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FinCon22 Experience

My FinCon22 Experience: Lessons Learned

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The Financial Force Was with Money Fit

On one hand, FinCon is what it says it is: a Financial Conference. On the other hand, though, FinCon is so much more than a financial conference. Each year for the past dozen years or so, FinCon brings together content creators in the personal finance space, from podcasters to bloggers, from YouTubers to Freelancers, from Authors to Speakers.

Yes, you can learn about personal finance at FinCon, but it mainly targets new and traditional media creators on personal finance platforms.

Plus, FinCon offers one of the best vendor halls I’ve ever experienced, not because of its size but because of the energy you can feel as you walk into and through “FinCon Central.” And that’s where I spent last week, standing at a magenta kiosk connecting with conference goers and other vendors at the World Center Marriott conference center in Orlando, Florida.

What I Did at FinCon22

As the only representative of Money Fit at FinCon Central, I definitely stayed busy. FinCon Central opened up three days in a row for 3-6 hours, although it was pretty common for the conference staff to come through about an hour after the hall’s closing to gently remind both vendors and conference goers alike that FinCon Central was closed and that we were to leave the hall.

Even before the end of the first day, the Money Fit kiosk had become very popular. Because of the conference’s proximity to Disney World and its relatively new “Galaxy’s Edge” area of Hollywood Studios Park, we decided to go with the local theme of Star Wars. Consequently, I quickly became known as the Light Saber guy. Yes, we gave out pink light sabers.

While t-shirts are always popular at FinCon events, I knew we would need to up our game. First, we designed a bring pink (magenta) t-shirt in a Star Wars-esque font to read, “STAY MONEY FIT.” Then, we ordered about 100 light sabers with our kiosk theme on them: Defeat the Dark Side of Debt.

Finally, I put together our own version of the Jedi Code, called it “The Code of the Anti-debt Jedi Order,” and printed it in yellow font against a starry background. I even got approval from my Star War-crazy 15-year-old son who was actually impressed I knew about the Code at all.

Our version read as follows:

WELCOME TO THE ANTI-DEBT JEDI ORDER

MASSIVE CREDIT CARD DEBT PERVADES THE UNIVERSE. NONPROFIT CREDIT COUNSELING AGENCY, MONEY FIT BY DRS, HAS WON BATTLE AFTER BATTLE FOR CONSUMERS EVERYWHERE AND NOW CALLS UPON THE REBELS OF FINCON TO STRIKE AGAINST DEBT BY STANDING WITH MONEY FIT.

YOU WILL LIVE BY THE CODE OF THE ANTI-DEBT JEDI:

THERE IS NO IGNORANCE, THERE IS KNOWLEDGE.
THERE IS NO OVERSPENDING, THERE IS BUDGETING.
THERE IS NO SUBPRIME, THERE IS CREDIT BUILDING.
THERE IS NO DEBT, THERE IS THE FORCE.

It was all a great hit with all the content creators and even most of the vendors at the conference. I was asked to pose in more than one selfie with attendees documenting their experience on their blogs, Instagram accounts, and other social media posts.

Whom I Met at FinCon 22

I met hundreds of amazing content creators in the personal finance industry, from energetic first-timers who had just recorded their first podcast to passionate long-timers who have tens of thousands and even millions of followers on their social media accounts.

I also had many conversations with fellow vendors to learn about trends in the industry, including the fintech arena and the traditional banking and investment sectors.

I really enjoyed finally meeting in person three guests from the Money Fit Show Podcast: Jack Allweil, Tanya Taylor (episode recorded and publishing late 2022 or early 2023), and Rachel Murphy, who just happened to be located directly across the aisle from me while she sat at the FinCon Bookstore where she was selling her great parenting book, I Am Not Your ATM.

What I Learned at FinCon22

Although I spent the vast majority of my time in FinCon Central while in Orlando, I was able to attend a breakout session, a couple of “big idea” main stage sessions, and the Plutus Foundation’s awards show. Combined with my conversations with other content creators, here are my big takeaways from FinCon2022:

  • Instagram is where it’s at among these content creators. Several times each day, a content creator would ask if they could connect with me and with Money Fit, then would immediately ask me for my Instagram handle.

  • TikTok continues to grow in popularity even for personal finance channels. I met several influencers whose websites would barely register a domain authority number but whose followers and subscriber bases number in the hundreds of thousands and even the millions.

