3 Things I Liked About Future Proof
A Conference Review
Future Proof was really cool. I haven't met the founders or the leadership team, but I totally got the vibe, and the experience felt relevant. As the CEO of Elements, I'm not just a financial advisor but also a fintech CEO, so I’ve been lucky enough to attend some solid technology conferences with great formats. My fave is Saastr in Silicon Valley, which focuses on software startups. Future Proof felt a little bit like Saastr to me—it captures modern conference trends, as I've experienced them, and left me wishing I had come a day earlier. Honestly, I haven't felt any positive feelings about a conference for a really long time. I felt like I should probably write about it—here are 3 things, plus one bonus item, that made it all worth it for me.
First: The Huddles
Imagine "speed dating" for discovering new business relationships. Picture a large space filled with an array of tables, each adorned with numbers: you can choose someone to meet based on specific criteria, spending 15 minutes engaging in conversation about your background and expertise. Then you can hop onto another meeting. If you like talking and meeting people, this is a really fast and productive way to geek, learn, and build your network. The general consensus from several advisors, asset managers, and vendors confirmed that these brief sessions alone made the conference worthwhile. I, for one, can definitely see their point.
Second: The Food Trucks
If you're anything like me, you appreciate a variety of delectable bites. At Future Proof, the venue was buzzing with food trucks, each representing different cuisines. It was fun to relish a scrumptious fish taco while chatting with the founder of Wahoo's. By nature, I tend to be quite particular about food, and I must say that food trucks in Southern California often fall short of my expectations. However, the volume made up for the mediocrity of some of the vendors, and the overall selection felt, impressive, with some quality snacks throughout the entire show. As you might expect, if you're a healthy eater, or have special diets, you may have found it more challenging. However, there was a Whole Foods nearby, so you've got choices. It added a delightful touch of pleasure, chit-chat, and munching, and gave you a motive to explore the furthest corners of the event.
Third: The Location
Being at an outdoor conference on solid ground, while being surrounded by the beach and the ocean, creates a uniquely pleasant experience. Not only is it a fantastic place to hang out and unwind, but Huntington Beach also offers a diverse and exciting food and beverage scene. Plus, it's conveniently located near excellent restaurants, just a short drive away. Personally, I find it ideal to fly into SNA and enjoy a quick 15-20-minute drive to the beach. Overall, it's a wonderful opportunity to embrace the outdoors, relax, celebrate the meaningful friendships we've cultivated over the years, and collectively strive to advance our profession, empowering more individuals with extensive knowledge.
Finally: My Wife Joined Me
I can't recall ever bringing my wife to an FA conference. But I asked her to join me, because I honestly thought she might enjoy it. Her area of expertise is health and wellness, so finance isn’t usually top on the list, especially with our 4 kiddos developing. But I bought her a spouse pass, and we hung out on the floor and socialized, while also listening in to sessions. She even chatted with Michael (Kitces) about his experience, of traveling with his better half, among other friends.
I lost interest in financial advisor conferences, years ago. They lacked diversity increasingly, and the information felt stagnant. But something about this particular conference clicked with my personal brand - the kind of advisor I aspire to be for the public. I guess I wonder, now, with the benefit of hindsight, if I never brought my wife to a conference because they were that bad. But this one just felt like the right time, and the right format. A financial advisor conference that felt fresh, relevant, and exciting. I just wasn’t embarrassed to invite her to my industry event, and that felt amazing.
Conclusion
Our industry needs more diversity within our advisor ranks—yes to more women, more black and brown advisors, more LGBTQIA+ folks, and more atypical advisors who pursue very different types of consumers.
To me, diverse advisor representation is a really important part of the equation, of evangelizing financial advice to more people. I’m glad that Future Proof is attracting some diversity, and also attracting a slightly younger advisor to attend.
As we embrace ideas that come from diverse voices, I think we’ll have a little bit better chance of reaching consumers and improving the health of financial services to become more useful for everyday Americans.
How would I summarize my experience?
Future Proof was a place where I could wear my Fodora, sport a well-pressed linen shirt, and a new pair of Jordans. For me, this was a new. It was special. If this kind of energy continues, the future will be very bright.
Talk to me:
What have been your favorite conferences? Did you go to Future Proof? Tell me what you liked, and disliked. What shows are on the top of your list this year?
Make sure and hit me up, I'm here to help.
Best,
Reese