Today’s Sunday Times shares the heartbreaking story of Colin Chudley, a 68-year-old man driven to despair after losing his entire life savings—£260,000—to a sophisticated and coercive financial scam. Despite his efforts to recover, Colin was overwhelmed by the stress and died suddenly while canoeing, just weeks after the fraud was uncovered. Colin’s story is tragically … Continue reading Justice & Recovery Hub: Turning Tragedy into a Movement for Change
Tag: mental-health
Justice & Recovery Hub: Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Justice
Every year, thousands of individuals across the UK lose their life savings, pensions, and financial security—not to accidents or bad luck, but to corporate financial crime. These crimes don’t just devastate bank balances; they fracture trust, health, and hope. While support exists for victims of small-scale scams, no dedicated national service has focused on victims … Continue reading Justice & Recovery Hub: Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Justice
Psychopathic Traits in Financial Services: Prevalence, Impact, and Regulatory Responses
By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life Planning Author’s Note: A Personal Prelude In December 2007, just months before the Global Financial Crisis erupted and Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) became one of the most infamous taxpayer bailouts in history, I was made redundant from my role as Head of Savings and Investments Strategy. … Continue reading Psychopathic Traits in Financial Services: Prevalence, Impact, and Regulatory Responses
Your Money or Your Life: The Silent Crime That Steals Your Future
For every saver manipulated. Every pensioner misled. Every dream deferred by a smile in a suit. They didn’t point a gun.They didn’t need to. They used a prospectus.A policy.A polite phone call. This is the perfect crime—played out in boardrooms, bank branches, and brokerages. No blood spilled. Just lives unravelled. Slowly. Silently. And worst of … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: The Silent Crime That Steals Your Future
Discovering Our Talents: Turning Adversity into Purpose through the GAME Plan
In the Academy of Life Planning’s GAME Plan—Goals, Actions, Means, Execution—the Talents session plays a pivotal role in the “Goals” stage. It follows the Personal Values Assessment, where individuals explore “Who I Am.” In Talents we explore, “Why I’m Here.” Together, these form the cornerstone of authentic living and purposeful planning. The Talents session answers … Continue reading Discovering Our Talents: Turning Adversity into Purpose through the GAME Plan
Restoring the Soul of Psychotherapy: A Conversation with Andrew Hartz of the Open Therapy Institute
In a recent episode of Calm Conversations, Benjamin Boyce sat down with psychologist Dr. Andrew Hartz, founder of the Open Therapy Institute (OTI), for an enlightening discussion that went far beyond the surface of psychotherapy. They explored the gaps in modern mental health care, the secularisation of soul work, and the urgent need for a … Continue reading Restoring the Soul of Psychotherapy: A Conversation with Andrew Hartz of the Open Therapy Institute
Your Money or Your Life: When They Come for the Sick but Let Off the Crooks
🕯️ In memory of the vulnerable—abandoned by the very system meant to protect them.For every person too sick to fight back, and for every soul pushed to the brink of despair. 🔍 The Injustice Unmasked They call it reform.They say it’s about responsibility.But we see it for what it is—an assault on the powerless by … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When They Come for the Sick but Let Off the Crooks
Your Money or Your Life: When the Watchdog Becomes the Enabler
What happens when the last place left to turn… turns its back on you? In March 2018, Channel 4’s Dispatches aired an undercover investigation that rocked what little public confidence remained in the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The revelations were devastating: Cases decided without reading the files. Staff lacking even basic financial training making binding … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: When the Watchdog Becomes the Enabler
Your Money or Your Life: Unmasking the Highway Robbers
In memory of Ian Davis—and for everyone they tried to break. They say time heals all wounds. But what about wounds that were never meant to heal—because justice was never served? Ian Davis was a victim of financial crime. A man robbed not only of money, but of hope, dignity, and ultimately, his life. Ian … Continue reading Your Money or Your Life: Unmasking the Highway Robbers
Rebuild & Thrive: How to Take Back Control After Financial Crime
Why this free life recovery masterclass is exactly what victims need—and what you can do to help By Steve Conley, Founder – Academy of Life Planning Have You Been Left Picking Up the Pieces? If you’ve ever been the victim of a financial scam, bad advice, or institutional failure—you’ll know the feeling. The money’s gone. … Continue reading Rebuild & Thrive: How to Take Back Control After Financial Crime
