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From Dependency
to Agency
Total Wealth Planning Explained
What is Total Wealth?
Total Wealth is the full picture of what shapes a person’s life choices and 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, product 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 often sits 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 money, emotion, 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 may not need another adviser.
You certainly don’t need a salesperson.
You may need a Total Wealth Planner — a trusted second brain on your side of the table, helping 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 restore 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 — with you remaining the decision-maker.
What You Gain
Working together, you will:
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Understand your whole life and 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 the life you want to lead
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Develop confidence to make decisions with greater independence
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Strengthen resilience during or after major disruption
Your path:
Clarity → Control → Agency → 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 your decisions.
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. The aim is support without dependency.
Ways to Work Together
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One-to-one, plain-English planning support
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Zoom or in person
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No jargon, no sales
£297 for 90-minutes.
Often, a single session is enough to restore clarity.
Optional Planning Pathways
For those who want ongoing structure over a defined period — without handing over control.
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 selected Academy of Life Planning resources and learning sessions
All pathways are optional, transparent, and designed to build capability — not dependency.
Book a Free Clarity Call to explore fit
Meet Your Total Wealth Planner
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, structure, and support without exploitation.
“You inherit wealth — not advisers.
My role is to help you understand your position, protect your choices, and align your money with your life — without pressure or sales.”
From Overwhelm to Agency
What Clients Say
Very clearly explained support when I most needed it
“I was recently widowed when I came to Steve to help me sort out my finances. 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. Our regular meetings helped me 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.”
Lisa Jackson, Lancing, England, March 2025.
Client words are their own. Total Wealth Planner™ provides educational financial planning support, not regulated financial advice or personal product recommendations.
Why This Works Differently
No Conflicts
No products. No commissions. No asset-based incentives.
Structured Tools
Life-first frameworks that bring order to complexity.
Agency First
You learn how to plan — not how to rely.