The Financial Blogger Conference was held this past weekend in Denver, Colorado, spearheaded by Phil Taylor and his team. The event was fantastic, even more impressive than last year, and I’m thankful to have been and to continue to be a small part of it. Kudos to everyone involved with the planning of what is most definitely the most useful conference I’ve ever attended. It was fun, too, and the location was perfect.
Since this is a website were I talk about my appearances, I’m going to start with that in this recap, but by the end of this post I hope you’ll see there’s so much more to the experience than that.
The Plutus Awards
The conference opened on Thursday with a welcome reception and a the ceremony for the Third Annual Plutus Awards, hosted by Kevin McKee of Thousandaire. Assisted by a planning committee consisting of a small number of bloggers and a group of volunteers, the ceremony, designed as a way to celebrate the bloggers who put their hearts and souls into the work they do, was a resounding success. Winners in attendance received backpacks full of gifts from the conference’s sponsors in addition to engraved trophies.
Thanks particularly to the planning committee, Kevin and the award presenters, Tom Drake from Canadian Finance Blog, and the volunteers who helped make the Plutus Awards a success and a significant improvement over last year’s ceremony.
The new retirement
Photo: marubozo
On Friday, I moderated a panel about “the new retirement” — defined by the members of the panel as putting “work work” behind as early as possible to focus on the things that really matter for as long as possible without the need for monetary motivation. The panel featured Todd Tresidder from Financial Mentor, Rob Bennett from Passion Saving, and Mike Piper from Oblivious Investor. These three individuals each have their own perspectives and experiences related to financial independence, and having them in one room together was a joy for those in attendance.
How I built my “million dollar blog”
Photo: marubozo
Let me be clear: I didn’t name this session. I appeared on a panel with Jim Wang from Bargaineering, J.D. Roth from Get Rich Slowly, and Will Chen from Wise Bread. The session was in the style of a question-and-answer panel, and we each fielded questions about our experiences and our opinions about building communities and taking websites to the next level.
Thank you to everyone who was brave enough to ask questions. Questions don’t need to be limited to sessions, however. I’m happy to answer questions, brainstorm, or just chat with anyone who’s interested. Reach out to me any time.
Closing keynote
During the closing keynote address, several writers with successful blogs to share their thoughts on how personal finance blogging has changed over the past few years and what we might expect in the future, and I was included among the group for this “fireside chat” despite my voice being practically non-existent by the end of the event. It’s impossible to foresee the future in specific detail, but I am convinced that personal finance blogging in some form will still be relevant for a long time to come.
Videos of all the above, in addition to all the other sessions, will soon be available for conference attendees.
Sessions comprise only a small piece of the conference experience
More important than the sessions in which I participated or attended are the opportunities to make personal connections. I had a great time getting to know more colleagues and new friends than I would have imagined. I brainstormed with other bloggers and financial professionals about possible future projects, and I enjoyed time off the clock dining, dancing, and extending discussions far beyond personal finance and blogging.
It was equally valuable and rewarding for me to make or deepen connections with my writing idols, as it was connecting with people I’ve talked to and worked with over the years, as it was getting to know company representatives who are fantastically — or fanatically — passionate about what they do (particularly to help the world), as it was getting to know wonderful people I must spend more time with. I couldn’t name everyone I was so happy to see; the list would number at least a hundred. Networking has never been my strength, but I plan to work hard to maintain as many connections as I can. I left the conference renewed and motivated to bring some new projects to life — not just related to finance.
More important than all of this, though, are real friendships. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when the public relations folks are nice because it’s their job or are genuinely nice, but I try to get past that. Making and maintaining a personal connection with people is what’s most exciting for me.
Sessions are good. But great people make great conferences, and the personal finance blogging world is full of fantastic people.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s not just the sessions, which were fantastic, but the whole event was so much fun. The spirit of community is amazing, and I truly think you and the other ‘originals’ in the space are the reason the sense of community and sharing is so strong.
