Why Me?

When I meet you I will ask what are you good at, what do you love to do, what do you think the world needs and will pay you for. You're life purpose is to do that. We are each on a journey to create our best life and find service, to live on purpose.

My purpose is advice-only financial planning for everyone. Your answer will be different.

For most of my career, I headed up investments and pensions for banks and insurance companies. Over five decades I have seen the gradual disintermediation of the general public. Creating an advice gap. My colleagues spent more time talking about shareholder profits and banker bonuses than they did their customers' profits and bonuses. I left to change that.

For ten years, I've run my own business the Academy of Life Planning; bringing financial planning to the masses. Helping my clients to identify their favourite future, then putting in place financial plans and empowering them to run their own money to take them there. I guarantee that every committed client I have worked with has achieved results that by far surpassed their initial expectations.

Advice-only financial planning is more than a job to me; it is my reason for being. I have proven over and over that leading an extraordinary life is possible for everyone. And nothing satisfies me more than helping people find this out for themselves.

I deliver high-impact, results-oriented coaching to individuals and teams. I work with executives, managers, entrepreneurs and creative professionals in business and private issues. I specialise in leadership, positive psychology, emotional and social intelligence, spiritual intelligence, financial planning, and group dynamics.

I'm a Registered Life Planner, Chartered Insurer, and a Chartered Financial Planner. I'm a columnist for Money Marketing and an Ambassador of The Transparency Task Force, which campaigns for a fairer, more transparent investment industry.

Check out my column.

Happy navigating folks!

Steve Conley is the Founder/ CEO of the Academy of Life Planning and author of Your Money or Your Life: Unmask the highway robbers - enjoy wealth in every area of your life.

If you want to find out more please follow me on LinkedIn.

My Expertise:

Registered Life Planner

Chartered Financial Planner

Chartered Insurer (Pensions Route)

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Twice winner (Associateship & Fellowship) of the British Insurance & Investment Brokers' Association Prize and twice winner of the Jubilee Prize of the Insurance Institute of Manchester, for best examination performance in Northwest England and Manchester respectively.

Winner of the Transparency Trophy & global Ambassador of the Transparency Task Force. The founding lead of their Market Integrity Team.

Chair of the British Bankers’ Association’s Bancassurance Steering Group in the consultation for the UK Retail Distribution Review.

My Experience:

Founding CEO of the Academy of Life Planning since 2012, the world’s first advice-only financial planning network. Awards as follows:

• Best Financial Adviser Support Network 2022 & Award for Outstanding Contribution to Finance 2022 - UK, Lawyer International’s – Legal 100 – 2022 – Awards.
• Best Financial Adviser Support Network 2022 & Award for Outstanding Contribution to Finance 2022 – UK, Corporate America Today Annual Awards 2022.
• Best Financial Adviser Support Network 2022 & Award for Outstanding Contribution to Finance 2022 - UK, Global 100 consisting of only 100 of the World’s leading firms and individuals, with votes received from our global readers of EMG Publishing, in over 163 countries worldwide. 
• Most Pioneering Financial Planner Network Winner, at the Acquisition International Worldwide Finance awards 2022.
• Financial Adviser Support Network of the Year Winner 2022, at Corporate Live Wire Innovation & Excellence awards 2022.
• Twice winner of Best Financial Adviser Support Network in 2021 and 2020, at SME news Finance Awards. Twice winner of an Award For Outstanding Contribution To Finance in 2021 & 2020, at SME news Finance Awards.

Founding CEO of HapNav Ltd since 2021, the world’s first customer-directed Open banking-powered financial planning application. Shortlisted Finalist in The Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards for Best Use of Technology in the Investment Life & Pensions Sector.

Previous regulated roles with FCA reg no. SJC01359

"This individual is no longer in a role that requires regulatory approval. No FCA or PRA disciplinary or regulatory action. Regulatory approval no longer required."

Regulated Financial Adviser (CF30) 2012 to 2019 includes Chorley Financial Services, Ellis Bates, NBS Financial Planning.

Senior Manager Control Function (CF1) previously at several firms, most notably Marks & Spencer Savings & Investments Ltd, Marks & Spencer Unit Trust Managers Ltd, and Berkeley Independent Advisers (an advice network with 750 Regulated Individuals).

Former Head of Investments at HSBC, RBS Group, & Santander. Former head of pensions for what is now Royal London. Multi-award-winning, multi-market-leading Proposition Architect.

My Insurance:

Insurer: Hiscox Insurance Company Limited

Cover: Professional Indemnity Insurance

Business Activity: Life Coach

Limit of indemnity: £1,000,000

Limit applies to: any one claim excluding defence costs.

Geographical limits: Worldwide excluding USA/ Canada

Further details available on request.

See Steve's column in Money Marketing.