How To Be Successful Your First Time At FinCon: A Newbie Review

FinCon has changed my life!

Before going, I couldn’t begin to imagine the world of opportunities that FinCon has opened up for me.

And if you’ve only recently heard about FinCon, but not quite sure what it is.

Or, if you’re on the fence trying to decide if you should make the trip.

Then you can stop debating. 

Because I’m going to give you the scoop.

What’s The Big Deal About FinCon?

In my opinion, FinCon is an entrepreneur’s dream.

It’s where financial influencers, media, and big brands all converge to network. And, of course, to expand their reach.

So, how do you know if it’s the right place for you? Well:

• Do you have a business
• Are you looking to start a business
• Perhaps you’re trying to grow your business
• Even if you just want to learn more about personal finance and business

Then FinCon is where you want to be!

First Impression

Walking up to the entrance of the Washington Hilton in D.C., I had no idea what to expect. The outside looked like a typical luxury hotel.

But as soon as I passed through the rotating glass doors and into the common area…

“ It was like stepping out of the calm, and into a whirlwind of mind-blowing, organized, chaos!”

The hustle and bustle were coming from every direction.

Plus, everyone seemed to know everyone else.

That’s when I briefly panicked! And I thought, what the heck am I doing here!

Since I’m not a natural schmoozer, I felt like a complete fish out of water…at first!

Fortunately, that feeling did not last long. And do you know why?

Because of the people!

The Community

It’s hard to find the words to do justice to just how AMAZING the FinCon community is.

You quickly realize that everyone is there for the same reason — to network and make connections!

No matter if I found myself speaking with a CEO, an influencer, or a blogger like me. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and happy to chat.

It was like being a part of a special tribe. And I felt such a powerful connection with this group of people that I had never met before.

Even on the first day, at every event, I would run into someone that I met earlier. And each time, it seemed like we were already old friends.

The FinCon community is Awesome Sauce!

What to Expect

In case you’re wondering what’s so great about attending a conference? Let me tell you.

FinCon may stand for Financial Conference, but it goes way beyond that!

It reminds me of my trip to Disney World. 

There are so many amazing events and activities available. But, it’s next to impossible to see and do everything in only 4 days.

Here’s what you can expect:

* Community Meetups. These are not official FinCon events. They are casual meetups opportunities for subgroups within the tribe to connect. For example, Side Hustlers & Small Biz Meetup, Women in Personal Finance, FIRE Single Mingle, and many more.

* Parties. FinCon loves to party! There was a pre-party, a kick-off party and a closing party. I attended the kick-off party at the Smithsonian American Indian Museum sponsored by Robinhood. There was plenty of live music, food, drinks, and fun to spare! I even got this cool photo.

* Plutus Awards. The Plutus Foundation is a nonprofit that funds community-based financial literacy programs. This award is given for excellence in financial media. And after being nominated 19 times, Sandy Smith from YesIAmCheap walked away with three well-deserved trophies!

* FinCon Central. This could be described as the heart of Fincon. I walked in, and there were booths for every financial brand you could imagine. It was a golden opportunity to connect with representatives and build relationships with brands. I even got to meet money expert Jean Chatzky!

I got edible selfies from Ally.

And, I got this amazing caricature courtesy of Upstart!

* Breakout Sessions. These are typically smaller group sessions. The presenters share valuable tips on a specific topic. And I attended a session about branding that really helped me begin to narrow down my niche focus.

* Quick Money Talks. These are 20-minute talks happening throughout each day. They tackle many different topics related to personal finance.

* Keynote Speakers. This year’s opening keynote was from best-selling author Ramit Sethi. My daughter would have loved seeing him in person, especially since she utilizes his ZTL course. And the closing keynote was Sharon Epperson whom I’ve listened to her advice many times on CNBC.

* Bonus Sessions. These are special sessions with limited seating, so get their early. I was fortunate enough to attend a Fireside chat with PennyHoarder CEO Kyle Taylor. And, a Money Honey session to boost financial confidence in women session with Nicole Walters.

