Future Proof Conference Connects Financial Professionals in Miami Beach
Miami Beach, FL – As spring breakers flock to the sun and surf, the Future Proof Citywide conference brought together 2,500 financial advisors, family office representatives, and wealth management executives for its fifth gathering. This event, aiming to “dismantle the old boundaries,” bridges the gap between the established Wall Street community, the growing Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), and the expanding “alt” investment sector, including crypto and hedge funds.
The conference, a shift from its previous location in Huntington Beach, California, marks a broadening of focus. Matt Middleton, Founder and CEO of Future Proof, explained, “The festival in California focuses on RIAs [Registered Investment Advisors], but this festival is broader, it focuses on the ecosystem of wealth and asset managers, including RIAs but also family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals.”
Networking Takes Center Stage
Like its predecessors, the Miami Beach conference provides a valuable setting for professionals to connect. Jeff Corey and Lincoln Hurney from Claro Advisors in Boston, seeking respite from the Florida heat, shared their motivations for attending. “First, we’re here to talk to other financial advisors in similar situations, and to try to figure out how to get to the next level,” Corey stated. “Second, we want to hear more about technology and how to use AI responsibly, and finally we want to reconnect with friends we have met at prior Future Proofs, because we follow each other’s careers and we can rely on my fellow advisors to give us an unbiased opinion on products and platforms and even career paths.”
This desire drives many to return to Future Proof. Alex Barned from Absolute Capital Management, who runs a turnkey asset management program (TAMP), emphasized the importance of these connections. “The biggest RIAs are all coming through here,” he said, “We get to meet with the decision makers for those firms. We established two dozen new relationships at the last Future Proof. And being here elevates our profile with our clients and potential clients.”
Doug Gill from Castleview Partners, also operating a TAMP, echoed this sentiment. “The networking is what makes this work,” he said, adding that even a single valuable connection can make the trip worthwhile.
Content and Key Discussions
Beyond networking, the conference offers extensive content. Topics range from succession planning and family office governance to the crucial area of generational wealth transfer. Bitcoin and market volatility are prominently discussed. Interviews with key figures, including Michael Saylor of Strategy, Tom Lee of Fundstrat, and Brian Belski from BMO Capital, among others, provide insights into the future of crypto, macroeconomic trends, and the AI revolution.
The conference is also focused on bridging connections between public and private markets. Future Proof facilitates this through a “speed dating” service, arranging concise 15-minute meetings between investment professionals and sell-side providers. Middleton indicated that the previous conference saw approximately 32,000 such meetings.
“The main theme that makes FutureProof special is the networking, and it’s all done through technology,” Middleton said. “We want people to catch up with current friends and clients, but more importantly we want to focus on expanding their network.”
