Think twice before trusting “advice” from someone who’s also selling you an investment. It might sound convenient – your adviser has a perfect opportunity just for you – but that double role can hide huge conflicts of interest. The £21 million Asset Land Investment scandal is a prime example. Investors were lured by salespeople posing … Continue reading Dodgy Advice and a Land-Banking Scam: Lessons from the Asset Land Case
Tag: money
The Financial Planning Crisis: Why We Need a Clear Wall Between Advice and Products
Trust in financial planning is at an all-time low. Scandals like the recent £2m fraud case involving Nexus IFA only deepen the public’s cynicism. But let’s be honest—this isn’t a one-off. It’s a symptom of a broken system that blurs the lines between advice and sales, leaving consumers vulnerable. The solution? A financial planning profession … Continue reading The Financial Planning Crisis: Why We Need a Clear Wall Between Advice and Products
Holistic Wealth Planning: The Future of Financial Advice Beyond Products
Imagine sitting down with a city banker—someone on a six-figure salary, comfortably supplemented by annual bonuses. The conversation starts predictably: pension contributions, stock and fund investments, perhaps a foray into Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) or Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs). Conventional financial planning might recommend maximising these strategies for tax efficiency and long-term growth. But what … Continue reading Holistic Wealth Planning: The Future of Financial Advice Beyond Products
Becoming a Holistic Wealth Planner: Why Should You Care?
Do you dream of running your own business, living by your own rules, and being your own boss? Imagine a career where you leverage what you’re good at, what you love, what the world needs, and what people will pay you for. A career where you don’t just earn a living, but make a real … Continue reading Becoming a Holistic Wealth Planner: Why Should You Care?
Why I Know Financial Recovery Is Possible—Because I’ve Lived It
Why I Know Financial Recovery Is Possible—Because I’ve Lived It I know what it means to lose everything—not once, but twice. For decades, I led pension strategies for the largest financial institutions in Britain. I understood financial security inside out—on paper. But life has a way of tearing up even the best-laid plans. Through two … Continue reading Why I Know Financial Recovery Is Possible—Because I’ve Lived It
Reclaiming Your Future: How Holistic Wealth Planning Empowers Financial Scam Victims
The Problem with Traditional Financial Advice For most people, having a financial adviser means relying on someone who, despite their expertise, may have a conflict of interest. This is because traditional financial advisers often earn money from selling financial products—whether through commissions or fees attached to transactions. This raises an important question: Can clients ever … Continue reading Reclaiming Your Future: How Holistic Wealth Planning Empowers Financial Scam Victims
The Growth Agenda Trap: How City Bankers Shape Government Policy to Serve Their Own Interests
For decades, City bankers have dictated the civil service playbook, driving a relentless “growth agenda” that prioritises financial products over real solutions. This leads to a cycle of government-sponsored financial schemes, marketed as the ultimate solution to economic and social challenges. These products, however, rarely deliver on their promises. Instead, they serve the financial institutions … Continue reading The Growth Agenda Trap: How City Bankers Shape Government Policy to Serve Their Own Interests
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
Rethinking Retirement Anxiety: A Holistic Perspective on Financial Well-being
A recent study by Standard Life highlights a common concern among millennials—the fear of not saving enough for retirement. While financial preparedness is important, this research appears to frame the issue solely through the lens of product-based financial solutions, omitting crucial elements of human capital, life purpose, and psychological development. To truly empower individuals, we … Continue reading Rethinking Retirement Anxiety: A Holistic Perspective on Financial Well-being
Human Capital: The Missing Piece in Financial Planning
For nearly a century, economists have recognized the value of human capital, yet the financial industry remains fixated on financial capital—predominantly, how to save and invest money that has already been earned. This narrow focus is no accident; it is the by-product of an industry designed to sell financial products, not to empower individuals. An … Continue reading Human Capital: The Missing Piece in Financial Planning
Academy of Life Planning 