Thanks for putting together an awesome event for the Plutus Awards, and it was great to get some time to chat with you, but it wasn’t nearly enough of course.
I’d be all for a Philadelphia-area meetup. We’re not too far away from each other.
I agree. It’s all about the people. Some of the most valuable and interesting information comes from the informal meetings with others. And, of course, it’s a great chance to really start to get to know these folks who are, in fact, “real” people. Thanks for all you do, and all the hard work you put in. Few people have done as much for our niche as you have.
Even though I learned a great deal from the sessions, the best part of my FinCon12 experience was interacting (face-to-face) with bloggers I feel like I’ve known for years. Although I like hiding behind my computer just as much as the next blogger, there’s something special about being able to connect with like minded people in real life.
It would have been great if I could have attended all the sessions and still had time for all the meetings and socialization. I missed some great sessions I would have loved to see if it weren’t for the need to meet people and talk about future plans.
I agree about the great people. This has to rank up there on some magical list of conferences as number one conference. I had a great time once again and wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Thanks for hosting the Plutus Awards! I enjoyed the ceremony and was humbled to be nominated, let alone win.
The networking is definitely the most valuable part of the event. The sessions are good, but the networking is priceless. I met several people I have known for years in the online world, but had never actually met in person, and I met several people I had never even met online, but who have become fast friends. Phil did a great job putting everything together and I’m definitely looking forward to next year.
So true. I felt so Honored to be apart of a casual dinner with you on Wednesday night. It was a perfect start to a great conference where relationships are key. I fell apart of this huge family who all “gets it”. The Plutus awards were Awesome! You guys stepped it up big time. The attention to detail was so noticeable and appreciated. Until next time.
It’s true — we are a family.
Definitely agree that the people make the conference. Thanks for all your involvement, person-with-half-a-dozen-nick-names!
Yeah, the people are the best part for sure!! I love being around so many like minded thinkers. The sessions are nice, but the best parts are just hanging out and chatting.
I was just there for the free drinks…
There were certainly a lot of those to go around.
Thanks much for hosting the New Retirement session. I think an argument can be made that you had the hardest job. The three of us all know our take forwards and backwards. But it was by you picking the questions and keeping things on track that made the thing work. I look forward to getting a change to talk things over with you in more depth next year.
Please take care.
Rob
I agree with Rob.
Thank you for the work you put into moderating that panel!
No problem! It was fun.
Is it sad that I was excited you used “comprise” correctly? No one ever does! And it was great to meet you and chat with you… apparently before your voice gave out.
I think I may have it backwards, actually.
I’ll have to check with the Grammar Girl.
Nope, you have it right. As an old editor once told me: A jury is composed of 12 people, but 12 people comprise a jury.
It’s rare to find a gathering where the sessions are so useful that you don’t want to miss any of them. But you do because you know you’ll get just as valuable advice — and support — from the personal interactions. I learned about people’s families, hobbies, pet peeves and, as Adam Baker preached (can I get an Amen!) the “why” so many of us blog about money issues. I was a bit dubious as to whether FinCon12 could match the inaugural event; it surpassed it! I can’t wait for FinCon13!
Scotch, scotch scotchy scotch. Oh yes, and Doctor Who=needs to happen. You=awesome.
I like that math.
Wonderful to spend time talking with you. Maybe Abby and I are the reason your voice finally gave up the ghost. But we Jersey folk have to stick together at these things, amIright?`
Especially if the female of those NJ folks sends me Tastykakes next time! Just sayin’
Luke, we couldn’t agree more! (In fact, we wrote a very similar post: https://www.betterment.com/blog/2012/09/13/getting-by-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-and-some-bloggers/). Jon Stein and I really enjoyed catching up with you – and everyone else! It’s wonderful to see how tight-knit the PF community is, and how much it continues to grow. Can’t wait for Fincon13….
Great wrap up! If it makes you feel better, some sessions were not awesome. Most were, but feel better knowing you didn’t miss everything when you were meeting people!