Tag: retirement-planning

12.2 Million People Are Being Told They Face Pension Poverty.

But What If the Missing Asset… Is You? A new retirement report from Scottish Widows says 12.2 million people across the UK are at risk of “pension poverty.” The proposed solutions are familiar: Save more into pensions Increase auto-enrolment contributions Invest more for longer Build larger retirement pots Those things matter. But there is another … Continue reading 12.2 Million People Are Being Told They Face Pension Poverty. →

🧭 Auto-Enrolment’s Hidden Crisis: 10 Million Dormant Pots and the Price of Passive Saving

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 →

🌍 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 →