“The aim of life is self-development. To realise one’s nature perfectly—that is what each of us is here for.” — Oscar Wilde At the Academy of Life Planning, empowerment isn’t a buzzword. It’s a mission. A movement. A model. But empowered for what, exactly? The answer is simple, yet profound:To live your life plan. Fully. … Continue reading Empowered for What, Exactly? Why We Do What We Do
Tag: finance
💻 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
🦠 Is Bitcoin a Financial Virus?
Why Responsible Advisers Must Speak Up Bitcoin is lighting up red flags as it seeks entry into core investment portfolios. Let’s be clear: if an individual wants to speculate with a small satellite allocation, that’s their prerogative. But if I were a reputable product distributor, I wouldn’t want the liability of recommending Bitcoin as a … Continue reading 🦠 Is Bitcoin a Financial Virus?
💼 VAT and Financial Advice: Let’s Get Honest
“Advice is not exempt because it feels valuable. Exemption applies because the law says it does.” In the world of financial services, there’s a persistent (and often convenient) misunderstanding: that all financial advice is VAT-exempt. It isn’t. And it’s time we stopped pretending otherwise. As someone working to empower consumers and advisers alike through transparency … Continue reading 💼 VAT and Financial Advice: Let’s Get Honest
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
Pisces or Aquarius? The PFS Spends £1 Million—But Whose Future Are They Funding?
“We’re building a profession,” they say. But are we still just dressing up distribution in a new robe?” This week, the Personal Finance Society (PFS), under the influence of its parent body the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), announced a £1 million initiative to recruit “new blood” into financial planning. They’ve called it Pathway to the … Continue reading Pisces or Aquarius? The PFS Spends £1 Million—But Whose Future Are They Funding?
Run-On, Not Run-Off: Why It’s Time to Reclaim Our Pensions from the Insurance Industry
“There comes a point where silence becomes betrayal.” — Martin Luther King Jr. For decades, workplace pension schemes have promised security in retirement. But behind the scenes, a silent transfer of power—and profit—is taking place. Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, once the gold standard of retirement provision, are being sold off en masse to life … Continue reading Run-On, Not Run-Off: Why It’s Time to Reclaim Our Pensions from the Insurance Industry
The Growth Agenda Is Just Asset Hoovering—Now with Government Backing
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning “They call it growth. We call it extraction.” The Mansion House Accord is being hailed as a visionary step towards unlocking investment in the UK’s future. In reality, it’s a familiar game repackaged. We’ve seen this before in financial advice—now it’s the government’s turn to get a … Continue reading The Growth Agenda Is Just Asset Hoovering—Now with Government Backing
💼 The Three-Headed Lobby: How UK Finance, TheCityUK, and the City of London Corporation Shape the Rules of Extraction
“The system isn’t broken. It was built this way.” If we want to understand why so many financial reforms in Britain benefit institutions over individuals, we must look beyond surface policies to the power structures that design the game. Three key organisations stand at the heart of this architecture: UK Finance, TheCityUK, and the City … Continue reading 💼 The Three-Headed Lobby: How UK Finance, TheCityUK, and the City of London Corporation Shape the Rules of Extraction
The Growth Agenda: Asset Hoovering by Another Name
Why Deregulation Isn’t Growth—It’s Extraction, Repackaged “You can’t regulate for trust by dismantling the brakes.” In the wake of the Mansion House reforms, a familiar story is unfolding. The government’s so-called growth agenda is, in truth, a revival of the old Piscean order—an extractive financial system masquerading as economic progress. It’s not about real innovation … Continue reading The Growth Agenda: Asset Hoovering by Another Name
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