This fall, I’m attending a conference called FinCon. This 3-day event focuses on the business of personal finance media. Bloggers, vloggers and podcasters from all around the country come to grow their small business and learn how to provide the most value to their audience.

Given that I’m slightly obsessed with personal finance, I am pumped to attend this conference. I’ll be like a kid in a candy store jumping from session to session. I’ve never been to a personal finance focused event like this before but I’m feeling very excited my first experience.

Conferences, like FinCon, can be an excellent way to create a physical meeting place for all things associated with a brand, a message or a movement. Brand evangelists, passionate gurus and engaged followers all come together in one place to learn, grow and network with like-minded people.

Oh, and they can also be a lot of fun with drinks, parties, and live music!

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Starting a conference is no small task. In fact, it can take a lot of patience, time and capital to get it done right. But if you're successful, not only can you create an impactful in-person event, you can create a profitable business for yourself as well.

I invited Philip Taylor (PT) to chat with us today about his adventures in building FinCon from the ground up. PT is an industry veteran having written for businesses and publications like US News and World Report, ING Direct and TurboTax. He’s been in the personal finance media industry for 10 years. Given that I’ve been in it for like 10 minutes, it was an honor to speak to PT about all things blogging, podcasting and, of course his baby, FinCon.

What are we covering today?

PT and I chat about:

• How FinCon started
• The steps he took to grow his conference from 250 people in 2011 to 1500 in 2017
• How he’s been able to turn this event into a six figure business

If you’re looking to start your own conference or you just like hearing entrepreneurial success stories, this conversation is for you.

Show Resources

PT Money:  PT's site with resources and his podcast Masters of Money

FinCon:  Learn about FinCon and purchase tickets

Carpe Diem Quote

“Timing, perseverance, and 10 years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.” – Biz Stone (Co-Founder of Twitter)

Who else is headed to FinCon?

Do you think your brand is conference-worthy?