5 Tips To Make The Most of FinCon

Last year was my first FinCon. I knew no one... and yet... I had a blast. FinCon is a special conference with an awesome community. But it can be intimidating for a first timer! So many influencers. So many talks. How to choose?

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Before I share my top tips let's set the stage a bit...

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What is FinCon?

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FinCon is short for "Financial" + "Content." You can think of it like a big party for everyone making content about finances. Bloggers. Vloggers. Authors. TikTokers. Podcasters. They are all there.

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Who am I?

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My name is Zach Whelchel. I'm the founder of MyBudgetCoach and a huge Planet Money fan. While my company will be a vendor at this year's conference in Atlanta, for my first FinCon last year in New Orleans I was just a normal attendee. I decided to go after a friend convinced me. My goal was to learn more about the community. Here's how I did it:

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My Top 5 Tips For FinCon

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Volunteer

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In the months leading up to FinCon you'll get an email that mentions the opportunity to volunteer. Take it! I signed up for a few slots and ended up picking up as many shifts as I could! As a complete stranger to the community it was great to have "built in friends." I got to meet several other members who worked alongside me. I also got to interact with the leaders of the conference who helped me understand the lay of the land.

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I also just love having something to do... and even better when you have a team to do it with. Working with other attendees gives a shared goal/purpose. It's a great start to any conference as those connections grow in the following days.

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Use The App

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Do you know FinCon has an app? With EVERY attendee on it? And you can message them? I spent a lot of time before the event reading bios and connecting with like-minded attendees. This meant I wasn't completely in the dark on who's who.

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Pair this tip with volunteering and you'll be in a much better position to welcome people to the conference on your shift:

"Oh hey! I've seen your content on Youtube. I really liked that one video. Welcome to FinCon!"

"Hey, I'm Zach. We chatted on the app about budgeting. Great to meet you in person!"

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The app is also great for planning out the sessions you want to see ahead of time. And saving contacts of connections you meet in person. Don't miss out on all these tools!

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Discussion Groups

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You'll hear the phrase "niche down" a lot at FinCon. It's the concept that it's easier to serve a niche audience than to try and be all things to all people.

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The same advice applies to crowds! There are LOTS of people at FinCon. You need to start by "niching down" to find the people with shared interests. The best place to start is the "discussion groups." These usually happen at a specific table/room at a specific time. It's a great chance to hear from others. Listen to what they are working on, and share some of your thoughts as well.

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It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint

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FinCon lasts 4 days. I've been to quite a few conferences... and I can't remember another one that lasted as long. You'll find yourself wanting to attend everything. If you have the energy then go for it! If you're more of an introvert like me, consider taking breaks. I got an Airbnb off location so I could steal away midday from time to time. This allowed me to come back fresh for the evenings. 

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My favorite play is to say yes to a dinner invitation early in the day so you can rest knowing you have something on the calendar already to look forward to. Which reminds me... dinners and lunches are great times to deepen your connections!

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Actually Follow Up

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This one sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how few people actually follow up on conversations. To be one of the few who does you'll need a system. A note on your phone is an easy place to start. Jot down important contact info and a few notes throughout the day as you bop from conversation to conversation. Before you go to sleep each night go back through and add some more context.

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Plant the seeds with small connections at the conference. Make friends at like minded talks. Talk to the speakers after they present.

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After the conference is over, wait a week. People need time to recover. But then start reaching out! FinCon attendees are keen to work together. In the moment it can be hard to dive deep into anything too meaningful. But a Zoom call when the dust settles can be really fruitful!

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A Few Bonus Tips

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Stay connected throughout the year with the FinCon Facebook Group.

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Sign up for FinCon "Donut Buddies" to meet a new member each month.

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Attend a regional event throughout the year.

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Wrapping Up

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FinCon is great. You're going to love it. Hopefully these tips above will help you break into the community in a meaningful way. It helps a lot that this community is extra kind and compassionate. And if all else fails I'll hang out with you! Make sure to stop by the MyBudgetCoach booth and say hi!