Guide to Financial Advisor Conferences for 2026

Attending wealth management and investment conferences can be a great opportunity to network and get up to speed on the latest industry trends and news. If you have limited time in your schedule, you may need to pick and choose which ones you attend. Knowing which financial advisor conferences are on the horizon can help you decide where to spend your time.

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Upcoming Investment Conferences 2026

Financial advisor conferences may be theme-specific or cater to certain categories of advisors. Thinking through why you want to attend, whether for networking, education or something else, along with who the conference is designed for, such as independent RIAs, can help you choose the right events for your calendar.

FPA GATHER

Dates: Aug. 18-20, 2026
Location: Dallas, Texas
Cost: $545 to $795

FPA GATHER, formerly the FPA NexGen Gathering, is an annual conference that’s designed for financial planners who are in the early stages of their careers. The conference welcomes advisors from all backgrounds to share their expertise and experience, while building new connections. One of the benefits of attendance is the opportunity to earn up to two hours of CFP continuing education credits. Mentor-led cohorts help to elevate the conference experience.

ECHELON Deals & Dealmakers Summit

Dates: Sept. 1-3, 2026
Location: Laguna Niguel, California
Cost: TBA

The ECHELON Deals & Dealmakers Summit is billed as a premier event for wealth management deal makers and focuses primarily on the area of mergers and acquisitions. Attendees can participate in panel sessions with industry experts, while building out valuable network connections. The 2025 conference featured a slate of 50+ subject matter experts, with more than 200 C-suite executives in attendance.

FinovateFall

Dates: Sept. 9-11, 2026
Location: New York
Cost: $1,299 to $3,198

FinovateFall is a fintech-focused conference for advisors, bankers and other professionals working in the financial services industry. The conference features 50+ live fintech demos as well as keynote addresses and expert-led panels covering a range of tech-related topics. For 2026, the focus is on AI and innovation, compliance, regulations and geopolitics, among other topics. You may be eligible to attend the conference for free through the Finovate Leadership program if you’re a director, head, senior vice president or C-level executive from a bank, insurer or investment company.

Future Proof Festival

Dates: Sept. 14-17, 2026
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Cost: $600 to $895; advisor fees are determined by AUM

Future Proof is not your typical advisor conference. Instead, it’s an outdoor festival featuring live music, food trucks and exhibitors from different financial services industry backgrounds. Future Proof brings together thousands of advisors, asset managers and other experts to share ideas about the future of wealth. The estimated total firm AUM in attendance is around $20 trillion, making it one of the largest spots for those in the wealth management space.

Women In Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS) THRIVE! National Conference

Dates: Sept. 16-18, 2026
Location: Portland, Oregon
Cost: $539 to $1,139

The Women In Insurance & Financial Services National Conference is a fall event that brings together women in the insurance industry, as well as those who specialize in financial planning and financial advisory services. Each day of the conference features numerous breakout sessions that target specific areas of interest along with guest speakers and evening meetups. Students are welcome and pay a discounted registration fee; the WIFS also sponsors a mentorship program for women advisors who are ready to advance their careers.

NAPFA Fall National Conference

Dates: October 14-17, 2026
Location: Atlanta
Cost: TBA

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) conference offers education and networking opportunities for fee-only financial planners who are committed to serving clients. NAPFA sponsors two events per year in spring and fall, both of which attract hundreds of attendees and dozens of vendors. If you’re currently enrolled in a CFP Board education program, you may apply for a Student Ambassador spot, which includes complimentary registration to the conference and access to all scheduled events.

NAEPC Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Conference

Dates: Oct. 21, 2026
Location: Virtual
Cost: TBA

The NAEPC Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Conference caters to estate planning professionals and estate planning council members who want to expand their technical knowledge, grow their network or move toward a leadership role in their local council. The conference features educational sessions on various estate planning topics, as well as the opportunity for accredited advisors to fulfill their continuing education requirements. For 2026, the conference will be held entirely virtually, but an in-person event is scheduled for May 2027.

FPA Summit

Dates: Nov. 9-11, 2026
Location: National Harbor, Maryland
Cost: $899 to $1,399 (early bird pricing ends August 17, 2026)

The FPA Summit is one of the largest financial advisor conferences in the world and it attracts a wide variety of industry leaders and financial professionals. This event is geared toward advisors of all different backgrounds and experience levels who are interested in networking and learning. You don’t need to be an FPA member to attend the conference. However, membership can help you unlock certain perks like registration fee discounts that can significantly reduce costs.

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Is Attending a Financial Advisor Conference Worth It?

A CFA and her boss prepare to attend a conference

Conferences can create value when they support a clear business objective. For some advisors, that may mean building referral relationships with centers of influence. For others, it may mean evaluating technology vendors, learning how other firms are scaling or getting exposure to a specific planning niche.

The stronger question is not simply whether a conference offers networking or education, but whether the audience, agenda and attendee mix align with your firm’s growth strategy. An advisor focused on acquisitions may get more value from a dealmaking conference, while a solo RIA refining client service may benefit more from an event centered on planning, operations or practice management.

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Cost is also part of the equation, but registration fees are only one piece. Travel, lodging, time away from clients and follow-up after the event all affect the real return on attending. Before committing, consider what would make the conference successful: new referral partners, a clearer technology decision, continuing education credits or ideas you can implement inside your firm. That can help you prioritize events that support your practice instead of filling your calendar with conferences that are only loosely relevant.

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Bottom Line

Two CFPs talk over what they learned at a recent conference

Attending investment conferences can yield some significant benefits, regardless of where you are in your financial advisor career. If you’re new to the conference scene, talking to other advisors who have some experience in that area can give you a better idea of what to expect and how to make the most of your time while you’re there.

Tips for Growing Your Advisory Business

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In addition to conferences, there are other possibilities you might explore for growing your network. Joining professional associations, attending local events for financial advisors and leveraging social media are just some of the options for gaining new connections.