Discover the Ultimate Agenda
We don’t set the agenda from a podium. We build the space for leaders to have the conversations that matter. Conversations that challenge assumptions, unlock fresh thinking, and spark real change.
September 14-17, 2026
Huntington Beach, CA
Sept 14-17, 2026 | Huntington Beach, CA
Discover the Ultimate Agenda
We don’t set the agenda from a podium. We build the space for leaders to have the conversations that matter. Conversations that challenge assumptions, unlock fresh thinking, and spark real change.
Five Themes Defining Future Proof Festival 2026
AI is no longer something that sits on the edge of the business. It is becoming part of daily operations, and regulators are beginning to take a closer look. Firms are trying to understand where automation makes sense, where human oversight is still required, and how to build processes that are both scalable and defensible. The firms that figure this out early will have a meaningful advantage.
Growth has become more difficult, and trust has become more valuable. The firms that are winning are not relying on short-term tactics. They are building durable distribution through specialization, referrals, partnerships, and content that compounds over time. The focus here is on systems that turn credibility into consistent opportunity without introducing unnecessary risk.
Many firms reach a point where the founder becomes the limiting factor. It is rarely a market issue. It is usually a leadership and structure issue. Firms need to develop depth, clarify decision-making, align incentives, and build an operating cadence that allows the business to continue growing beyond any one individual.
Building a portfolio is table stakes. The real challenge for RIAs is delivering consistent, high-quality financial advice across every client relationship as the firm scales. That means integrating planning, investments, tax strategy, estate coordination, and ongoing client service into a single, repeatable system. This theme focuses on the workflows, roles, technology, and service cadence required to deliver that experience at scale without breaking the firm. The firms that treat this as a system and not a series of one-off decisions tend to operate more consistently and avoid unnecessary complexity.
As tools become more similar, the differentiator becomes how advisors show up in the moments that matter. This includes how they run meetings, how they guide client behavior, how they explain tradeoffs, and how they communicate during periods of uncertainty. These are the skills that drive retention and referrals, as well as long-term trust.
2026 future proof festival Agenda
Mon, Sept 14 – Wed, Sept 16
BADGE PICK-UP
Badge pick-up will be available at the Vista Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. A badge is always required on the Boardwalk – don’t forget!
Mon, Sept 14 – Wed, Sept 16
Content
We have a no-pay-to-play content model, which means every speaker is chosen on merit. That leads to no fluff, no overcrowded panels, just real conversations, real connections, and real value.
Mon, Sept 14
Welcome Party
Brought To You By State Street Investment Management
Relax, unwind, and connect with the Future Proof community. Enjoy an evening of tasty bites, delicious cocktails, and music as the sun sets on the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
6:05 PM – 8:00 PM PT
Wed, Sept 16
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Future Proof Festival brings the community together for can’t-miss live musical performances in a one-of-a-kind setting.
6:45 PM – 10:00 PM PT
WORLD-CLASS SPEAKERS

Christopher Ainsworth
CEO, Pave Finance

Stephanie Aliaga
Global Market Strategist, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Tracy Alloway
Odd Lots Co-Host, Bloomberg

Jared Jones
Partner and Senior Advisor, Omega Wealth Management

Mazi Bahadori
Altrusit, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer

Sara Baker
EVP of Mergers & Acquisitions, Allworth Financial

Eric Balchunas
Senior ETF Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence

Michael Batnick
Managing Partner, Ritholtz Wealth Management

Chet R. Bennetts
Associate Provost and Department Chair, The American College of Financial Services

Todd Boehly
CEO, Co-Founder, Chairman, Eldridge Industries

Allison Bonds Mazza
Head of US Wealth, State Street Investment Management

David Booth
Founder and Executive Chairman, Dimensional Fund Advisors

Ben Borodach
Co-Founder and CEO, april

Benjamin Brandt
Founder & President, Capital City Wealth Management

Brent Brodeski
Founder & CEO, Savant Wealth Management

Greg Brogger
Co-Founder and CEO, Collective

Josh Brown
CEO, Ritholtz Wealth Management

Mark Bruno
Managing Director, Head of Strategic Advisory, Emigrant Partners

Rick Buoncore
Chairman & CEO, MAI Capital Management

Kate Burke
CEO, Allspring Global Investments

Diana Cabrices
Founder, Diana Cabrices Consulting

Ben Carlson
Director of Institutional, Ritholtz Wealth Management

Thomas Carroll
CEO, HB Wealth

Chris Cherry
Head of Strategic Partnerships, Future Proof

Graham Clifford
CTO, First Manhattan

James Conole
Founder, Root Financial

Eve Cout
Principal, Head of Advisor Solutions, Vanguard

Lisa Crafford
Managing Director, Head of Advisory, Constellation Wealth Capital

Jesse Cramer
Vice President, Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST

