About Financial Life Coach

Clear, Inclusive, and Empowering Financial Planning—Focused on Your Life and Goals.

Am I the Right Adviser for You?

Choosing financial guidance is a big decision—and it should be based on a clear match of values, approach, and expectations. My services are designed for people who want unbiased, strategic financial planning, free from product sales or commission-driven advice.

If you value:

✅ Transparency and integrity

✅ A personalised approach that keeps you in control

✅ Guidance that focuses on education, empowerment, and long-term clarity

…then my expertise may be a perfect fit for you.

I provide bespoke, objective advice that’s fully tailored to your needs—ensuring every part of your financial plan serves your best interests, with no hidden agendas.

My Approach: Flexibility and True Independence

My service model allows you to commission a comprehensive financial plan as a one-off, with the option to seek further advice only when you need it. This gives you the freedom and autonomy to manage your finances confidently, while still having access to expert support.

This model is ideal if you:

Are ready to take charge of your own financial decisions
Have (or want to build) financial confidence—especially in managing investments
Appreciate a proactive, learning-based approach to long-term financial planning

It’s not the right fit if you prefer to delegate full control of your financial affairs or seek an adviser to manage investments directly.

Is Now the Right Time?

If you haven’t yet created a structured financial plan, now is the time. Or, if you’re nearing retirement—or already there—a well-designed retirement strategy is essential for lasting financial security and peace of mind.

Take the First Step

Let’s turn your financial aspirations into actionable plans. Life’s too short to leave your future to chance. Book a consultation today and take control of your financial journey.

This approach comes highly recommended by Robin Powell, respected financial journalist and founder of The Evidence-Based Investor.

Schedule Your Consultation

My Vision: The Heart Behind Financial Life Coach

I founded Financial Life Coach with a simple but powerful belief: financial planning should be about more than money—it should be about life.

After four decades in the financial industry, I saw firsthand how traditional advice too often focuses on products and profit, rather than people and purpose. So I created something different.

At Financial Life Coach, planning isn’t just about building wealth. It’s about aligning your finances with your values, dreams, and the life you truly want to lead. It’s a holistic, empowering process that helps you take charge—not just of your money, but of your whole future.

My mission is to give you:

✅ Clear, expert guidance

✅ Tools to make confident, independent decisions

✅ A plan that supports who you are and where you’re going

Whether you're recovering from a life shock, preparing for retirement, or just ready for a change, I’m here to walk alongside you—with strategy, compassion, and purpose.

Let’s work together to build a future that’s financially secure, personally fulfilling, and uniquely yours.

My Ethos: Integrity, Transparency, and Innovation in Financial Planning

At Financial Life Coach, everything I do is built on three core principles: integrity, transparency, and innovation. These aren’t just words—they are the foundation of an approach that puts your best interests first, always.

I challenge the traditional financial planning model, offering non-intermediating strategies that keep you in control—free from product sales and hidden agendas.

But my mission goes deeper than just solving financial problems. I believe true financial planning is about:

✅ Aligning your finances with your life’s goals and values

✅ Creating a strategy that supports both security and personal fulfilment

✅ Ensuring your financial decisions help build a life of balance, clarity, and purpose

Your financial plan shouldn’t exist in a silo—it should be a powerful tool that helps you achieve the bigger vision you have for your life.

My commitment is to guide and support you in building a future that’s not only financially secure but also deeply meaningful. Together, we’ll create a plan that truly reflects who you are and where you want to go.

What Sets My Approach Apart?

My practice is built on a clear promise: to provide honest, innovative, and holistic financial planning that’s completely free from commercial influence. Every recommendation is designed with your best interests at heart—no sales, no hidden agendas.

Unbiased, Independent Advice

My guidance is 100% impartial. There are no product sales or commissions—just clear, objective advice tailored to your unique goals and circumstances. You can trust that every step we take is focused solely on what’s best for you.

Innovative, Forward-Thinking Strategies

By harnessing cutting-edge technology and AI, I deliver modern financial solutions backed by powerful analytics and predictive modelling. This ensures you’re always well-informed, prepared, and ahead of the curve—even in a fast-changing financial world.

A Truly Holistic Approach

Your finances don’t exist in isolation—they’re part of your bigger life journey. I take time to understand your aspirations, challenges, and values, ensuring your financial plan supports your whole life, not just your bank balance.

Let’s Build Your Future Together

We’ll work in partnership to create a plan that’s both practical and aspirational—designed not just to preserve your wealth but to empower you to live with purpose, security, and fulfilment. With trusted advice and smart strategies, you’ll move forward with clarity and confidence.

Start Your Journey

My Vision: Empowering You—And Changing the World

At Financial Life Coach, my mission is bigger than helping you build personal wealth. I believe financial empowerment can be a force for global good—tackling challenges like poverty, inequality, and economic injustice.

Financial planning isn’t just about growing your savings. It’s about building resilience, independence, and confidence—and when enough people do that, the impact can ripple out to create real, lasting change.

That’s why my work is aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I’m committed to helping individuals secure their own financial futures, while contributing to a world that’s fairer, more sustainable, and more inclusive.

A Dual Mission: Personal and Global Progress

✅ Equip you with the skills and knowledge to achieve your financial goals

✅ Empower you to play a part in building a better, more equitable world

By strengthening your financial foundation, you not only gain personal freedom—you also help drive collective progress.

