By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning "Do we plan for what is, or for what is coming?" It’s a question increasingly asked of financial planners as we edge closer to April 2027—the date when unused pension pots may no longer remain exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT), following proposals made in the 2024 … Continue reading Pension Planning in Limbo: Ethical Advice in the Shadow of Pending Tax Reform
Tag: Financial Planning
AI Won’t Wait — And Neither Should You
When it comes to preparing for an AI-powered future, Gen Z has been left hanging.Schools aren’t teaching it. Employers aren’t training for it. Policymakers are watching from the sidelines. And yet, AI is transforming the world of work — right now. According to a recent Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report, while 43% of Heartland … Continue reading AI Won’t Wait — And Neither Should You
🧭 India Just Drew a Line — Should the UK Follow?
SEBI, India’s financial regulator, has made a bold and principled move: disentangling financial advice from product distribution. It ruled that Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs) must not describe themselves as “financial advisers” or “planners” unless they’re formally registered as fee-only fiduciaries (RIAs). Why? Because doing so misleads the public, confuses roles, and masks conflicts of interest. … Continue reading 🧭 India Just Drew a Line — Should the UK Follow?
The Great Advice Divide: Why Boomers Delegate and Zillennials Demand Empowerment
💸 £5.5 trillion is about to walk out the door. That’s the estimated value of assets traditional advice firms could lose over the next decade as wealth transfers from Boomers to Zillennials. "The future doesn’t belong to those who manage wealth—it belongs to those who know how to grow it, use it, and share it … Continue reading The Great Advice Divide: Why Boomers Delegate and Zillennials Demand Empowerment
“A Stain on Our Industry”: SJP Acknowledges Past Failings in the Protection Market
In the shadows of the financial advice world, where trust should be sacred and transparency non-negotiable, a quiet reckoning has begun. One of the UK’s largest and most influential advice firms, St. James’s Place (SJP), has finally broken rank and spoken out. Not about success. Not about service. But about failure. Let’s call it what … Continue reading “A Stain on Our Industry”: SJP Acknowledges Past Failings in the Protection Market
Your Money or Your Life: The Insurance Industry Pounced
Tick, tick, boom. This was the moment they were waiting for. While the government slashes £5 billion from welfare, the insurance industry swoops in with a smile and a business plan. The Income Protection Task Force didn’t miss a beat—they’ve written to the Prime Minister offering to “play a pivotal role” in supporting benefit reforms. … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Insurance Industry Pounced
How the GAME Plan Empowers Victims of Financial Crime to Rebuild Their Lives
Financial Crime: A Crisis of Trust and Survival For too long, financial crime has been framed as an economic issue. But as the Faces of Financial Crime report makes clear, the reality is far more devastating. Victims don’t just lose money—they lose their peace of mind, their sense of security, and in some cases, even … Continue reading How the GAME Plan Empowers Victims of Financial Crime to Rebuild Their Lives
Competitor Analysis of Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners (UK & International with UK Presence)
1. Identification of Competitors Direct Competitors (Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners): These are firms offering holistic financial planning without intermediating product sales. They provide advice-only or life planning services and do not act as introducers to regulated advisers (i.e. they are not merely lead generators). Key examples include: Second Life Financial Planning (UK): A newly launched … Continue reading Competitor Analysis of Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners (UK & International with UK Presence)
Why You Need a Professional Ally on Your Side
The financial services industry is a minefield. Even as AI helps to eliminate information asymmetry, powerful incentives continue to distort outcomes for the public. Intermediaries earn commissions and product-based fees, ensuring their loyalty lies with financial institutions rather than the consumer. New firms pop up, promising tax loopholes that later prove to be scams, leaving … Continue reading Why You Need a Professional Ally on Your Side
How to Avoid the Inheritance Tax Grab: Why You Need a Holistic Financial Planner
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is becoming a growing concern for many families, as HMRC’s latest figures reveal a relentless increase in tax receipts. With the government taking in a record-breaking £639m in IHT in January alone—a 15% jump from last year—more estates are being dragged into the tax net. If you’re looking for ways to protect … Continue reading How to Avoid the Inheritance Tax Grab: Why You Need a Holistic Financial Planner
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