  • Many of the Plutus Award finalists and winners this year included content creators who used only video or photo-based platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.

What Excites Me Most from My Experience at FinCon22

Asking me to list what I’m most excited about coming out of the FinCon22 event is like asking me which of my four children is my favorite. It’s not just unfair, but it’s an impossible question to answer. I found numerous vendors and content creators whose products and services seem so worthy of describing if I had more time and you had four hours to read an epic post.

Although I will include several items, I could easily spend another four hours writing about other products and services I learned more about in Orlando.

FinCon is all about content creators. Everyone there is a content creator extraordinaire or aspires to be so. Here are a few I met and can’t wait to partner with in the future on some mind-blowing project or program:

  • Justin Taylor of the FI Show Podcast: Currently approaching 200 episodes, this podcast has an amazing 200+ 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. The show addresses a variety of topics not always found in traditional or even social media (e.g., changes in the tipped industries) and hosts well-known and not-so-well-known guests that share stories of persistence, grit, and inspiration around financial and life topics.

  • Tom Drake of MapleMoney, is a fantastic blog, and podcast. Like virtually all content creators at FinCon, Tom was down-to-earth, unassuming, and enjoyable to talk to.

Among the vendors, I was excited to learn more about the following:

  • AFCPE: How lucky could I be to have a kiosk right next to the AFCPE’s kiosk? Of course, I’m a big fan, since I hold my AFC certification through the AFCPE and even served a three-year term on the AFCPE Board of Directors in the mid-2010s.

  • Qube Money: Since nearly the time I started as a financial educator back in 2004, I have dreamed of a program that would not only track my spending but also force me to categorize each purchase based on a pre-set budget. The envelope system forces the purchase categorization, but it also requires you to use paper envelopes and carry a lot of cash. Qube provides a debit card that forces you to categorize each purchase but, even cooler, allows you to set limits in your categories and even for subscription services and monthly bills. Worried about your streaming music service double charging you? Not anymore. Your Qube card will simply deny any transaction above the set amount if you want to activate that setting.

  • PodFest: What FinCon is for general content creators, PodFest is for podcasters. With more than 2,000 podcasters in attendance, this sounds like a great opportunity to connect with potential guests, potential hosts, and potential services to kick The Money Fit Show to the next level.

Where Will FinCon23 Be Held?

FinCon23 will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana October 18-21, 2023. I’m definitely not going to complain. September in the South tends to be a bit too sweltering for my tastes, keeping me indoors pretty much the whole time. #FinCon23

About the Author

Todd Christensen

Todd Christensen

As the education manager for Money Fit, author, speaker, and financial educator, Todd Christensen develops financial education programs and provides credit and debt counseling for individuals and groups around the country. In 2014, Todd published his first 5-star-rated book, Everyday Money for Everyday People based on stories and ideas he had heard in nearly 1,000 workshops he facilitated on budgeting, credit, debt reduction, saving, and identity protection.
Visit Todd Christensen's Page
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6213 N. Cloverdale Rd, Suite 130, Boise, ID 83713
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Client Credit Report Authorization

You hereby authorize and instruct Debt Reduction Services, Inc. (DRS, dba Money Fit by DRS) and/or its assigned agents to:
  • Obtain and review your credit report, and
  • Request verifications of your income and rental history, and any other information deemed necessary for improving your housing situation (for example, verifying your annual property tax obligations and homeowner’s insurance fees)
Your credit report will be obtained from a credit reporting agency chosen by DRS. You understand and agree that DRS intends to use the credit report evaluate your financial readiness to purchase or rent a home and/or to engage in post-purchase counseling activities and not to grant credit. You understand you may ask any questions pertaining to your credit report. However, while DRS will review the information with you, the company is not able to furnish you with a copy of your credit profile. You hereby authorize DRS to share your information from your credit report and any information that you provided (including any computations and assessments produced) with the entities listed below to help DRS determine your viable financial options.
  • Banks
  • Counseling Agencies
  • Debt Collectors
  • Landlords
  • Lenders
  • Mortgage Servicers
  • Property Management Companies
  • Public Housing Authorities
  • Social Service Agencies
Entities such as mortgage lenders and/or counseling agencies may contact your DRS counselor to evaluate the options for which you may be eligible. In connection with such evaluation, you authorize the credit reporting and/or financial agencies to release information and cooperate with your DRS counselor. No information will be discussed about you with entities not directly involved in your efforts to improve your housing situation. You hereby authorize the release of your information to program monitoring organizations of DRS, including but not limited to, Federal, State, and nonprofit partners for program review, monitoring, auditing, research, and/or oversight purposes. In addition, you authorize DRS to have your credit report pulled two additional times to conduct program evaluations. You also agree to keep DRS informed of any changes in address, telephone number, job status, marital status, or other conditions which may affect your eligibility for a program you have applied for or a counseling service that you are seeking. Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.

