Why 3,000 Financial Advisors Are Meeting up to Discuss AI

Feb 12, 2026

Matt Middleton, founder and CEO of Future Proof, who reinvented wealth‑management conferences, discusses why AI became the focal point of his large gatherings. He explores rapid AI shifts, human‑like AI advisors and compliance challenges. He explains why thousands of advisors are drawn to AI conversations, how the event model was rebuilt for experience and value, and what it takes to scale and iterate on that vision.

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INSIGHT

AI Is Arriving Faster Than Comfort

AI adoption is happening much faster than many in wealth management expect.
Matt Middleton warns no firm is immune and narratives drive market moves like Schwab's drop.

INSIGHT

Human-Form AI Advisors Are Plausible

Human-like AI advisors will feel indistinguishable from people to future clients.
Middleton expects ethics, compliance, and regulation to be the main near-term hurdles, not technology.

ADVICE

Use Events To Crowdsource AI Answers

Convene diverse, influential peers to understand AI rather than wait for answers.
Middleton built Future Proof Citywide as a forum to debate, demo, and learn from peers about AI's effects.

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On this episode of Talking Wealth, Michael Batnick sits down with Matt Middleton, the founder and CEO of Future Proof, the fastest-growing and now largest event in wealth management.

What started as an ambitious idea — to reimagine what an industry conference could look and feel like — has quickly become the most talked-about gathering in financial advice. With thousands of advisors, asset managers, fintech companies, and allocators descending on Huntington Beach, and Miami, Future Proof isn’t just another conference. It’s a signal of how the business is changing.

This episode is sponsored by WisdomTree. Visit https://www.wisdomtree.com/portfolioconsultations to schedule an introductory call today.

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