Just a few weeks ago, I wrote my first Countdown to #FinCon18 piece talking about how I was preparing for this year’s expo, which at the time was six weeks away. Now we’re less than a month out from the big day and I’m starting to get excited — like, really excited. Not only have I continued to stay updated by checking out the FinCon app, Facebook group, and more but also got around to ordering those business cards I anticipate needing for the event. All of this has only served to get me more pumped about heading down to Orlando next month.

So what about my first FinCon event am I looking forward to the most? Here is my top 7 list (in no particular order):

Seeing writers I admire (and learning from them)

It’s now been two years since I first started writing about personal finance and about a year and a half since I started this site. In that time, I’ve definitely come to find a few favorites in the space and started to notice I was seeing the same handful of writers’ names on articles I really enjoyed. As luck would have it, some of these writers just happen to be attending — or even presenting — at FinCon this year. This list includes (but is certainly not limited to) Jim Wang, Liz Weston, Jason Steele, and many more. Needless to say, getting to hear and learn from these writers promises to be a real treat.

Discovering new blogs

Lately I’ve on a bit of a hunt. Although I do love the personal finance site reading list I’ve put together so far, I’ve been striving to mix it up and see what else is out there. That’s why I’m really looking forward to FinCon, where I’ll hopefully be introduced to some more great writers and bloggers. Whether by meeting other first-timers like me or encountering sites that have somehow alluded me so far, I’m sure my RSS feed list will be much longer by the time FinCon comes to a close

Meeting new people

Going hand in hand with my last two points, I’ve read a lot about the great networking that can be accomplished at FinCon. In fact, I’m actually already seeing it in action on the expo’s app as well as in the Facebook group. Despite my often introverted tendencies, I can’t help but feel anxiously excited about this aspect of the conference. Honestly, the personal finance and — more specifically — the FinCon communities seem pretty awesome to be a part of and I look forward to becoming more of a contributing member.

Learning about growing an e-mail list

If you look to the right column of this post, you might notice a section where you can sign up to get e-mails from me. This is something I incorporated when I first started the site… and I haven’t really done a whole lot with it just yet. A big reason for that is that I don’t quite have a grasp on what type of content these e-mail newsletters should contain. Is it just a series of links to your recent content? A completely original work? These are questions I hope to have answered by the time I leave FinCon and put a new emphasis on growing my e-mail list when I return home.

Gaining some YouTube advice

Although I may have been ignoring my e-mail list, one part of the “Money@30 brand” that I’ve continually been working on is my YouTube channel. With new subscribers joining every day, I’ve been incredibly proud of the growth I’ve seen over the past year since I started it. At the same time, I know I still have a metric ton left to learn. Therefore, I’m happy to see there are plenty of video and YouTuber-specific presentations on the FinCon docket. I even noticed that Roberto Blake — who’s face I’ve seen pop up in my recommended videos section plenty of times before — will be speaking during the conference as well. All this has me amped up to get some new insights on creating videos and bring some more growth to my channel.

Getting some podcast ideas

Now, you may be thinking, “You have a podcast?” And the answer is, “No, not yet.” However, a Money@30 podcast is something I’ve been thinking about since before I even launched the site! Unfortunately, I’ve never had a clear vision for what such a podcast would be. Incidentally, I’ve actually had quite a few ideas as of late, although, to be honest, at this point I feel like I’m purposely waiting until FinCon before nailing down a plan. Just like there are several video-focused panels at this year’s expo, podcasting is also majorly represented, leaving me to believe that I might finally be able to crack this nut after hearing what some of these great experts have to say.

Visiting Walt Disney World

That’s right — with #FinCon18 taking up residence in Orlando, the conference is also the perfect chance to spend some time with my favorite mouse. With a one-day ticket to just one of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks setting you back between $102 to $122, a trip to the Magic Kingdom might not be in the cards for those focused on frugality. However, as an Annual Passholder, I’d almost be losing money if I didn’t spend some time park hopping during my Central Florida stay. So while this bonus perk doesn’t have a ton to do with FinCon itself, I’m definitely excited that P.T. and company choose such an awesome location to host this year’s event.

With just a few weeks until I head down to Florida for #FinCon18, my excitement level only seems to climb with each passing day. From seeing, hearing, and maybe even meeting other great writers, to learning more about several aspects of the business side of blogging I’ve been lacking in, I really can’t wait to take in the whole experience of my first FinCon expo. On that note, stay tuned for the final installment of my Countdown to #FinCon18 series when I’ll take a look at my top presentation picks for the expo — see you then!

Also published on Medium.