Let’s Build a Future That Matters

Together, we can create a financial plan that helps you achieve your dreams—and makes a positive impact far beyond your own life. Let’s work in partnership to build a future that’s prosperous, purposeful, and transformative.

Learn More About My Approach

About Steve: A Lifetime of Expertise and Ethical Leadership in Financial Planning

Steve Conley

Chartered Insurer | Chartered Financial Planner | Author of Your Money or Your Life

With decades of experience in financial services, I’ve built my career around one simple mission: to make financial planning ethical, transparent, and empowering for everyone.

As a Chartered Insurer and Chartered Financial Planner, I’ve held senior leadership roles—including Head of Investments at HSBC—and have worked with Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Santander. I also served as Chair of the British Bankers' Association’s Bancassurance Steering Group, playing a key role in shaping industry standards during the UK’s Retail Distribution Review.

But beyond corporate leadership, my passion has always been about putting people first—ensuring financial planning serves not just to build wealth, but to help individuals achieve security, purpose, and a fulfilling life.

In 2012, I founded the Academy of Life Planning to bring this vision to life, providing the tools and support for individuals and professionals to take control of their financial futures with confidence and independence.

My Approach

My work is grounded in a commitment to:

✅ Ethical financial practices

✅ Transparent, product-free advice

✅ Holistic planning that aligns money with life goals

I remain dedicated to transforming financial services into a force for good—helping people navigate their financial journeys with clarity, confidence, and integrity.

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Accredited GAME Plan Practitioner and Mentor (Academy of Life Planning)
Elite Member of the Professional Speakers Academy
Fellow and Advanced Diploma holder, Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and Personal Finance Society (PFS)—specialising in pensions, trusts, and estate planning
Registered Life Planner (Kinder Institute of Life Planning)
BSc in Mathematics (University of Manchester)
Company Law Certification (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators)

Accolades and Recognition

Throughout my career, I have been honoured with multiple prestigious awards, including:

Author, Your Money or Your Life: Unmask the highway robbers - enjoy wealth in every area of your life.
British Insurance & Investment Brokers' Association Prize (twice awarded)
Jubilee Prize (twice awarded by the Insurance Institute of Manchester)
Transparency Trophy Winner—Transparency Taskforce
Ambassador and founding lead of the Market Integrity Team (Transparency Taskforce)

Thought Leadership and Professional Speaking

As an Elite Member of the Professional Speakers Academy, I’m passionate about advancing financial education and championing integrity, transparency, and professionalism in every corner of the industry.

Redefining Financial Services

My career has included senior leadership roles shaping wealth propositions at HSBC, RBS Group, and Santander. But over time, I became disillusioned with the sector’s profits-over-people mentality. That experience inspired me to create something better.

In 2012, I founded the Academy of Life Planning—a transformative alternative that puts people before products, delivering meaningful advice that’s free from commercial interests.

Championing Transparency and Trust

My mission is to rebuild public trust in financial services by:

Advocating a clean separation between advice and product sales
Promoting true fiduciary responsibility and transparency
Calling for an industry that prioritises ethics and fairness

In 2017, I was proud to receive the Transparency Trophy for my work promoting openness and accountability. I also serve as a Global Ambassador for the Transparency Task Force and lead its Market Integrity Team—continuing to push for the highest standards in financial services.

A Legacy of Empowerment and Innovation

As a recognised authority on investments and pensions, I’ve dedicated my career to:

Empowering individuals and professionals with the knowledge to thrive
Advancing ethical, values-driven financial planning
Advocating for a financial services industry that works for the people it serves

Through the Academy of Life Planning, I remain committed to equipping people with the tools they need to achieve financial security, personal growth, and true independence.

Let’s Raise the Bar Together

If you’re looking for guidance from someone with extensive experience, principled leadership, and a deep commitment to improving financial services, I’d love to work with you. Together, we can build a future defined by clarity, security, and empowerment.

My Qualifications

1986-1989

FCII, DipPFS

Chartered Insurance Institute

Member of the Personal Finance Society and the Chartered Insurance Institute. Fellowship via Pensions Route.

Chartered Insurer. 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 performance in North West UK and Manchester respectively.

2008-2017

APFS, Advance Diploma
Personal Finance Society

Chartered Financial Planner:

J02 Trusts and Estate Planning
J04 Pension Funding Options
J05 Pension Income
AF3 Pension Planning
AF5 Financial Planning Process

1979-1983

BSc Mathematics

University of Manchester

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from U.M.I.S.T.

Book a Talk or Consultation

Get in Touch:

Have questions, need more information, or ready to start your journey toward financial clarity and peace of mind? I’m here to help.

Together, we’ll craft a plan that aligns your finances with your life’s goals—giving you the security, confidence, and purpose you deserve.

Your path to a more empowered financial future starts with one simple step. Reach out today, and let’s begin building a strategy that truly reflects your values and ambitions.

Contact Me

Join Me On This Journey

At Financial Life Coach, I don’t just provide services—I build partnerships grounded in trust, expertise, and a shared vision for a future that’s not only financially secure but truly fulfilling.

When we work together, we’ll co-create a financial journey that reflects your unique goals, values, and dreams. This is about more than just planning—it’s about building a life of purpose, freedom, and confidence.

Let’s shape your future—together.