Future Proof

Brian Portnoy, CFA, Founder of Shaping Wealth, cuts through the noise on AI in wealth management: AI is not going to put advisors out of business. Other advisors using AI effectively will. His message is direct. Start with the problem, not the technology. Are you trying to save advisors time? Improve the client experience? Strengthen training? AI only works when it solves real challenges. He also highlights the industry’s north star: personalization at scale. Advisors want to serve clients well while running healthy businesses. AI can help deliver both. But there is a warning. If firms treat AI mainly as a way to cut labor, the result can be “serious cultural damage.” Employee and client satisfaction must matter as much as financial metrics. At its core, Brian reminds us that AI should support good people doing good work for other good humans. That is where the real opportunity is.

The 2 most important takeaways from Matt Middleton's latest AI research conversations? It all comes down to: 1. Education and people 2. Data At Future Proof Citywide, we're not chasing the next shiny thing. We're building the foundation for an AI-first industry, one grounded in people, education, and data. Join us March 8-11, 2026 in Miami Beach, FL: https://lnkd.in/gcyuTv5F

AI success depends on people, not just the model. Teams need context, workflows, and the confidence to experiment. Without training, even the best AI tools fail to deliver value, says Alec Crawford, Founder & CEO, at Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. Invest in your people as much as your platform. Teach them how to prompt, interpret, and build with AI. The real competitive advantage comes when human intelligence and artificial intelligence learn together.

Gopal Subramanian is leading an AI strategy that is designed to drive measurable impact at Focus Financial Partners. His focus and finish mindset accelerates delivery, while his scan, try, and scale model ensures the right use cases advance from idea to implementation. Learn more on his approach from the conversation with Future Proof Founder & CEO Matt Middleton: https://lnkd.in/eRFgPGCz

Most people talk about AI as a technology. The real shift happens when you treat it as a system for people, process, and strategy. Explore the full conversation with Matt Middleton on the blog: https://lnkd.in/e-GBwu7X

Merit Financial Advisors is showing what it really looks like to build an AI-ready firm where technology and culture evolve together. In a new conversation with Matt Middleton, Founder & CEO of Future Proof, President Kay Lynn Mayhue, CFP®, and Chief Product Officer Brian K. Green II, we explore how Merit is using AI to transform growth, streamline M&A, and elevate client experience. Read the full story on the Future Proof blog: https://lnkd.in/e-GBwu7X