Client Privacy, Data Security, and Client Rights Policy

NOTE: This sheet is to inform new or returning clients about our services, records, fees, and limitations that may affect you as a consumer of our services. This form also discloses how we might release your information to other agencies and/or regulators. If you do not understand a statement, please ask a Debt Reduction Services (DRS) counselor for assistance.

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. (DRS) has put into place policies and procedures to protect the security and confidentiality of your nonpublic personal information. This notice explains our online information practices and how we use and maintain your information to conduct our financial education and credit counseling sessions and to fulfill information and question requests. This privacy policy complies with federal laws and regulations.

To provide our financial education and credit counseling services, we collect nonpublic personal information about you as follows: 1) Information we receive from you, 2) Information about your transactions with us or others, and 3) Information we receive from your creditors or a consumer reporting agency. We do not share this information with outside parties.

We use non-identifying and aggregate information to better design our website and services, but we do not disclose anything that could be used to identify you as an individual.

You hereby authorize DRS, when necessary, to share your nonpublic personal, financial, credit, and any information that you provided (including any computations and assessments produced) with the following entities in order to help DRS provide you with appropriate counseling or guide you to appropriate services: third parties such as government agencies, your lender(s), your creditor(s), and nonprofit housing-related and other financial agencies as permitted by law, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. We limit access to your nonpublic personal information to our employees, contractors and agents who need such access to provide products or services to you or for other legitimate business purposes.

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. complies with the privacy requirements set forth in the HUD housing counseling agency handbook 7610.1 (05/2010), including the sections 2-2 Mc, 3-1 H(2), 3-3, 5-3 F, and Attachment A.5. At all times, we will comply with all additional laws and regulations to which we are subject regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of individually identifiable information.

  1. Services: DRS provides the following housing-related services: counseling that includes Homeless Assistance, Rental Topics, Pre-purchase/Homebuying, and Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase); Education courses that include Financial literacy (including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding use of credit), Predatory lending, loan scam or other fraud prevention, Fair housing, Rental topics, Pre-purchase homebuyer education, Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop (including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners), and other workshops not listed above.

Please refer to DebtReductionServices.org for details of our services.

  1. Limits: Our services are limited to our normal weekday business hours. We do not provide individual counseling or education services after hours or on weekends, although our education courses are available 24/7.
  2. Fees: We do not charge fees for our financial management counseling and education. However, if you use them, you may have to pay for our Debt Management Program, Student Loan Counseling, Bankruptcy Certificate Services or certain financial education courses (homebuyer education, rental topics, fair housing, predatory lending, and post-purchase-non-delinquency including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners).
  3. Records: We maintain records of the services you receive, including notes about your progress or other relevant information to your work with us. You have the right to access and view your records by making a request to your counselor.
  4. Confidentiality: We respect your privacy and offer our services in confidence with the understanding that we may share such information with auditors and government regulators. Certain laws or situations may also lead to disclosing confidential issues, such as those involving potential child abuse or neglect, threats to harm self or others, or court subpoenas.
  5. Refusal of Services: You have the right to refuse services without any penalty or loss.
  6. Disclosure of Policies and Practices: You will be provided our agency disclosure statement.
  7. Sharing of Information: Sometimes we will need to contact other agencies or we may need to share your information, including your records, with other agencies or with regulators. We will do this only if you sign this form that gives us permission except for limited reasons; please see # 5 above for examples of such situations.
  8. Other: You have the right to be treated with respect by our staff, and we expect the same from you in return. We encourage you to always ask questions if something is not clear. We also encouraged you to express your thoughts and advocate throughout our services.

You acknowledge that this authorization will remain in effect for the duration of time that DRS serves as your housing counselor or financial education provider. You also acknowledge that should you wish to terminate this authorization, you will notify DRS in writing.