* Pro Networking sessions. These are exclusive 2-hour speed networking events for Pro Pass holders only. Pass holders can schedule focused meetings ahead of time to meet with the brands they’re interested in.

* Workshops. This was a particular favorite of mine. I attended a branding boot camp. It helped me learn specific strategies that I am using to identify my target audience.

See, I told you. There is an endless stream of events going on at any given moment during FinCon.

Needless to say, the value of FinCon is off the charts!

How to Get the most out of your first visit

As a FinCon first-timer, I had plenty of slip-ups. I’m sure at times I probably sounded like a babbling idiot. 

But, the good news is that I can help you prepare for your visit so that you can look like a confident professional.

1. Know your numbers. Personally, I don’t like dealing with analytics, and I prefer the creative aspect of a business. However, brands may ask about your numbers. So be ready to put forth your best statistics. It doesn’t matter if it’s your social media follows or unique blog visitors per month. It’s a good idea to lead with the good stuff.

2. Have your 30-second elevator pitch well-rehearsed. Since part of my trip to FinCon was to help find clarity for my business, I did not have a good pitch. So I ended up rambling at times. Remember, you will have easy access to brands that can help grow your business. And this is your chance to be memorable.

3. Talk to everyone. It can be intimidating to see bloggers, celebrities, or influencers that you admire. But this is not the time to be shy. I found everyone to be quite approachable. So go for it! Simply introduce yourself and strike up a chat.

4. Look people up. If you need something to talk about with an influencer or brand, then do a quick lookup to get some facts. The conversation will flow smoother if you know something about who they are and what they do.

5. Download the FinCon App. The app keeps you in the loop with all the events and updates as they happen. You can also locate people you’ve met and bookmark them for follow up.

6. Write things down immediately. You’ll meet tons of people all day every day. Keep a notebook and pen handy or scribble notes on your phone. Otherwise, at the end of a long day, you will struggle to remember who was who.

7. Go with a buddy. Fortunately, I was able to attend with my blogger buddy Nadia from Speaking of Cents. We shared a room, Ubers, and many whacky experiences. 

8. Have a plan. Maybe you want to partner with brands. Or perhaps you want to network with influencers. FinCon displays its line up of activities weeks in advance. Study it and determine which events will help you grow your business the most.

9. Make a least one beneficial connection. You don’t have to try to conquer the world in one FinCon trip. However, you can make at least one good connection. It could be another person in your niche or one partnership with one brand. Either way, it’s still a win on your part.

10. Take pictures of everything. Have your camera ready for action at all times! You’ll end up with tons of images you can use for your social media sites and blog posts. P.S. don’t forget your charger!

11. Bring business cards. Even though you can bookmark people on the app, there’s nothing like handing out a standard business card. Plus, brands ask for them. I printed mine at the last minute on my computer…womp, womp! I definitely recommend investing in professional cards — note to self!

12. Enjoy yourself. Yes, everything at FinCon can be very overwhelming. But even though I was way outside my comfort zone, I had so much fun and can’t wait to do it again!

Okay, so now that you know how to prepare here’s a quick reminder of the benefits.

The Benefits

• Extends your reach by making yourself visible.

• Opportunity to build relationships with brands looking for partners.

• Networking with other entrepreneurs.

• Potential to gain more clarity on your business goals.

• Ability to get advice from people who are already where you want to be.* Oh, and last but not least — let’s not forget the swag!!

The Takeaway

FinCon is more than just a conference. 

It’s a community where anyone who wants to network and grow their business is welcomed.

So if you’re ready to level up your business, then FinCon is the place to be.

The next one will begin on September 30, 2020, in Long Beach, CA. 

I’ve already got my ticket (attendees get early access)!

Hope to see you there!

P.S. in case you hadn’t heard, I recently became 100% Debt-Free!!

And if you’re ready to crush your debt, then click the pretty link below and learn the mindset secrets that got me there!