FCA Opens Door to Adviser Charging for Targeted Support – But Who Will Pay?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has on Friday published its latest consultation paper (CP25/26), opening the door for adviser firms to charge consumers for “targeted support”. This new category of regulated activity is pitched as a middle ground between full financial advice and generic guidance, aimed at helping millions of people who may not be … Continue reading FCA Opens Door to Adviser Charging for Targeted Support – But Who Will Pay? →

From Tragedy to Justice: Why I Built Goliathon for the Financially Exploited

[Me & Jessica on our wedding day, 20 June 2024] After watching the Footballers V11 documentary, and listening to others who’ve been financially scammed or suffered financial injustice, one thing becomes painfully clear: People have no one.They trust no one.And rightly so. So… why trust me? What can I possibly offer? Well, I’ve been there. … Continue reading From Tragedy to Justice: Why I Built Goliathon for the Financially Exploited →

Choosing the Harder Road: A Planner’s Pledge to Serve

I became a financial planner because I wanted to help people. Not to sell them things. Not to push them down a funnel. But to see them walk away lighter, more confident, and more in control of their lives. The truth is, that’s harder than it sounds. Our industry is built on the gravitational pull … Continue reading Choosing the Harder Road: A Planner’s Pledge to Serve →

Your Path to Profit as an Academy Member

From your first affiliate link to running your own full-service practice — here’s how you can earn income while serving clients with integrity. You’ve joined the Academy of Life Planning because you believe in ethical, human-first financial planning. But how do you turn that passion into income? This guide shows you three simple, progressive ways … Continue reading Your Path to Profit as an Academy Member →

Is It Time to Leave St. James’s Place? Discover a New Path in Financial Planning

Are you an SJP adviser feeling the pressure?Or do you know someone stuck in that system—frustrated, exhausted, conflicted? If so, you’re not alone.And there is another way. ✅ Let’s start with two simple questions: Do you want to run a planning business built around your values, not someone else’s targets? Do you believe clients deserve … Continue reading Is It Time to Leave St. James’s Place? Discover a New Path in Financial Planning →

🧭 Reimagining Financial Empowerment in the Aquarian Age: A Response to FCA CP25/17

By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning The FCA's Consultation Paper CP25/17, “Supporting consumers' pensions and investment decisions: proposals for targeted support,” sets out to close the so-called “advice gap” through a new regime of cohort-based recommendations. But to those of us working to empower individuals, not intermediaries, this paper represents a step backwards—toward … Continue reading 🧭 Reimagining Financial Empowerment in the Aquarian Age: A Response to FCA CP25/17 →

🚶‍♂️ Thinning the Herd: How the Banking Elite, Government, and Captured Regulators Are Rigging the System

For all their talk of fairness, financial institutions and regulators have a habit of showing their true colours when it matters most. They say one thing, but their actions paint a very different picture. And if history has taught us anything, it’s this: when powerful institutions face accountability, they don’t just fight back—they try to … Continue reading 🚶‍♂️ Thinning the Herd: How the Banking Elite, Government, and Captured Regulators Are Rigging the System →

Lessons We Can Learn from Business Coaches for Solopreneurs: Know Your “Who” and “Why” When Planning Your Financial Future

Running your own business is both exciting and demanding. As a solopreneur, you wear many hats, juggling everything from strategy to execution. But amid the hustle, have you taken the time to dig deep and ask yourself: Who am I? Why am I doing this? These aren’t just abstract questions; they’re foundational to your success, … Continue reading Lessons We Can Learn from Business Coaches for Solopreneurs: Know Your “Who” and “Why” When Planning Your Financial Future →

Lessons from the ASA Ruling on Zimran Ltd: A Wake-Up Call for Online Financial Education Providers

Today’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) decision against Zimran Ltd, trading as Prosperi Academy, highlights the critical importance of transparency, accuracy, and responsibility in advertising financial education services. The ruling serves as a valuable lesson for providers in this sector, urging all to reassess their marketing strategies to ensure they build trust rather than erode it. … Continue reading Lessons from the ASA Ruling on Zimran Ltd: A Wake-Up Call for Online Financial Education Providers →