The Hidden Divide Between Captured and Sovereign AI Across financial planning, a quiet revolution is taking place. Artificial intelligence is learning to listen, analyse, and even sound like us. It can explain pensions, model cashflows, and deliver answers in seconds. But beneath the surface of this technological leap lies a deeper question — who owns … Continue reading 🧭 Who Owns the Intention?
Tag: Financial Planning
Why ChatGPT Users Aren’t the Industry’s Next Leads — They’re the Industry’s Successors
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning When St James’s Place AI lead Peter Ferguson recently told the Money Marketing conference that “people using ChatGPT for advice could be a good thing,” he was half right. Yes — it is a good thing.But not for the reason he imagines. Ferguson suggested that AI users … Continue reading Why ChatGPT Users Aren’t the Industry’s Next Leads — They’re the Industry’s Successors
🌍 Beyond Robo-Advice: How Life-First AI Can Redefine Wealth for Humanity
“If we train AI on product pipelines, it will entrench dependency.If we train it on human purpose, it will amplify sovereignty.” Artificial intelligence is transforming finance — but so far, it’s been trained to think like a salesperson, not a human being. Recent moves by big tech into financial advice (see below) signal a powerful … Continue reading 🌍 Beyond Robo-Advice: How Life-First AI Can Redefine Wealth for Humanity
⚖️ Synthesis: The Subtle Convergence of AI Adoption and Industry Capture in Financial Planning
AI adoption in financial services is being celebrated as a breakthrough in efficiency, compliance, and client experience. However, beneath the optimism lies a quieter, more consequential transformation: the fusion of automation with legacy industry assumptions. At face value, these discussions appear progressive — focused on productivity, human-AI collaboration, and ethical awareness. The rhetoric emphasises safety, … Continue reading ⚖️ Synthesis: The Subtle Convergence of AI Adoption and Industry Capture in Financial Planning
The Trusted Adviser Project – My 15-Year Mission
Trust: What Customers Want Most Fifteen years ago, when I was Head of Investments at HSBC, we set out to understand what mattered most to people when choosing a financial adviser. We expected answers like qualifications, products, or price competitiveness. The response was strikingly clear: the number one priority was Trust. Not performance charts. Not … Continue reading The Trusted Adviser Project – My 15-Year Mission
Downsizing Protection: How Families Can Preserve the Residence Nil Rate Band
For many families, the family home is their largest asset. But what happens if that home is sold — perhaps to fund care fees in later life? Does the family lose valuable inheritance tax protection? Thankfully, the rules include something called downsizing protection that ensures families aren’t penalised for making difficult decisions. Understanding the Residence … Continue reading Downsizing Protection: How Families Can Preserve the Residence Nil Rate Band
🤖💬 AI & Client Data: What You Need to Know (Q&A)
By Steve Conley | Financial Life Coach | Academy of Life Planning As more tools like ChatGPT, Fathom, and other AI assistants become integrated into financial and legacy planning, clients are asking an important question: “Where does my data go—and is it safe?” In this short Q&A, I’ll walk you through exactly how client data … Continue reading 🤖💬 AI & Client Data: What You Need to Know (Q&A)
Weekend Essay: Angela Rayner and the Price of Not Seeking Advice
The resignation of Angela Rayner last week over a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) dispute has been described as one of the most dramatic political falls in recent years. Once tipped as Labour’s future leader, Rayner now finds herself relegated to the back benches—her career blighted not by scandalous intent, but by a failure to … Continue reading Weekend Essay: Angela Rayner and the Price of Not Seeking Advice
A Different Path in Financial Planning: From Selling Products to Empowering People
Imagine you’re standing at a crossroads. One sign points toward the familiar road — a shiny brochure promising a profession, a pathway, a future in financial planning. It looks secure, respected, and even glamorous. But if you listen closely, you’ll hear echoes: stories of clients mis-sold products, of advisers trapped in sales targets, of trust … Continue reading A Different Path in Financial Planning: From Selling Products to Empowering People
Inheritance Tax Raid Rumours: When “Warm Hands” and “Cold Hands” Make No Difference
The government is once again rumoured to be eyeing the assets of those who have worked hard all their lives—this time by tightening inheritance tax (IHT) rules. According to reports in the Times today, Treasury officials are exploring measures that could make it harder for people to pass on wealth to their children without a … Continue reading Inheritance Tax Raid Rumours: When “Warm Hands” and “Cold Hands” Make No Difference
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