Financial service events events provide effective networking, public relations and educational opportunities for your business. A financial services seminar or event not only helps you stay abreast of the latest financial industry advancements, but allows you to exchange ideas with colleagues. Plus, it gives your company significant name recognition among current and future business prospects or clients.

There are a wide range of conferences for financial industry workers, with topics ranging from economic forecasting and technology to trusts and investment strategies. To get the most value from a financial services convention, evaluate the following:

1. Is the financial service conference designed for financial industry professionals in your specialized field?

2. What special exhibits, workshops or keynote speakers do the financial services industry conferences offer to expand your knowledge base or increase your business profitability?

3. How much should your business pay for financial services industry events?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select financial services events geared towards professionals in your field

Choose a financial services conference that focuses on your specific financial industry discipline. If your focus is financial technology, select specialized financial services technology conferences, rather than general financial services conferences. Find out if the financial service events are designed for management, technical workers, consultants or entry-level employees, and select events most appropriate to your occupation.

I recommend: The CFO Summit sponsored by Marcus Evans provides opportunities for Chief Financial Officers to gain insight into current economic and financial challenges faced by businesses and learn about solutions from top industry experts. The Financial Services Technology Forum presented by WowGao.com is designed for corporate executives, technology management executives, mid-level management, finance professionals and IT professionals to learn about and discuss financial industry enterprise applications and solutions. The Forbes Family Business Forum addresses financial issues facing family-owned businesses and family-owned business leaders.

Attend financial services events with informative workshops and reputable speakers

Select conferences for financial services industry professionals that offer a selection of classes, exhibits and workshops relevant to your career. For the most beneficial learning experience, look for classes and seminars focused on specific topics rather than broad generalizations. Choose financial services industry conferences with successful, reputable and credible speakers who are known for their financial industry expertise.

I recommend: The Money Fund Forum for money market fund professionals organized by the Institute for International Research offers a selection of focused breakout sessions, including "Economic Indicators from the Corporate CP Market" and "Current Trends and Issues of Consequence for Tax Free Funds." The Alternative Investments Summit sponsored by the Information Management Network features CEOs, senior economists and finance professors as keynote speakers and panelists. The Endowment & Foundation Forum presented by Opal Foundation Group offers workshops addressing critical investment topics like "130/30 Strategies: How They Can Benefit Endowments & Foundations" and "Real Estate & Real Assets: Examining current trends and identifying future opportunities."

Choose a financial services seminar or convention in your price range

Register for financial services industry events that fit within your company's budget. In addition to the conference fees, factor in costs for travel, lodging and meals. To save money, consider a local or regional annual financial services conference, rather than a global financial services conference.

I recommend: The eTechnology Conference & Exhibit sponsored by Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association offers discounted prices for advance registration. The Art of Indexing conference sponsored by Incisive Media offers registration discounts for groups of three or more. The RealShare Investment & Finance Summit presented by Real Estate Media features a standard registration fee for your company's first conference attendee and discounted prices for additional attendees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To save on travel fees, consider attending financial services industry events online. While you may not benefit from the networking opportunities that come with attending a financial service conference, you will still receive the same valuable educational information from the comfort of your home or office.