By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning “When systems are built on inertia, they collapse under disengagement.” New data released under a Freedom of Information request has revealed a shocking truth:Less than one-third of Nest’s 13.7 million members are paying into their pensions.That means nearly 10 million workers—almost half the UK workforce—have abandoned their pension … Continue reading 🧭 Auto-Enrolment’s Hidden Crisis: 10 Million Dormant Pots and the Price of Passive Saving
Tag: retirement-planning
🌍 The Most Important Conversation You’ll Ever Have
Why the Future of Financial Planning Begins with the Soul Recently, a valued member of our community wrote to say that while he respected our work, he felt the Academy had “departed from holistic financial advice toward a more spiritual and altruistic purpose.” He wished us well but chose to step away, explaining that his … Continue reading 🌍 The Most Important Conversation You’ll Ever Have
Retirement Decumulation: What to Consider When You’re Managing Your Own Finances
Understanding your options before you start drawing down your wealth Retirement isn’t just the end of work — it’s the beginning of a new financial rhythm.For those managing their own finances, the decumulation stage can be both liberating and daunting. You’ve built up your savings over decades — now the challenge is to turn that … Continue reading Retirement Decumulation: What to Consider When You’re Managing Your Own Finances
🏛️ Aktivrente: A German Blueprint for Active Ageing — and Why the UK Should Follow
Germany’s “Aktivrente”: A Blueprint for Active Ageing the UK Can’t Afford to Ignore Germany’s 2026 Aktivrente will let pensioners earn €2,000/month tax-free. Steve Conley argues the UK should adopt a similar Active Pension Allowance to extend working lives, boost growth, and reduce fiscal strain. Germany has recognised a quiet revolution already underway: older people can, … Continue reading 🏛️ Aktivrente: A German Blueprint for Active Ageing — and Why the UK Should Follow
🌍 A Vision of Global Empowerment through Life Planning
Imagine a world where every community, no matter how wealthy or resource-constrained, has access to the tools of life planning. Children in schools learn from an early age how to define their goals, recognise their talents, and align their education with purpose. Young adults no longer drift into jobs or debt without direction, but enter … Continue reading 🌍 A Vision of Global Empowerment through Life Planning
Run-On, Not Run-Off: Why It’s Time to Reclaim Our Pensions from the Insurance Industry
“There comes a point where silence becomes betrayal.” — Martin Luther King Jr. For decades, workplace pension schemes have promised security in retirement. But behind the scenes, a silent transfer of power—and profit—is taking place. Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes, once the gold standard of retirement provision, are being sold off en masse to life … Continue reading Run-On, Not Run-Off: Why It’s Time to Reclaim Our Pensions from the Insurance Industry
The Great Pension Heist: Are Our Retirement Savings Being Looted?
By Steve ConleyFounder, Academy of Life Planning "They say it's putting money in people’s pockets — but like the artful pickpocket, they’re actually taking it out." Today’s unveiling of the UK government’s Pension Schemes Bill has been lauded in headlines as a “game-changer,” a “blockbuster,” even a “revolution” for savers. But scratch beneath the surface … Continue reading The Great Pension Heist: Are Our Retirement Savings Being Looted?
Annuities Are Back—And They Might Just Break the Advice Industry
Big changes are coming to retirement planning—and fast. If you’ve been paying ongoing fees to a financial adviser to manage your pension pot, you might want to take a closer look. Why? Because soaring annuity rates and the Chancellor’s raid on inherited pensions could combine to blow a hole in the traditional "assets under management" … Continue reading Annuities Are Back—And They Might Just Break the Advice Industry
Competitor Analysis of Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners (UK & International with UK Presence)
1. Identification of Competitors Direct Competitors (Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners): These are firms offering holistic financial planning without intermediating product sales. They provide advice-only or life planning services and do not act as introducers to regulated advisers (i.e. they are not merely lead generators). Key examples include: Second Life Financial Planning (UK): A newly launched … Continue reading Competitor Analysis of Non-FCA Regulated Financial Planners (UK & International with UK Presence)
The Death Knell for Asset-Based Adviser Charges: Why Fixed Fees Are the Future
The financial advice industry stands at a critical juncture. The UK government’s decision to bring inherited pensions within the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT) is not just a tax change; it marks the demise of asset-based adviser charges. With this shift, advisers must adapt—or risk obsolescence. The only sustainable way forward? Fixed-fee advice that prioritises … Continue reading The Death Knell for Asset-Based Adviser Charges: Why Fixed Fees Are the Future
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