Future Proof Citywide Recap: AI’s Breakthrough Moment

From March 16 – 19, Miami Beach was home to Future Proof Citywide, a gathering of thousands of RIAs, financial advisors, institutional LPs, private equity and venture capital professionals, fintech leaders and wealth management executives. With a focus on access, growth and innovation, the event brought together top minds in the investment ecosystem for four days of expert discussions, networking and industry insights.

Brightwave was honored to take part in the conversation, with Founder & CEO Mike Conover speaking on the panel “AI’s Breakthrough Moment: From Research to Results” on Sunday, March 16. Moderated by Axios fintech reporter Ryan Lawler, the discussion explored how AI is reshaping investment workflows, from research and portfolio construction to client insights. Mike was joined by Devon Drew, Founder & CEO of Assetlink, for a deep dive into AI’s impact on financial decision-making.

Key Takeaways From the Panel

AI Is Automating the Tedious, Empowering the Strategic

One of the most significant themes from the discussion was how AI is shifting the role of investment professionals, allowing them to focus on higher-value strategic decisions rather than manual research tasks. "Across any industry, taste is going to be one of the most important personal characteristics you can hire for,” said Mike, “because a lot of the ‘form filling’ is not a job anymore."

Investment professionals have long faced an uphill battle against time-consuming research processes, sifting through thousands of pages of data room documents, filings and transcripts. AI is automating repetitive, labor-intensive tasks, allowing teams to focus on the critical thinking and strategy that truly moves the needle for investment decisions.

Trust and Transparency Are Critical for AI Adoption in Finance

As AI adoption accelerates in investment research, trust remains a core issue. Mike emphasized that data security, compliance and auditability must be at the forefront when selecting AI partners. "I think doing business with people who you can trust is where it starts,” said Mike. “You want a counter-party that has an open and transparent posture in regards to compliance."

The panel underscored the importance of transparency in AI platforms, particularly when dealing with sensitive financial data. Compliance standards like SOC 2 Type 2 certification and a clear understanding of how AI models handle proprietary data are becoming non-negotiable in enterprise finance use cases.

AI Is Redefining Research Timelines From Months to Minutes

One of the most eye-opening discussions revolved around AI’s ability to compress research timelines. Traditionally, investment research has required weeks or even months of manual document review, with a constant fear of missing critical details. Purpose-built AI platforms like Brightwave are now accelerating this process, producing comprehensive insights in a fraction of the time. "The future looks more like 90 minutes, half a day, [for AI to do] something that would’ve taken somebody possibly months or years," said Mike.

This shift is fundamentally changing how investment teams operate, enabling them to analyze more opportunities at a greater scale without sacrificing depth or rigor.

The Best Way to Understand AI? Just Start Using It

For those still hesitant about integrating AI into their workflows, Mike had one simple piece of advice: start experimenting.

"For a lot of people, it starts in their personal lives,” he said, suggesting that AI-curious users try tools like ChatGPT for everyday tasks, such as modifying a recipe to work without a missing ingredient. “That informs an intuitive sense of what these things are capable of."

While large-scale AI implementations require thoughtful planning, many finance professionals are already using AI in their daily lives without realizing it. The key is to take a hands-on approach, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses and gradually integrate it into professional workflows.

“Embrace how rapidly things are changing — try things, but stay focused on what success looks like,” said Mike, emphasizing the importance of having measurable outcomes when evaluating a new AI tool. Ultimately, the value created from integrating AI into an investment workflow should be tangible: “Either it does, or it doesn’t save me time.”

A Glimpse Into the Future

Brightwave was thrilled to be part of this year’s Future Proof Citywide and to contribute to the ongoing conversation about AI’s role in investment decision-making. As the finance industry continues to adapt to AI’s growing presence, discussions like these will be essential for shaping best practices, fostering innovation and ensuring that financial professionals have the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Ready to see how AI can transform your investment research? Schedule a Brightwave trial today and experience the future of financial intelligence firsthand.