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The biggest AI question in wealth management isn’t whether firms are adopting AI, it’s whether they’re keeping up. Mike Shannon of Impruve and Dr. Kelly Wagman of Cresset share how leading firms are approaching governance, adoption, and innovation in a landscape where new capabilities emerge every month.

AI adoption in wealth management has reached a new level. After receiving a record 120 applications, Future Proof Festival has selected seven AI startups to present live at the 2026 AI Demo Drop. Meet the finalists and see why this year’s AI experience extends far beyond the stage.

Future Proof is taking its industry-leading Breakthru Meetings Program virtual with the launch of Future Proof Connect. The two-day event will bring together 2,000+ wealth management professionals for 20,000+ double-opt-in, one-to-one meetings, making it easier than ever to build meaningful industry connections without travel.

AI adoption is no longer the challenge for RIAs. Keeping pace is. Future Proof Festival Founder & CEO Matt Middleton and Impruve Co-Founder & CEO Mike Shannon discuss why one-time AI strategies fall short, what “AI stewardship” looks like in practice, and why firms that start building AI muscle today will be better positioned for what’s next.

Future Proof launches Future Proof Research and opens the inaugural State of AI in Wealth Management survey, developed in partnership with Impruve. Designed exclusively for RIAs, broker-dealers, and bank/trust wealth teams, the study will create a new industry benchmark for AI adoption, governance, and impact, with the first findings unveiled at Future Proof Festival this September.

Seven minutes to prove your product is real. AI Demo Drop III at Future Proof Festival puts seven companies on stage in front of 5,000+ decision-makers. No decks. No hypotheticals. Just live demos. The gap between “interesting” and “buyable” shows up fast, and the companies that clear it leave with traction that travels.

After more than 250 conversations with leaders across wealth management, five clear themes have emerged that will define how RIAs operate, grow, and compete in 2026 — and beyond.

This community shows up differently—that’s what defines Future Proof. In Miami Beach, nearly 4,000 attendees came together with curiosity, openness, and a shared recognition that AI is already reshaping wealth and investment management today.

Future Proof Festival in year 5 marks a turning point for our community, and where we go next. The RIA industry is moving faster than ever – AI, rising client expectations, and new business models are already reshaping how firms operate. Future Proof was built for this moment. Now we’re reintroducing it.

Five years ago, Future Proof was just an idea — a bet on building something different for wealth management. What started on a vacant lot by the ocean has grown into a community of 15,000+ leaders redefining how the industry connects and does business. As we open registration for our fifth anniversary in 2026, we’re raising the bar again. The industry is evolving fast — and the next five years start now.

Breakthru ensures you do not show up to Future Proof Citywide hoping the right conversations happen. With 30,000+ prescheduled, double opt-in 1:1 meetings and a 95% satisfaction rate, your most important discussions are confirmed before you arrive. For advisors navigating an AI-driven shift in wealth and investment management, this is where decisions and relationships move forward.

Future Proof Citywide 2026 is built on what we learned by watching the experience come to life. With a more intentional layout and a stronger sense of flow, this year’s design makes it easier to move through the space, discover ideas, and engage in the conversations that matter.

As part of Future Proof Citywide 2026, we’re bringing back the AI Demo Drop to surface the most innovative, practical, and advisor-ready AI tools shaping the next era of financial advice. After careful review, we’re excited to officially announce the seven AI Demo Drop Finalists.

AI is reshaping advisor roles, firm growth, and innovation, but the path forward remains unclear. In speaking with Eden Ovadia, Co-Founder of FINNY, her blend of industry diligence work and machine-learning expertise revealed how differently firms interpret AI’s impact. The conversation surfaced three common misconceptions across wealth management, along with the realities shaping how AI is actually being adopted inside advisory businesses.

Future Proof Citywide 2026’s agenda is live. Explore a hands-on, AI-native experience built for finance leaders. Choose your own path, join the AI Playground, learn what’s working now, and leave with practical frameworks, peers, and real execution insights (March 8–11, Miami Beach).