Hayley Cuccinello
Wealth Reporter, CNBC

Jon Dauphine
CEO, Foundation for Financial Planning

Amy DeTolla
Founder & CEO, Aureus Advantage

David DeVoe
Founder & CEO, DeVoe & Company

Carlo Di Florio
President, ACA Group

Raj Doshi
President and COO, April

Blair duQuesnay
Lead Advisor - The Preserve, Ritholtz Wealth Management

Parker Ence
CEO, Jump

Trip Farren
Partner, Senior Wealth Management Advisor, OpenArc

Kevin Fitzwilson
CEO, Coldstream

Scott Frank
Founder, Stone Steps Financial LLC

Vinay Gidwaney
Chief Product Officer, OneDigital

Adrienne Grace
Mindset & High Performance Coach, Adrienne Gray, LLC

Sheena Gray
CEO, Association of African American Financial Advisors (Quad-A)

Ralph Haberli
CEO and President, Edelman Financial Engines

Mark Hedderman
CEO, Hedderman Financial Solutions

Kevin Higginbotham
OpenArc, Managing Partner, Senior Wealth Management Advisor

H. Adam Holt
CEO and Founder; Co-Founder, Asset-Map; REBL Dads

Phil Huber
Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Solutions, Cliffwater

Mark Israel
CTO, Focus Financial Partners

Dan Ives
Partner and Senior Managing Director, Tech Analyst, Yorkville Ives & Co.

Ben Johnson
Head of Client Solutions, Asset Management, Morningstar

Jared Jones
Partner and Senior Advisor, Omega Wealth Management

Megan Kelley
Head of Research, Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, Fidelity Investments

Michael Kitces
Chief Planning Nerd, Kitces.com

Adam Knorr
Co-Founder, InfluenceLab

Corey Kupfer
Founder & Managing Partner, Kupfer., PLLC

Daniel Kwak
VP, Finance, Perplexity

Mike LaMena
CEO, Wealthspire

Tom Lee
Co-Founder & Head of Research, Fundstrat

Adam Lewis
Shareholder, Vedder Price P.C.

Stephanie Link
Chief Investment Strategist, Head of Investment Solutions and Equity Portfolio Manager, Hightower Advisors

Nicole Madosik
Partner & Chief Mergers and Integrations Officer, Mission Wealth

Jaime Magyera
Managing Director, Head of U.S. Wealth Advisory (USWA), BlackRock

Gabriella Mengstab
Founder & CEO, KinderWell

Matt Middleton
Founder & CEO, Future Proof

Kurt Miscinski
Partner and CEO, Cerity Partners

Cinthia Murphy
Investment Strategist, TMX Vettafi

Dave Nadig
President & Director of Research, ETF.com

Rob Nance
Co-Founder and CEO, Dispatch

Peter Nolan
Head of Asset & Wealth Management, Anthropic

Derek Notman
Founder & CEO; Founder, Couplr AI; REBL Dads

Tom Orecchio
CEO and Principal, Modera Wealth Management

Jason Ozur
CEO, Lido Advisors

Roger Paradiso
Head of Custom Client Portfolios; Executive Chairman, Franklin Templeton; O'Shaughnessy Asset Management

Molly Pierce
CEO, Track that Advisor

Bob Pisani
Chief Technology Officer, Addepar

Rick Pitcairn
Chairman, Chief Global Strategist, Pitcairn

Jennifer Prosek
Founder and Managing Partner, Prosek Partners

Rick Rieder
CIO of Global Fixed Income, BlackRock

Barry Ritholtz
Chairman & CIO, Ritholtz Wealth Management

Shannon Saccocia
Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer - Wealth, Neuberger

Tony Santillo
Head of Innovation & Strategic Growth, Northwestern Mutual

Mela Seyoum
Reporter, Financial Advisor IQ

Yaela Shamberg
Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Communify

Mike Shannon
Reporter, Financial Advisor IQ

Darrell Siggers
CEO, AccessPlusAnswers

Gary Sinderbrand
Founder & CEO, Archematch

Matt Sinderbrand
CTO, Archematch

Danielle Singer
Head of Wealth Management Platforms and Institutional Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), Invesco

Todd Sohn
Chief ETF Strategist, Strategas Asset Management

Jaclyn Stanton
Managing Partner, F2 Strategy

Joe Steuter
Partner and Chief of Client Strategy, Intention.ly

Kevin Thompson
CEO and President, 9I Capital Group LLC

Jay Tini
President, Ritholtz

Jan Van Eck
CEO, VanEck Funds

Lily Vittayarukskul
CEO and Co-Founder, Waterlily

Adam Vos
Senior Executive Vice President, Global Head of Wealth Solutions, BNY

Scott Wapner
Host, CNBC

Joe Weisenthal
Odd Lots Co-Host, Bloomberg

Tim Welsh
President, Nexus Strategy, LLC

Ian Wenik
Editor, Citywire

Burt White
CEO, Carson Group

Cecilia Williams
COO, Halbert Hargrove

Kendra Wright
Founder & CMO, Rebel Media Agency