Future Proof is the conference that breaks all conference norms. Organizers said buh-bye to stuffy conference rooms and banquet halls, deciding instead to bring thousands of industry pros together along the scenic shores of Huntington Beach, California. If you’re unfamiliar, Future Proof is a multi-day wealth management festival held entirely outdoors, just steps from the beach. It mixes powerful industry sessions with live music, food, and art.
NCM founder Niki Clark joined her first Future Proof in 2026, and walked away full of tips and tricks to share with future attendees.
Everyone knows the basic rules of conferencing. Meet people, network your behind off, attend as many sessions you can, and take plenty of notes. But this guide covers the stuff you only learn by going (or asking the community for their most underrated tips, like Niki did).
From what to do before you head to the airport to figuring out where to eat, we’ve got you covered.
What to Know Before You Go
As you begin packing and planning out your experience, here are a few helpful tips to set yourself up for success.
Prepare to Network
Future Proof offers a pre-scheduled meetings program called Breakthru. During its 2026 conference, over 50,000 Breakthru opt-in meetings and experiences took place. It’s basically the next tech-driven era in networking, and a must-do for any attendee.
Before you head to Cali, prep for your Breakthru meetings (you’ll need to sign up about a month in advance). Know who you’re meeting with and what you’d like to talk about. This isn’t a requirement per-say, but you’ll find the conversations much more enjoyable when you know a bit about each other going into it.
If you don’t want to do the Breakthru sessions, you certainly don’t have to. But you still need to network, and you need to be proactive about it. Feel free to book your own meetings around the event schedule. This method works for plenty of people too.
Make a List of Everyone You Want to See
There are over 5,000 attendees at Future Proof. Chances are, you’ll be excited to catch up with a few friends while there. Kendra Wright suggests writing down a list of names on your phone, instead of assuming you’ll remember everyone. The event gets busy, and things stay fast-paced the entire time. We promise you, names will slip your mind. Writing them down ahead of time helped us make sure we didn’t forget anyone.
Bring an AI Notetaker
Stephen Beach recommends using Otter.ai or other mobile AI notetakers for Breakthru meetings and sessions. He says his team had no problem with their phones picking up audio from a distance. You may still want to take handwritten or in-app notes, since it helps to absorb what you hear.
Don’t Count on the Wifi to Work
Wifi on the beach, with 5,000 attendees all trying to use it, isn’t reliable. If you need to work during the conference, head across the street to a hotel or coffee shop, or use your phone’s WiFi hotspot, suggests Hillary Gale Meehan.
What to Pack
Here’s the stuff you won’t want to forget (shades and shorts aside):
- Business cards. Yes, people still use them.
- Tylenol (or pain reliever of choice). Trust us, you’ll need them.
- Cough Drops or Throat Spray. Your voice will thank you after hours of Breakthru meetings, says Austin Guest. Paige Haynes recommends Beekeeper’s Natural Propolis Throat Spray.
- Sunscreen. Thank goodness Ryan Canfield’s wife saved the day and snuck some into his suitcase.
- Supportive Shoes. Ashley Quamme wants to remind every attendee to take care of their feet. Bonus, Hillary says wear shoes that can get sandy, and pack enough to swap out every day.
- reMarkable or other digital notebook. Paige uses hers to save time transferring and retyping notes from Breakthru meetings.
Where You Stay and How You Get There
Hillary and Niki both suggest skipping the hotel and sharing an Airbnb with industry friends instead. The post-conference/pre-conference time at the house is great for enjoying deeper discussions and forging stronger bonds.
Niki always asks Airbnb hosts if the rental has fans. White noise apps just don’t cut it, and the extra air movement usually makes for a better night’s sleep. Some hosts will happily provide them, all you need to do is ask (or snoop around).
Book Your Uber Early
Wait until the end of an event, and surge pricing can easily triple the rate of your Uber or Lyft ride. Delaying just five minutes could mean $20 more (and we’d rather use that money on Starbucks at the airport).
Use a Bike
Rent an Airbnb that comes with a bike (most ocean-adjacent properties have them) and ride to the festival. Whit Lanier says the weather makes riding or walking a treat, even at the end of a long conference day. Whit did note that bike lights are important to use at night, and, oddly enough, Walmart doesn’t carry them. You might get away with strapping your phone to the front of your bike, but always prioritize your safety.
On the Ground
This first one’s easy. It’s also easy to forget.
Drink water constantly. We were pleasantly surprised by Future Proof’s refill stations and free water bottles, which worked well to keep us hydrated. Matt Middleton knows he doesn’t need 5,000 people feeling woozy before heading to happy hour.
Speaking of which, you need to dress for the heat, especially if you’re not used to the Cali sun. Until Future Proof takes a page out of the Disney parks playbook and adds misters, your outfit is your cooling system.
But if your feet are feeling a little sore or the sun starts to get to you, you can always cool off with a few minutes in the ocean. That’s Niki’s favorite strategy for recovering.
As you start to explore the conference, Hillary recommends grabbing a couple free portable phone chargers from sponsors. They’ll become an invaluable addition to your conference swag bag.
Food and Drink
Don’t forget to eat! It’s easier to forget than you think, between the heat and how much is happening at all times. The food trucks in the food pavilions are fabulous, but fair warning… The bites are small. Hillary suggests grabbing food often throughout the day to stay energized and focused.
Ask Locals Where to Eat
Niki knew going into this trip she wanted to try the best sushi in Huntington Beach. She overheard a local raving about a place called Sushi on Fire, took his word for it, and didn’t regret it one bit. If you’re a fellow sushi lover, check them out next time you’re in the area.
Drink Responsibly
Yes, it’s a super fun time. Yes, you’re on the beach. Yes, you’re with friends.
This is still a professional work environment. The alcohol usually starts flowing around 3 pm. Future Proof is a festival, sure. But stumbling around trying to force your way into the women’s bathroom isn’t a good look. 😉
Have fun, but don’t overdo it.
Will We See You at Future Proof?
We had an incredible time at our first Future Proof, and we’re already planning our next trip back. Thank you to everyone who contributed their best tips and tricks to making the most of this one-of-a-kind festival. If you plan on heading to the next Future Proof, let us know and we can schedule time to chat together over coffee (or a sushi roll 🍣).
PS: If you want more of the Future Proof scoop, you can listen to Niki, Hillary, and Paige share their highlights, lowlights, and biggest takeaways, including how to make the most of a large industry conference without overscheduling yourself (plus some bonus content, re the Kitces marketing report 👀)