FinCon for Foreigners – A Guide for Non-US Attendees

With only a week until FinCon19, I’m getting ready for the 8,624 mile journey from my current home in New Zealand to Washington DC. (Yes, I calculated it).

I went along to my first FinCon in 2018, even before launching this blog. I was excited to attend while in USA for a year-long miniretirement trip, having read great reviews of this finance conference “where money and media meet”.

However, in the lead up to the event, I was concerned about how I’d fit in. I anticipated being an outsider as an Australian in the midst of US-centric content creators. I wondered if this would put me at a disadvantage; perhaps the sessions wouldn’t be relevant, or I wouldn’t connect well with new acquaintances who were more focused on interacting with fellow American attendees.

Layering on concerns about not yet having my own website, I found myself very nervous on arrival and unsure what I was getting myself into…

Of course, these fears were unfounded!

As anyone who has attended knows, FinConners are some of the friendliest people around. A couple of hours into the event, I felt these concerns melt away.

Bolstered by confidence from volunteering with the registration team on the first morning, followed by a First Timers’ Orientation session, I quickly became comfortable in this tribe. From bloggers I “knew” on social media, to newcomers like me; from high-profile creators, to community members who aren’t content producers themselves – I was soon making new friends.

My nationality was a valuable novelty, rather than a hindrance; a handy point of difference to help others remember me and add a different perspective to discussions.

Yes, some specific content presented was targetted to the local US context, but the general principles are universal. Besides, I was accustomed to “translating” lessons to match my own experience, after years of consuming financial independence blogs and podcasts from abroad.

As the whirlwind week came to an end, I instantly bought a ticket to return in 2019, no matter where I might be travelling from. I had so much fun learning and getting to know other finance communicators that I plan to make this a regular feature of my year.

For those travelling into USA like me, the added effort can mean we’re especially motivated to make the FinCon experience worthwhile. Here’s how to put this to our advantage and get the most value from the event.

Know your goals for FinCon

As good advice for anyone attending, it’s worth determining your goals for FinCon before arrival. Articulating these will help you decide between the multitude of sessions, clarify who to meet, and be strategic to avoid post-event regret.

Questions to ponder:

• What do I want to learn during FinCon? Will I aim to learn this from official sessions, the mentor program, or casual conversations?
• Who is my audience? Will US-focussed information help to serve them, or should I seek out more general resources?
• Are there specific content producers or niche communities I want to meet? How do I plan to connect with those people?
• Do I want to create content at the conference itself? What resources do I need to do so?
• What are the key points I want others to take away after meeting me?
• How will I practice self-care, so I can last through the week?

All that being said, it is important to leave room for serendipity at FinCon. Be willing to roll with the unexpected and let the flow of the event lead you to fun, valuable moments.

Have a strategy for connecting with others

FinCon is all about connection, with 2000+ potential new acquaintances with similar interests all gathered in one place. 

It is a refreshing chance to learn from others of a range of backgrounds and experiences. The diversity of perspectives and depth of financial knowledge is awe-inspiring, so soak it up and enjoy the exchange with others. 

Some tips for networking:

• If you’re a newbie, go to the First Timers’ Orientations to meet your first FinCon buddies and get the lay of the land.
• At networking mixers, apply the Pac-Man rule: Always leave a gap in your circle for an extra person to join (picture a Pac-Man shape with gaping mouth). Be that person who welcomes others in, saving them from standing awkwardly alone between conversations.
• Those who find mixer events challenging, you might like to befriend an extrovert to latch onto and let them “do the heavy lifting” of working the room and making introductions.
• Reach out to others on the FinCon app, FinCon Facebook group or other social media channels. Do this by early in the week, so you don’t run out of time for the meetings you want.
• Have a game plan for remembering who you met. For example, take a photo of their badge, have a notepad and pen in-hand, or write reminders on the back of their business cards.

FinCon can also offer a handy opportunity to meet those from your home country in one place. Look for relevant national meetups during the week or consider forming your own. As seen in the FinCon schedule:

• Aussies @ FinCon meetup on Thu 5 Sep 5.15pm at FinCon Central Roundtables. I’m hosting this one! Whoo-hoo!
• Canada Influencers Networking Breakfast at Thu 5 Sep 7am at Tenleytown West, Washington Hilton

Be ready to represent your country

Inevitably, others will be curious to know where you’re from and your home country’s characteristics. 

Money nerds get fascinated by new financial narratives, so be prepared to share comparisons of your nation’s financial advantages/challenges vs those in USA. For example, Australia’s universal healthcare and superannuation retirement accounts often spark impressed nodding, until the cost of buying a home is discussed…

As a default “national ambassador”, it’s helpful to have other basic facts on hand, such as population, major industries, typical foods to try, and local slang. I like showing an image of Australia overlaid onto a USA map for scale. (Yes, it is that big.)

