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From Advised to Empowered
Total Wealth Planning
What is Total Wealth?
Total Wealth is the full picture of what shapes a person’s life outcomes — not just their money. It includes human capital (skills, health, earning capacity), financial resources, wellbeing, relationships, resilience, and the life decisions that connect them over time. While traditional financial planning focuses on the small, investable slice, Total Wealth looks at the whole system, starting with the person rather than products. The aim is simple: to help you make calm, informed decisions that align your life, work, and money — especially during change — without pressure, sales, or hidden incentives.
In Britain, the median age is around 40, and at this stage of life the vast majority of a person’s wealth is not financial at all. Research consistently shows that around 80% of total lifetime wealth at this age is human capital — skills, health, experience, earning potential, and future work choices — while financial capital forms a much smaller share. Of that financial capital, most sits in cash or property, meaning less than 1% of total wealth typically falls within Financial Conduct Authority-regulated retail investments. In other words, the part of life that most strongly determines long-term outcomes lies largely outside the narrow slice traditionally labelled “financial advice.”
When Life Changes, So Must the Plan
Major life transitions — inheritance, divorce, retirement, redundancy, business exit, illness, or burnout — often arrive with both money and uncertainty.
You may recognise these thoughts:
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“I don’t know who to trust.”
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“I’ve never had to manage this before — I feel overwhelmed.”
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“I’m worried about being taken advantage of.”
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“Everyone seems to be selling something.”
You don’t need another adviser.
You don’t need a salesperson.
You need a Total Wealth Planner — someone who sits on your side of the table and helps you plan your life first, so money can follow with clarity and purpose.
Total Wealth Planning
Clarity. Structure. Independence.
Total Wealth Planning is a done-with-you approach designed to help you take back control of your financial life — calmly, ethically, and at your own pace.
There are:
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No products
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No commissions
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No conflicts of interest
Just structure, education, and professional judgement applied to your real life.
What You Gain
Working together, you will:
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Understand your whole financial picture — not just fragments
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Clarify what matters now (and what no longer does)
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Build a life-first plan aligned with your values and goals
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Create financial architecture that supports that life
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Develop confidence to make decisions independently
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Strengthen resilience during or after major disruption
Your path:
Clarity → Control → Sovereignty → Resilience
How We Work Together
Done-With-You Planning
You remain in control at every stage.
My role is to provide structure, perspective, and calm professional thinking — not to take over.
Support is available:
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when decisions feel heavy
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when life is changing
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when clarity matters more than speed
You’re free to pause, stop, or return as life evolves.
Ways to Work Together
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One-to-one, plain-English planning
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Zoom or in person
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No jargon, no sales
£200 per hour
Often, a single session is enough.
Optional Planning Pathways
For those who want ongoing structure over a defined period.
Options may include:
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Monthly or quarterly planning sessions
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GAME Plan™ life-first planning framework
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Lifetime cashflow modelling tools
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Digital resources and decision journals
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Access to the Academy of Life Planning community and CPD sessions
(All pathways are optional, transparent, and designed to build independence — not dependency.)
Book a Free Clarity Call to explore fit
Meet Your Financial Life Coach
Steve Conley
Total Wealth Planner™
Chartered Financial Planner | Chartered Insurer
Founder, Academy of Life Planning
Former Head of Investments at HSBC, RBS Group, and Santander, Steve now works independently with individuals and families who want clarity without exploitation.
“You inherit wealth — not advisers.
My role is to help you protect it, understand it, and align it with your life — without pressure or sales.”
From Anxiety to Autonomy
What Clients Say
Very clearly explained advice when I most needed it
"I was recently widowed when I came to Steve to help me sort out my finances. A previous financial advisor had wanted to charge me eye-watering fees that would have meant, at the end of my term with him, I may as well as given him the keys to my flat! Steve charged a much more reasonable fee to help me get my finances in order and was incredibly good at patiently explaining things to me (my bereavements meant I suffered from brain fog, so found it hard to grasp things). I was given guidance on where to invest my money so that it was protected by the FSCS and also how to invest in LifeStrategy products on the Vanguard platform. Our regular meetings 'forced' me to take action and empowered me to make decisions about my financial planning. Steve is incredibly kind, supportive and knowledgeable and I really appreciated his help during one of the most stressful periods of my life. Highly recommended. Thank you Steve!"
Lisa Jackson, Lancing, England, March 2025.
Why This Works When Others Fail
No Conflicts
No products. No commissions. 100% loyalty to you.
Proven Tools
Life-first frameworks that bring order to complexity.
Empowerment First
You learn how to plan — not how to rely.