Matt Middleton tells WP that the lounge, which for the first time will feature a panel discussion on going independent, is the epitome of what he wants the Future Proof experience to be
This article was produced in partnership with Q Wealth Partners.
Matt Middleton, founder and CEO of Future Proof, praised the “magic” of the festival’s Canadian Lounge, noting that its collaboration with Q Wealth Partners symbolizes the Huntington Beach event’s global ambitions.
Around 275 industry professionals from Canada will descend on California on September 15th for the third iteration of the open-air wealth management bonanza, which is expected to grow its overall attendance to 4,500 from last year’s 3,000.
Middleton praised the Q Wealth team, led by Jared Rabinowitz, Executive and Founding Partner, and Stephen Gasparek, Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Partnership Development & Executive Partner, for their persistence, innovation and execution, and is enthused by the addition of this year’s (first of its kind) Canadian panel, on going independent, inside the lounge. “They are phenomenal partners,” he told WP.
While he believes the US market is seven to 10 years ahead of its Canadian counterpart, and the lure for many north of the border is to learn about what’s happening in the US, Middleton says the cross pollination of ideas across regions points to an exciting future direction for the industry.
“Thematically, the Canadian Lounge fits into the event,” he said. “Future Proof is becoming more global, and the Q Wealth partnership helps amplify that aspect of the event. We’re thrilled about the partnership, and excited to see where it's going.”
This year, the Canadian Lounge returns with a Tiki twist, offering Canadian advisors the perfect hub to network and learn from one another each evening after the day's Future Proof festivities.
Middleton said the Lounge is the epitome of what he wants the wider experience at Future Proof to be – peer-to-peer learning and less product pitching. The panel discussion, featuring several well-known Canadian thought leaders, will only add to its appeal.
“Where the magic lies, is in the fact that you could go to that space (at a conference in Southern California) and see a room full of Canadians, across different job functions, regardless if you're a product provider, an advisor, or media. You’re all there in a very casual setting, just sharing ideas and thoughts,” Middleton added. “No one's trying to hard pitch anyone. Q Wealth spends a lot of time, energy, and resources to create this congregation and this platform, but they're not there beating their chests. That just shows the type of quality they have and what they want to do as a firm, which is to be an agnostic platform partner and look to create a more modern industry as a whole.”
Having known Rabinowitz and Gasparek from Middleton’s days creating ETF events with Informa, the three naturally connected. The first Future Proof saw 50-60 Canadian advisors congregate, and Q Wealth quickly laid out their vision for a more formal arrangement. “They wouldn’t leave me alone,” Middleton joked. “Direct and persistent, they followed through on their words last year. They executed flawlessly beyond my wildest imagination.”
Q Wealth’s presence is also based on Middleton’s admiration for the Canadian wealth management industry. If the aim of Future Proof is to bring modern finance professionals together to swap ideas to take back to their own region, he believes Canada’s seat at the table is vital. Canada, he says, is blazing a trail and really has an eye on where the puck is heading for advisors.
To help this sharing of intellectual capital, Future Proof is expanding its breakthrough sessions after the success of last year’s speed-dating style connections (17,000 one-to-one meetings) by adding two new platforms – its breakthrough talks program, a modern take on round-table discussions, and breakthrough experiences program, which is anything from morning workouts to evening dinners and receptions.
The Canadian panel, hosted for the first time this year, fits perfectly into this expansion. It will feature an hour and a half session about how to go independent in Canada. Attendees can opt in and out like any other of the event’s offerings.
“It's an evolution of how we work with partners and how partners get activated at our events,” Middleton said. “It doesn't all have to be a traditional exhibit booth, or the ROIs accrued to a speaking opportunity.
“Again, Q Wealth is very innovative, not only in what they do in the wealth management space in Canada, but how they think about participating in events that, frankly, aren’t even their own. I'm excited to see it this year. I'll certainly be there.”
