Your Money or Your Life — Part II Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority effectively told the advice market not to panic. After two years of scrutiny into ongoing advice services, the regulator concluded that: 83% of reviews had taken place, 15% of clients had declined or ignored reviews, and fewer than 2% involved no … Continue reading The FCA’s Tone Has Changed. And So Has the Risk.
Tag: get-safe
Most of Society Operates Outside the FCA Perimeter
Why restoring human agency is not a crime For many people in Britain, the phrase “unregulated” has quietly become synonymous with “illegal.” That confusion is growing. Every time headlines appear about unauthorised investment schemes, finfluencer prosecutions, pension scams, or illegal financial promotions, the public absorbs a subtle psychological message: If you are not FCA authorised, … Continue reading Most of Society Operates Outside the FCA Perimeter
Transfers Are Regulated. Outcomes Are Not.
A quiet gap in the system—and why it matters now There is a pattern emerging in the stories we see. Different people.Different advisers.Different jurisdictions. But the structure is remarkably consistent. A pension leaves the UK system.Multiple parties are paid along the way.And when things go wrong—no one appears to own the outcome. This isn’t a … Continue reading Transfers Are Regulated. Outcomes Are Not.
Most People Don’t Read the Contracts They Sign.
Most People Don’t Read the Contracts They Sign. That’s Not a Personal Failure — It’s a System Design Problem. By the Academy of Life Planning A recent consumer survey of over 50,000 people by Survey Pop asked a simple question: How often do you read the fine print on a contract? The answers should give … Continue reading Most People Don’t Read the Contracts They Sign.
When Judges Use AI… What It Means for You
There’s been a quiet but important shift in the UK courts. Senior judges are now openly using artificial intelligence as part of their day-to-day work. Not to decide cases—but to improve clarity, reduce error, and increase efficiency. That matters. Because it shows where AI is genuinely useful—and where the boundaries still sit. The judiciary has … Continue reading When Judges Use AI… What It Means for You
When Work Becomes Too Heavy: Why Mental Health Support Isn’t Optional
There are moments in life when everything stacks up at once. Pressure. Loss. Financial strain. Conflict. Uncertainty. And when that happens, work doesn’t sit separately from life—it becomes part of the weight. A recent article by Liz Twist highlights something important: Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for people under 50 in … Continue reading When Work Becomes Too Heavy: Why Mental Health Support Isn’t Optional
Introducing The Leveller — Know What You’re Signing Before You Sign It
By Steve Conley, Founder of Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation) For years, we have sat with people after the damage was done. People who trusted.People who signed.People who didn’t realise what they had agreed to until it was too late. The consequences are rarely just financial.They affect confidence, relationships, health—and sometimes a person’s entire … Continue reading Introducing The Leveller — Know What You’re Signing Before You Sign It
The Evidence That Went Missing: One Business Owner’s Fight for Answers from Lloyds, Police and Regulators
In 2013, a Norfolk business owner walked into his bank with a concern. He believed something was wrong inside his own company accounts—potential fraud, possibly involving a senior employee. He expected support. Instead, he says, the system turned against him. What followed is a 12-year battle involving allegations of unauthorised payments, missing evidence, regulatory inaction, … Continue reading The Evidence That Went Missing: One Business Owner’s Fight for Answers from Lloyds, Police and Regulators
A 14-year silence… now under review
“£674m a year in hidden fees over 14 years. Now ask yourself: what did you receive — and are you due a refund?” The Financial Conduct Authority has reopened a question many assumed had already been settled: Should trail commission still exist? Not for new business—that was addressed in 2012 under the Retail Distribution Review … Continue reading A 14-year silence… now under review
Beyond Regulation: Bringing Consumer Agency Upstream of Harm
The growing momentum behind calls for reform of the UK’s financial regulatory system reflects a shared and increasingly urgent concern: the framework designed to protect consumers is not consistently delivering on its promise. Recent discussions across parliamentary groups, industry forums, and advocacy bodies have rightly focused on questions of accountability, oversight, and enforcement. These are … Continue reading Beyond Regulation: Bringing Consumer Agency Upstream of Harm
Academy of Life Planning 