Future Proof Citywide has quickly become one of the most important events for asset managers, ETF issuers, and fintech providers selling into RIAs. One of the most valuable and high-pressure parts of the event is Breakthru meetings: fast-paced, 15-minute conversations where you’re expected to clearly articulate your value, earn credibility, and spark follow-up interest with an advisor you may be meeting for the very first time. With so little time and so much competition, preparation is the difference between a forgettable pitch and a meaningful next step. As a sponsor of Future Proof Citywide, FINTRX works closely with asset managers and distribution teams preparing for Breakthru meetings every year. Below are five practical ways to approach those meetings with intention, confidence, and a clear edge.
The biggest mistake firms make with Breakthru meetings is treating them as a volume game. Not every advisor at Future Proof Citywide is a good fit, and your time is too limited to waste on low-probability conversations. Before requesting meetings, use data to identify RIAs that already demonstrate intent signals aligned with your strategy.
That might include:
• Firms with allocations to similar asset classes or ETF structures
• RIAs actively adopting active ETFs or alternatives
• Advisors whose AUM, client profile, or investment philosophy matches your product
FINTRX helps teams pinpoint which RIAs are already allocating to comparable strategies, allowing you to prioritize meeting requests that are far more likely to convert into post-event conversations.
Result: Fewer meetings, higher quality conversations, and better outcomes.
In a 15-minute meeting, credibility is established quickly, often in the first few minutes. Advisors can immediately tell whether you’ve done your homework or are delivering a generic pitch.
Before the event, build a quick but thorough snapshot of each firm you’re meeting with:
• Firm AUM and growth trajectory
• Primary investment focus (active vs. passive, ETF usage, alternatives, etc.)
• Organizational structure and decision-making style
• Custodian relationships and technology stack
Walking into the meeting already understanding who they are changes the dynamic entirely. Instead of asking surface-level discovery questions, you can jump straight into a relevant, peer-level discussion.
Advisors appreciate relevance, not guesswork.
If you can naturally reference the types of strategies they already use, you immediately differentiate yourself from the dozens of other managers they’ll meet that week. The key is to be precise and professional, not invasive.
For example: “We’re seeing a number of RIAs your size allocating to actively managed fixed income ETFs to complement core exposures.”
FINTRX enables teams to understand firm-level ETF and strategy adoption trends, helping you tailor your message to what’s already resonating, rather than pitching in a vacuum.
Prepared beats polished every time.
Breakthru meetings are not designed for long slide decks or feature-by-feature walkthroughs. Advisors are moving quickly, juggling meetings, and filtering aggressively.
The most effective conversations:
• Open with a relevant insight about their peer group
• Tie your product to a real portfolio use case
• Ask smarter, more specific questions because you already know the basics
When you demonstrate that you understand their world, including their constraints, clients, and portfolio decisions, you position yourself as a potential partner, not just another product provider.
Showing preparation is often more memorable than the product itself.
The real ROI of Future Proof Citywide happens after the conference.
Too often, Breakthru meetings result in scattered notes, forgotten conversations, and inconsistent follow-up. The strongest teams treat follow-up as part of the pre-event strategy, not an afterthought.
Best practices include:
• Logging meetings and notes immediately
• Tagging advisors by product interest or priority
• Triggering timely, personalized follow-ups within days, not weeks
With FINTRX CRM integrations, meeting insights can flow directly into your existing workflows, ensuring that Breakthru conversations turn into tracked opportunities rather than lost momentum.
Breakthru meetings reward preparation, relevance, and discipline. When you combine intentional meeting selection, deep firm intelligence, tailored messaging, and structured follow-up, 15 minutes is more than enough time to stand out.
Future Proof Citywide is busy. Advisors are discerning. The teams that win are the ones who show up informed, focused, and ready, and that preparation starts well before you arrive in Miami.
If you’re attending Future Proof Citywide this year, make every Breakthru meeting count.