By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning & Get SAFE On Christmas Day, a man received a text message from Lloyds Bank demanding repayment of a loan.He had lost his job during the pandemic, was living in a friend’s spare room, and doing his best to hold his life together. The message arrived just before … Continue reading When Algorithms Replace Empathy: The Human Cost of Automated Banking
Tag: relationships
🧭 When Journalism Defends Exploiters: Understanding the Psychology of Gaslighting Whistleblowers
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning Every system protects itself. When someone dares to speak truth to power — particularly in a profit-driven industry — the first instinct of that system isn’t to listen; it’s to defend. We’ve seen this pattern repeat across finance, politics, and media: those who expose wrongdoing are reframed as … Continue reading 🧭 When Journalism Defends Exploiters: Understanding the Psychology of Gaslighting Whistleblowers
Football’s Financial Shame: What the V11 Story Teaches Us About Trust, Exploitation, and the Need for Change
When Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal in 1992, it symbolised the dawn of a new era. Money flooded into football, players became celebrities overnight, and with wealth came new risks. Fast-forward thirty years, and we now see the dark side of that era: a generation of players—household names like Danny Murphy, … Continue reading Football’s Financial Shame: What the V11 Story Teaches Us About Trust, Exploitation, and the Need for Change
Goliathon: Equipping Citizen Investigators to Take on the System
“The system is stacked against victims. Goliathon puts us on a level playing field.” – Robert, Citizen Investigator Why We Created Goliathon Across the UK and beyond, thousands of ordinary people have been devastated by financial exploitation. Victims of fraud, mis-selling, and institutional neglect are too often left to pick up the pieces alone. Many … Continue reading Goliathon: Equipping Citizen Investigators to Take on the System
When the Rules Change, So Must We: Why Survivors Should Consider the Goliathon & Get SAFE Approach
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is consulting on major changes to its case-fee model. Buried in the detail is a development that could reshape how victims of financial harm choose to seek justice. The proposed shift means professional representatives—claims management companies (CMCs) and law firms—may face outcome-linked fees and higher charges for cases that go … Continue reading When the Rules Change, So Must We: Why Survivors Should Consider the Goliathon & Get SAFE Approach
Redemption, Restitution, and Responsibility: Why This Debate Matters
The recent debate surrounding the BBC's platforming of convicted fraudster Alex Wood has sparked important—and at times uncomfortable—questions about who gets to lead the conversation on fraud prevention. Let me be clear: I believe in redemption. People can change. But redemption is not the same as rebranding. When we place those who once caused harm … Continue reading Redemption, Restitution, and Responsibility: Why This Debate Matters
From Victim to Visionary: How One Survivor Is Redefining Corporate Compassion After Fraud
By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning We often say that even the darkest events in life can carry the seeds of purpose. That purpose, when nurtured, becomes a gift we give to others. Few embody this truth more powerfully than Ayleen Charlotte. Ayleen was thrust into the public eye through the 2022 Netflix documentary … Continue reading From Victim to Visionary: How One Survivor Is Redefining Corporate Compassion After Fraud
Is This the Next Post Office Scandal? Why We Must Stand Up for Investment Fraud Victims
On Monday 12th May, I’ll be attending an urgent summit at the House of Commons: “Another Post Office Scandal? More Than Ten Years of Injustice for Investment Fraud Victims vs HMRC”, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Investment Fraud & Fairer Financial Services. This summit couldn’t be more important—or more overdue. Across the … Continue reading Is This the Next Post Office Scandal? Why We Must Stand Up for Investment Fraud Victims
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
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