The Green Dividend: Why Human Capital Is the New Renewable

“The energy of the future is not stored in batteries or barrels—it’s stored in people.” As the world races toward a green energy future, most conversations still orbit around technology: solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen, and storage systems. Yet, according to a 2024 study published in Academia Green Energy, the true catalyst of the energy … Continue reading The Green Dividend: Why Human Capital Is the New Renewable

When “Compliance” Becomes Control — and How Ethical Oversight Restores Trust

By Steve Conley, Founder, Academy of Life PlanningOctober 2025 – 5 min read When financial “compliance” is used well, it protects clients.When it’s misused, it protects power. That was the lesson behind our recent case study, “When Compliance Goes Wrong — How the Academy of Life Planning Stepped In to Restore Fairness and Professional Standards.” … Continue reading When “Compliance” Becomes Control — and How Ethical Oversight Restores Trust

Partner With AoLP: Replacing Extraction With Empowerment

At the Academy of Life Planning (AoLP), we’ve always believed in a simple truth: finance should serve people, not the other way around. Our mission is to help individuals and professionals break free from extractive financial systems, and to build a future rooted in transparency, empowerment, and holistic well-being. But big missions require allies. That’s … Continue reading Partner With AoLP: Replacing Extraction With Empowerment

Building Futures in El Salvador: How Life Planning is Driving Social Transformation

In late 2023, the government of El Salvador created a new national institution — the Dirección de Integración — with a bold mission: to strengthen social inclusion, reduce poverty, and foster a culture of integration across the country. At the heart of this initiative is the ADN Program on Poverty and the Culture of Integration, … Continue reading Building Futures in El Salvador: How Life Planning is Driving Social Transformation

From Bats and Newts to Bankers: Why the UK Is Making the Wrong Choice

When Ecuador rewrote its constitution in 2008, it did something extraordinary: it gave legal rights to the planet itself. Nature was no longer just a resource to be exploited; rivers, forests, and ecosystems were recognised as having the right to “exist, persist, and regenerate.” This bold move, rooted in indigenous wisdom, set a global precedent. … Continue reading From Bats and Newts to Bankers: Why the UK Is Making the Wrong Choice

Britain’s Family Farms Face the Axe — All for a Misjudged Tax Grab

The government has seriously underestimated the damage its inheritance tax reforms will inflict on Britain’s small family farms. Far from targeting only wealthy landowners, the changes — due in April 2026 — will devastate hundreds of modest, working farms that have been in families for generations. The numbers are stark. According to the Centre for … Continue reading Britain’s Family Farms Face the Axe — All for a Misjudged Tax Grab

Is the FCA Leadership Upholding Integrity – or Undermining It Through the Growth Agenda?

By Steve Conley, Founder of the Academy of Life Planning Integrity is more than a word etched into the FCA’s code of conduct—it is the cornerstone of trust in the financial system. Yet, recent FCA court cases, set against the backdrop of a government-mandated growth agenda, raise a troubling question: Is the FCA’s leadership still … Continue reading Is the FCA Leadership Upholding Integrity – or Undermining It Through the Growth Agenda?

If Everyone Lived Like the Average American, We’d Need Five Planets—Here’s What We Can Do Instead

“But what can one person do about it?” said 8.2 billion people. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of global overconsumption. But there is a way forward—one that benefits both people and the planet. It starts with personal growth, stepping off the hedonic treadmill, and embracing a life of eudaimonic wellbeing. Here’s why … Continue reading If Everyone Lived Like the Average American, We’d Need Five Planets—Here’s What We Can Do Instead

Proposed Strategy for the Academy of Life Planning: Improving Wealth and Well-Being Mindfully to Impact All 17 SDGs

The Academy of Life Planning has a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change by addressing global wealth and well-being in ways that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating financial empowerment with mindful practices, the Academy can create a ripple effect of positive impacts across all 17 SDGs, both directly and indirectly. Strategic … Continue reading Proposed Strategy for the Academy of Life Planning: Improving Wealth and Well-Being Mindfully to Impact All 17 SDGs

The M-Power Movement: Empowering Lives, Eradicating Poverty

Aligning with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 1 Poverty is more than just a lack of income—it’s a barrier to opportunities, dignity, and the ability to live a fulfilling life. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) challenges the world to eradicate poverty in all its forms by 2030. This ambitious target includes … Continue reading The M-Power Movement: Empowering Lives, Eradicating Poverty