By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s financial services watchdog, has long held a dual mandate: to protect consumers and to promote competition in the public interest. But following the latest Wealth Show podcast interview with Nick Hume, Head of Advisers, Wealth and Pensions at … Continue reading Is the FCA Aligning Too Closely with the Regulated at the Expense of the Consumer?
Tag: finance
PwC’s Global Business Model: A House of Cards Failing British Expats in the QROPS Scandal
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), long regarded as one of the prestigious "Big Four" accountancy firms, is facing unprecedented scrutiny across the globe. While recent headlines highlight scandals from Australia to China, the UK’s financial landscape tells a similarly alarming story—particularly for British expatriates who have suffered catastrophic financial losses through QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes). This … Continue reading PwC’s Global Business Model: A House of Cards Failing British Expats in the QROPS Scandal
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
Why Now is the Time for South African Financial Planners to Embrace a Planning-Led, Relationship-Driven Future
The South African financial planning profession stands at a pivotal crossroads. Insights from the recent Adviser Barometer 2024/25 webinar, presented by Taryn Duncan of Allan Gray and Mark Polson of UK-based consultancy The Lang Cat, reveal a powerful global trend: the future of advice is moving away from product selection and towards client empowerment through … Continue reading Why Now is the Time for South African Financial Planners to Embrace a Planning-Led, Relationship-Driven Future
Planning the Person, Not the Portfolio: The Future of Financial Life Planning
In the world of traditional financial advice, the focus has too often been on the portfolio rather than the person.The processes of factfinding, risk profiling, and cashflow modelling have been framed as the core of “planning” — yet these steps have been primarily designed to lead clients towards product implementation. At the Academy of Life … Continue reading Planning the Person, Not the Portfolio: The Future of Financial Life Planning
From Patient to Planner: How the Academy of Life Planning Applies NHS Principles to Financial Well-Being
At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe in turning proven healthcare philosophies into powerful financial planning principles. Inspired by the NHS Long Term Plan and the person-centered care model, we’ve developed an approach to wealth that treats individuals not as passive recipients of financial advice, but as active participants in their own prosperity. Just … Continue reading From Patient to Planner: How the Academy of Life Planning Applies NHS Principles to Financial Well-Being
From Horse and Cart to Ferrari: The Evolution from Traditional Financial Planning to Holistic Wealth Planning
By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning What’s the difference between traditional financial planning and holistic wealth planning? It’s a question I’m often asked, and the answer is both simple and profound. Andy Agathangelou, founder of the Transparency Taskforce and a lifelong veteran of the financial services industry, once described our work together in a … Continue reading From Horse and Cart to Ferrari: The Evolution from Traditional Financial Planning to Holistic Wealth Planning
Is the FCA Leadership Upholding Integrity – or Undermining It Through the Growth Agenda?
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning Integrity is more than a word etched into the FCA’s code of conduct—it is the cornerstone of trust in the financial system. Yet, recent FCA court cases, set against the backdrop of a government-mandated growth agenda, raise a troubling question: Is the FCA’s leadership still … Continue reading Is the FCA Leadership Upholding Integrity – or Undermining It Through the Growth Agenda?
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
From Policy Capture to Public Interest: Rebalancing the FCA’s Objectives for a Fairer Financial System
By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning When the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was established, its primary duty was clear: to protect consumers. Yet in recent years, a troubling shift has emerged—one that places industry growth above public interest, leaving victims of financial crime struggling for redress and reform. This is no … Continue reading From Policy Capture to Public Interest: Rebalancing the FCA’s Objectives for a Fairer Financial System
Academy of Life Planning 