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Disclosure  Statement

NOTE: If you have an impairment, disability, language barrier, or otherwise require an alternative means of completing this form or accessing information about our counseling services, please communicate with your DRS representative about arranging alternative accommodations.

Program Disclosure Form

Disclosure to Client for HUD Housing Counseling Services

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. and its financial education arm, Money Fit by DRS, offer the following housing counseling and educational services related to housing, personal finance, and bankruptcy certificates to consumers:
  • Housing Education Courses: DRS offers many online self-guided education programs classified as Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops (FBC), Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops (FHW), Homelessness Prevention Workshops (HMW), Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops (NDW), Predatory Lending Education Workshops (PLW), Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops (PPW), and Rental Housing Workshops (RHW). These courses help participants increase their knowledge of and skills in personal finance, including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding the use of credit, as well as predatory lending, loan scams, and other fraud prevention topics, fair housing, rental topics, pre-purchase homebuyer education, non-delinquency post-purchase topics including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners, homeless prevention workshop, and other workshops not listed above relating to personal finance and housing. Course details are found below under “Housing Workshops.”
  • Home Equity Conversation Mortgage (HECM) Counseling (RMC): Via telephone and virtual platforms, we offer the required HECM counseling nationwide in addition to in-person counseling in Boise, Idaho. We also offer in-home counseling options in thirty counties across southern Idaho for an additional fee to cover our travel and additional staff time costs.
  • Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase) (FBC): Clients receive counseling and materials on the proper maintenance of their home and mortgage refinancing. Clients can find help and resources by phone, in our Boise office, or virtually on all topics related to stabilizing their long-term homeownership.
  • Services for Homeless Counseling (HMC): Clients receive phone, virtual, or in-person (Boise) counseling to evaluate their current housing needs, identify barriers to and goals for housing stability, establish a path to self-sufficiency, and connect with emergency shelters, income-appropriate housing, and/or other community resources (e.g. mental healthcare, job training, transportation, etc.).
  • Pre-Purchase Counseling (PPC): Clients receive counseling through the entire homebuying process. Assistance may involve creating a sustainable household budget, understanding mortgage options, building their credit rating, and putting together a realistic action plan to set and achieve homeownership goals.  Additionally, clients will receive materials and resources about home inspections and other homeownership topics relevant to successfully maintaining a home.
  • Rental Housing Counseling (RHC): Via phone, in-person appointments (Boise, ID), or virtual platforms, clients receive housing counseling relevant to renting, including rent subsidies from HUD or other government and assistance programs. Topics can also address issues and concerns having to do with fair housing, landlord and tenant laws, lease terms, rent delinquency, household budgeting, and finding alternate housing.
DRS also offers the following services:
  • A Debt Management Program (DMP) for consumers struggling to pay their credit cards, collections, medical debts, personal loans, old utility bills, and past-due cell phone accounts;
  • The Budget Briefing and Debtor Education Certificates that are required during the Bankruptcy filing process;
  • A Student Loan Repayment Plan Counseling and application service.

Relationships with Industry Partners

Through such services, DRS has established financial relationships with hundreds of banks, credit unions, and creditors such as American Express, Bank of America, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Credit One, Discover, Synchrony, US Bank, USAA, Wells Fargo, and others.

No Client Obligation

The client is not obligated to receive, purchase or utilize any other services offered by DRS or its exclusive partners to receive financial education or housing counseling services. Alternatives: As a condition of our counseling services, in alignment with meeting our client services goals, and in compliance with HUD’s Housing Counseling Program requirements, we may provide information on alternative services, programs, and products available to you, if applicable and known by our staff. Alternative DMP services include negotiating better repayment terms directly with your individual creditors, paying your debts as agreed, or, in extreme cases, filing for personal bankruptcy. Alternative credit and education services can be found through MyMoney.gov or the Jump$tart Clearinghouse of online financial education resources. Housing counseling alternatives can be found through HUD at www.hud.gov/findacounselor.
Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.
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Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

Rental, Fair Housing, Predatory Lending / HOEPA, Post-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. credit, budgeting, homeless prevention, debt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).

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Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

Rental, Fair Housing, Predatory Lending / HOEPA, Post-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. credit, budgeting, homeless prevention, debt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).