Beyond Money: How Human, Social, and Psychological Capital Drive Real Economic Growth

“Wealth is not just what you own. It’s what you know, how you connect, and who you become.” For decades, mainstream economics has taught us to measure prosperity through the narrow lens of financial capital—land, factories, investments, balance sheets. Yet a growing body of research, including a fascinating study from the Annals of the Constantin … Continue reading Beyond Money: How Human, Social, and Psychological Capital Drive Real Economic Growth

Finance Lobbying Is Out of Control – Here’s How We Take Back Balance

The financial lobby has more influence over UK policy today than at any time since the 2008 crash. Ministers and regulators are being nudged—some might say coerced—into promoting the growth of finance as if it were an unquestionable good. But history tells us otherwise. When finance grows unchecked, inequality widens, crises multiply, and society pays … Continue reading Finance Lobbying Is Out of Control – Here’s How We Take Back Balance

🕵️‍♂️ Redemption or Reputation Laundering?

The Curious Case of Alexander Wood, ‘Reformed Fraudster’ "I stole £1.2m in 40 minutes, then blew it all in Harrods."That’s the chilling headline from a recent article in The Sunday Times, profiling Alexander Wood—a man who claims to have swindled over £50 million through authorised push payment (APP) scams before reinventing himself as an anti-fraud … Continue reading 🕵️‍♂️ Redemption or Reputation Laundering?

🌍 The Sovereignty Revolution: A New Era in Financial Empowerment Has Arrived

In every age, a movement emerges to challenge the status quo and offer a better way forward. Today, as the world teeters between crisis and transformation, a quiet revolution is gaining ground—a movement rooted in transparency, empowerment, and justice. We call it the Sovereignty Revolution. At the heart of this revolution is the Academy of … Continue reading 🌍 The Sovereignty Revolution: A New Era in Financial Empowerment Has Arrived

Caught Between Ages: The Piscean Leader in an Aquarian Shift

By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning "The Age of Pisces was about hierarchy, secrecy, and intermediaries. The Age of Aquarius is about transparency, truth, and liberation. Leaders who cling to the old way will find themselves broken by the new wave." Leadership is undergoing a seismic shift. We are witnessing a collective transition—from the … Continue reading Caught Between Ages: The Piscean Leader in an Aquarian Shift

Beyond the Perimeter: Why the Financial Ombudsman Is Failing Survivors of Financial Exploitation

"Justice too long delayed is justice denied." – Martin Luther King Jr. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) was meant to be a safety net—a free, fair, and accessible route for ordinary people to seek redress when the financial system fails them. But for thousands of victims of financial exploitation, that promise rings hollow. At the … Continue reading Beyond the Perimeter: Why the Financial Ombudsman Is Failing Survivors of Financial Exploitation

Dear Nikhil Rathi: A £1.5m Crypto Scam Got 12 Years — But What About £10bn QROPS Fraud?

By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning 👏 Well done, FCA. Two fraudsters who scammed 65 individuals out of £1.5 million through fake crypto investments have rightly been sentenced to a combined 12 years in prison. Justice was swift, public, and commendable. But what about the 40,000 British victims of the QROPS scandal — robbed … Continue reading Dear Nikhil Rathi: A £1.5m Crypto Scam Got 12 Years — But What About £10bn QROPS Fraud?

💥 Exposing Britain’s Dirty Secret: Why I Fight for Transparency in the New Age

"Human beings interpret change in different ways—some through logic and evidence, others through intuition, cycles, and symbols. What follows may not resonate with everyone, but for many, the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius offers a compelling lens to understand what's unfolding in finance, politics, and society. Whether literal or … Continue reading 💥 Exposing Britain’s Dirty Secret: Why I Fight for Transparency in the New Age

When Silence is Complicity: The Institutional Refusal to Confront Financial Crime

By Steve Conley Founder, Academy of Life Planning | Advocate for Financial Justice Across the Isle of Man and Malta, a disturbing pattern has emerged—one that undermines public trust, discredits regulatory systems, and leaves thousands of victims in the wake of financial devastation. The pattern is this: credible, corroborated claims of financial crime are being … Continue reading When Silence is Complicity: The Institutional Refusal to Confront Financial Crime

Guarding the Rule of Law in the Face of Financial Power: The UK’s Crossroads Moment

By Steve Conley Founder, Academy of Life Planning | Get SAFE | Transparency Task Force Ambassador In today’s political economy, the greatest threats to the rule of law often arise not from overt illegality, but from a deep entanglement between finance and state power—where policy is shaped less by democratic will and more by private … Continue reading Guarding the Rule of Law in the Face of Financial Power: The UK’s Crossroads Moment