ADVISE AI 2026: What advisors will learn in Austin

Financial Planning will hold the third annual ADVISE AI conference Oct. 20-22 in Austin, Texas. The three-day event will bring together advisors, technology providers and AI researchers for keynote speeches, product demonstrations and panel sessions focused on applying artificial intelligence to financial advice.

Speakers scheduled for the main stage include Michael Kitces, Joel Bruckenstein, Samantha Russell, Mohamed Farag and John O’Connell. A featured session, “The Great AI Debate: Will AI Elevate or Erode the Value of Advice?”, pairs Kitces and Bruckenstein to argue opposing views on AI’s impact on advisor roles. Organizers say the program will include content for advisors new to AI as well as advanced users, ranging from introductory overviews to technical deep dives.

An exhibit hall will host hands-on technology demos and case studies. Presenters will be available to answer questions and walk through product features. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops to follow demonstrations and take part in workshops that show step-by-step use of tools and agents.

Panel sessions will address firm-level applications such as using AI for marketing, meeting regulatory and compliance requirements when deploying AI, selecting tools appropriate for different practice sizes, measuring AI’s return on investment and managing firmwide implementation. Financial Planning’s editorial team developed the agenda to cover operational and client-facing uses of AI in advisory practices.

Sessions will examine the human side of advice. Brian Portnoy of Shaping Wealth and Erik Allison of Wealth Vision will discuss how AI can affect advisor-client relationships and the role of human judgment in planning. Other sessions will look at growth strategies: Samantha Russell will outline ways firms can use AI to support client acquisition and service expansion, while Advait Kulkarni and Anthony Lancaster will present methods for evaluating AI’s financial benefits.

Organizers plan networking events alongside the education program. The evening before formal sessions begins, an opening reception will include a sports and games simulator, live music and food, with scheduled time for attendees to meet peers and vendors.

Brian Wallheimer, Financial Planning’s editor-in-chief, noted that the conference has grown each year and credited participant interaction for that trend. He added the sessions are designed to guide both beginners and advanced users through practical questions and next steps.

ADVISE AI is in its third year and will present sessions intended to show how AI tools can be integrated into advisory workflows while addressing compliance considerations and methods for tracking performance and client outcomes.