At the Academy of Life Planning, we believe that true wealth begins not with money, but with meaning. Before you plan your finances, you must plan your life. That’s why we created the GAME Plan — a holistic framework designed to align your values, purpose, and resources with the life you were meant to live. … Continue reading The 16 Essentials of a Life Plan: Building Your GAME Plan for Sovereign Living
Tag: money
The Future of Financial Planning Is Outside the Regulatory Perimeter
For decades, wealth management has been dominated by financial intermediaries—agents of product companies who sit across the table from clients, selling investments and policies. But the next generation of investors is sending a clear message: they don’t want product pushers, they want professional allies. A seismic shift is underway. Capgemini’s 2025 World Wealth Report finds … Continue reading The Future of Financial Planning Is Outside the Regulatory Perimeter
Human Capital—not Financial Products—is the True Foundation of Prosperity
We’ve been sold a dangerous illusion: that prosperity comes from financial products. Pensions, ISAs, insurance, investments—these are the shiny wrappers that the industry pushes as the answer to our future security. But let’s be clear: no financial product has ever created real wealth. The true source of prosperity lies elsewhere. It resides in us. The … Continue reading Human Capital—not Financial Products—is the True Foundation of Prosperity
🌱 Staying the Course: Why Integrity Wins in the End
In financial services, it can sometimes feel like the world has been turned upside down. The extractors—the ones who profit by keeping people dependent, confused, and exploited—seem to live richly. Meanwhile, those who choose the higher path of transparency, empowerment, and integrity often find themselves scraping by. It’s tempting to ask: is it worth it? … Continue reading 🌱 Staying the Course: Why Integrity Wins in the End
University or Bust? Why Young People Need a Graduate GAME Plan
It was A-level results day. Across the country, teenagers were refreshing UCAS, parents were on edge, and university prospectuses were being dusted off. For many, it felt like the only path. But is it? Two decades after Tony Blair pledged to send half of Britain’s young people to university, that ambition has been achieved. Yet … Continue reading University or Bust? Why Young People Need a Graduate GAME Plan
The Hidden Wealth Within Us: Why Human Capital Holds the Key to Prosperity
When economists value a nation, they often compare its market value (what it’s worth in total) to its book value (the tangible assets you can see and measure). Today, that ratio is about 5:1. In other words, only around 20% of a nation’s wealth is physical—land, buildings, machinery—while the remaining 80% lies in the invisible: … Continue reading The Hidden Wealth Within Us: Why Human Capital Holds the Key to Prosperity
Why Investing in Yourself Beats Investing in the Market—Especially at 20
The case of Ella Coombs shows how non-intermediating planning unlocks real wealth creation. Case Study Summary: Ella Coombs – The 20-Year-Old Entrepreneur Defying Convention Source: The Telegraph, 8 August 2025 Ella Coombs, aged 20, works three jobs—including managing an RSPCA charity shop—and lives rent-free with her parents. She has earned nearly £10,000 pre-tax in 18 … Continue reading Why Investing in Yourself Beats Investing in the Market—Especially at 20
When £100,000 Isn’t an Investment but a Debt Trap
Author’s NoteWhenever I publish a critique involving popular brands such as St. James’s Place (SJP), I do so because there is a very real prospect of harm—financial, mental, and emotional—to individuals and their families. Yet the response from brand defenders is often not to address the substance of the critique but to sneer: “But you … Continue reading When £100,000 Isn’t an Investment but a Debt Trap
Human Capital: The Missing Giant in Financial Planning
In financial planning, we talk endlessly about assets under management and portfolio returns. But there’s a bigger, more powerful driver of wealth that rarely makes it into the conversation: human capital. If financial capital is the reservoir where your wealth is stored, human capital is the river that fills it. It is your skills, knowledge, … Continue reading Human Capital: The Missing Giant in Financial Planning
£10 Trillion in The City — But How Much in Your Pocket?
The Investment Association (IA) has announced that the UK investment management industry has hit a record £10 trillion in assets under management (AUM). City firms are celebrating. Government ministers, keen to push their “growth agenda,” have supported calls for lighter regulation and measures to funnel even more capital their way. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: … Continue reading £10 Trillion in The City — But How Much in Your Pocket?
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