher National Insurance contributions, rising minimum wages, and broader cost pressures. At the same time, AI is … Continue reading Five Tips for a Graduate GAME Plan in a Cooling Job Market
University or Bust? Why Young People Need a Graduate GAME Plan
It was A-level results day. Across the country, teenagers were refreshing UCAS, parents were on edge, and university prospectuses were being dusted off. For many, it felt like the only path. But is it? Two decades after Tony Blair pledged to send half of Britain’s young people to university, that ambition has been achieved. Yet … Continue reading University or Bust? Why Young People Need a Graduate GAME Plan
🎓 When the System Shuts You Out, Build Your Own Path
Why graduates need a GAME Plan for life beyond rejection It’s the question every graduate dreads: “What’s next?”For too many today, the answer is bleak. Rejections from AI-driven recruitment systems, unpaid internships, demoralising trips to the Jobcentre, and—inevitably—signing on for Universal Credit. Recent reports highlight a shocking reality: over 630,000 graduates are now claiming Universal … Continue reading 🎓 When the System Shuts You Out, Build Your Own Path
One Rule for SJP? Why We Must Question Who Teaches Our Children About Money
When your CEO sits on the CityUK Leadership Council and co-authors the Mansion House Accord, what can you get away with? Apparently, quite a lot. If your firm’s fee-for-no-service scandal gets waved away by regulators more interested in growth than justice…If your calls to deregulate are echoed by the Treasury while whistleblower complaints are ignored…If … Continue reading One Rule for SJP? Why We Must Question Who Teaches Our Children About Money
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
🌍 The GAME Plan Goes Global: Now Available in Spanish
At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe that life planning is a universal right—not a luxury. That’s why we’re proud to announce a major milestone in our global mission. 🎉 The GAME Plan training course is now available in Spanish! As part of our commitment to building a truly collaborative, international community of life … Continue reading 🌍 The GAME Plan Goes Global: Now Available in Spanish
Unlocking Economic Potential: The Role of Human Capital
When we think about the foundations of economic growth and societal well-being, one key factor often rises to the top: people. Specifically, the skills, knowledge, and capacities they bring to the table—known as human capital. For financial planners and policymakers alike, understanding and investing in human capital is not just an academic exercise; it’s a … Continue reading Unlocking Economic Potential: The Role of Human Capital
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