I enjoy bringing props for “show and tell”, such as the colourful plastic Australian currency bills. (No, they are not dollarydoos.) 

Finally, you might like to bring a stash of treats from home to share, given that FinCon goers are basically powered by sugar and beer. (I’m packing the quintessential Aussie food of Vegemite to add vitamin B boosts on request).

Prepare your Mental Packing List

Before you get your bags sorted, don’t forget to do your mental prep work for FinCon. “Pack” the below for a successful trip:

• Keep your key goals at top of mind and revisit throughout FinCon
• Have a clear elevator pitch – eg. “I help _____ to do _____”.
• Make peace with the fact you can’t do it all, so do your best to resist FOMO
• Bring your authentic self to the event
• Know your self-care strategies and when you need to take a break
• Keep your inner fangirl/fanboy in check and play it cool when surrounded by your money heroes
• Be aware you’re not alone in feeling imposter syndrome, nervousness or doubt, so let it go 
• Have a handful of conversation starters, such as “What was your biggest FinCon takeaway?” or “What are you most excited about working on right now?”
• Have techniques for remembering names for bonus points!

Tick off your Physical Packing List

Aside from clothing and usual essentials, here is a recommended list of those tangible items you don’t want to forget:

• Your phone with the FinCon app
• External battery charger and phone cable
• Business cards for your brand – even simple ones are useful
• Your brand’s logo or avatar to stick on your badge and help others recognise you – especially you anonymous folk
• Refillable water bottle
• Reusable coffee cup to reduce waste while enjoying free coffee
• Cough drops/lozenges to avoid losing your voice
• Emergen-C or other Vitamin C to boost your immune system
• Hand sanitizer, ‘cos there’s a lot of hand-shaking that goes on
• Jacket for those air-conditioned conference rooms
• Comfortable shoes for the constant walking between venues and the standing networking events
• Red, white, and blue attire for the 2019 closing party
• Optional flag pin or sticker to show off your country, or other props such as hard currency
• Note pad and pen
• Name labels for your stuff, so your lost property doesn’t stay lost – eg. email address label on your phone cover; a bag tag; your phone number on your phone cable
• Non-perishable snacks – eg. nuts or granola bars, so you don’t get hangry or fade if when you miss a meal
• Treats from your home country to share and bribe new friends! 
• Extra space in your bag to take home free swag and goodies

Read tips from past attendees

Still feeling overwhelmed? Check out these resources before attending FinCon, no matter where you’re coming from.

Go to Fincon Before You’ve Earned It – Montana Money Adventures **This post helped the most before I attended for the first time!

FinCon First Timers Guide – FinCon 2019 website

10 Things Every FinCon Rookie Should Know – Financial Pilgrimage

Chief Mom Officer Goes to FinCon 2018, Wins An Award, And Rounds Up 50+ Recaps – Chief Mom Officer **Includes an extensive list of recap posts from the personal finance community

My Four Biggest Takeaways from FinCon 2018 – Four Pillar Freedom

Don’t forget the important travel stuff

In all the excitement of FinCon preparation, don’t miss the logistical essentials for your journey into USA:

• Apply for your ESTA (or visa if required) well before arrival.
• Have your outbound flight details and accommodation address handy when passing through Immigration.
• Know your plan for accessing US currency. *Related: Avoid using a debit card for hotel pre-authorisations, as that held balance may be inaccessible for use a week or more after check-out. Use a credit card instead.
• Inform your bank of travel plans, so they won’t block your card due to international activity.
• Consider getting a US SIM card on arrival if using an unlocked phone.
• If you aren’t using phone roaming and relying on wifi only, download the city’s Google map for offline use before travelling.
• Visit Wikivoyage for crowdsourced info on the host city, including transport from the airport.
• Bring power adaptor plugs.
• Remember to factor in US tipping and taxes on quoted costs!
• Buy travel health insurance, as you don’t want to be caught out with US medical bills.

If exploring after FinCon, you might like these 70+ budget travel hacks that helped me travel USA on $55 a day last year.

When all good things come to an end

Once FinCon has sadly come to a close, you can use that long trip home to plan for your next moves.

• Check the list of people you connected with and write down actions for followup.
• Review the notes taken from sessions and add to them while they’re fresh in your mind.
• Consider sketching out the beginnings of a recap post or podcast to capture your experience.
• Give thought to attending next year!

Are you travelling to FinCon from WAY out of town too? Want to connect and try your first Vegemite, with a side of Tim Tams? Get in touch!