Article
Investing in the Exponential Era | Personal Finance Society, Birmingham | Matthew Griffin | Finance Keynote Speaker
We all work hard for our money, and then we want our money to work hard for us so we can retire in comfort, but the exponential future makes investing and planning for the future more challenging that ever.
Key takeaways
- Today the rate of disruption is faster than it’s ever been before, and it’s accelerating.
- THE SOCIAL STAGE Thanks to everyone including @PFSConf who tagged tweeted and spread the message using #PFSFutureProof - always remember to #ExploreMore
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'Investing in the Exponential Era | Personal Finance Society, Birmingham | Matthew Griffin | Finance Keynote Speaker', 311 Institute, 22 May. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/futurist-keynote-birmingham-investing-in-the-exponential-era-personal-finance-society/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
Firstly, thank you to Lee for asking me to be the keynote at this year’s Personal Finance Society event held at the ICC in Birmingham in front of an audience of over 2,000 of the UK’s finest financial advisors and professionals where we discussed the Future of Investing and Personal Finance in the exponential era.
Today the rate of disruption is faster than it’s ever been before, and it’s accelerating. However, while disruption can be a good thing from an investment view if you can see it and navigate it well enough, if you’re blindsided by it then its impact on your asset and investment portfolios can be disastrous – disastrous enough to turn your family’s inheritance into a pittance, and your golden retirement into a never ending commute to the local supermarket to work behind the tills.
When we take a look at pensions, for example, on the one hand oil and gas stocks are cratering as the world switches from polluting fossil fuels to green alternatives, which drives down the value of pension plans exposed to these once important industries, and then, elsewhere, as individuals live longer thanks to the emergence of new exponential healthcare technologies that have the potential to extend human lifespans to 100 years or more, again, not only does that have a significant impact on how people save and how much they save, but it also has a significant impact on pensions planning, as well as multi-generational estate and inheritance planning. All of which is just the tip of the melting iceberg.
During my keynote I discussed the impact of all these technologies and trends in more detail, as well as the impact that new ways of working and the emergence of so called Robo-Advisors will have on the personal finance industry. So sit back, grab a molecular coffee and enjoy the show, and then talk to your own financial advisor about your own plans, and if you need hooking up with someone, well after this presentation I know a few people who can help …
THE GALLERY
Check out some photos from the event, from backstage to the front of house.
THE SOCIAL STAGE
Thanks to everyone including @PFSConf who tagged tweeted and spread the message using #PFSFutureProof - always remember to #ExploreMore
Post on X
Matthew Griffin from the 311 Institute. Probably one of the most interesting presentations I’ve seen for ages. Excellent!! #pfsfutureproof pic.twitter.com/EsTAyIeViW
Russell Dowd (@Nucleus_Russell) November 28, 2019
Post on X
Just #wow #pfsfutureproof pic.twitter.com/4P5Skfkq0O
Sharon Sutton (@sharonsutton99) November 28, 2019
Post on X
“For investment advice, I don’t think there’s any replacement for humans...why is that your advice? It just is...” #pfsfutureproof https://t.co/8BhE2pUG8x
Justin Cash (@Justin_Cash_1) November 28, 2019
Post on X
This is Ava, a digital human, the most advanced neural network on the planet. NatWest are already running a trial using her to sell mortgages #pfsfutureproof pic.twitter.com/AA3YGoaQq1
Martin Bamford (@martinbamford) November 28, 2019
Post on X
Understanding what the future might look like, with @mgriffin_uk People want security, including financial peace of mind #pfsfutureproof pic.twitter.com/a9EhcbJasJ
Martin Bamford (@martinbamford) November 28, 2019
FAQ
Why does this matter?
We all work hard for our money, and then we want our money to work hard for us so we can retire in comfort, but the exponential future makes investing and planning for the future more challenging that ever.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on articles and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- View on X → twitter.com
- View on X → twitter.com
- View on X → twitter.com
- View on X → twitter.com
- View on X → twitter.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 22 May 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). Investing in the Exponential Era | Personal Finance Society, Birmingham | Matthew Griffin | Finance Keynote Sp. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/futurist-keynote-birmingham-investing-in-the-exponential-era-personal-finance-society/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.