We went to FinCon! BTS of the biggest personal finance conference
This post is based on our recent podcast episode where we shared our favorite moments, sessions, and takeaways from FinCon 2025.
We just got back from FinCon — the biggest personal finance conference in the country — and we're buzzing with ideas, connections, and inspiration for The Finance Girlies community.
If you've never heard of FinCon, picture this: around 2,000 personal finance creators, writers, coaches, and entrepreneurs gathered in one place for three jam-packed days of learning, networking, and nerding out about money topics. From TikTok influencers to seasoned bloggers who've been at this since 2008, the diversity of people and business models was incredible.
Episode Highlights
[1:00] Why we went to FinCon — Our three main goals for attending and how they differed from Cassidy's 2021 experience
[3:00] Expectations vs reality — Emily's first-time impressions and the surprising diversity of finance creators (hint: lots of TikTok influencers!)
[6:00] Favorite session: Emerging identities — Angie Matthews' keynote on embracing who you are and integrating those identities into your work
[12:00] Favorite session: Why financial content isn't working — Kelsa Dickey's eye-opening talk on behavior change and the "less, simpler, sooner" framework
[15:00] Implementation ideas — The video content conversation we didn't want to have (but know we need to)
[16:00] Meeting our podcast guests IRL — Connecting with Jessica Norwood and Jillian Johnsrud in person
[18:00] Unexpected connections — How we met two OG finance bloggers who've been at this since 2008
[19:00] What we're excited to try — From video experiments to community building inspiration
[21:00] Would we go again? — Our thoughts on returning to FinCon vs exploring podcast-specific conferences
Why We Went (And What We Hoped to Gain)
This wasn't our first time at FinCon — Cassidy attended the Austin conference in 2021, but back then, her focus was purely on growing her freelance writing business. This time around, we went with three clear goals:
Build a stronger community for our podcast— We wanted to learn how other creators foster genuine connection with their audiences
Find potential podcast guests — People who could bring wisdom and fresh perspectives to our show
Explore collaboration opportunities — Connecting with other podcasters and creators for potential guest swaps
Our Biggest Takeaways
Embrace Your Emerging Identities
One standout session for us was Angie Matthews' keynote on "emerging identities." She posed a powerful question: "Who do you think you are?" — not in a condescending way, but as a genuine invitation to explore the different facets of ourselves that we might be pushing aside as business owners.
Her message was clear: Don't push away who you are or what makes you you. Instead, find ways to integrate those identities into your work and content.
For example, if you identify as a daughter caring for aging parents, and you're a financial planner, you could speak about planning for eldercare from that personal perspective. This really resonated with us because we've always believed that what makes you stand out isn't just the information you share — it's how you share it and the personal experiences you bring to it.
Less, Simpler, Sooner
Another favorite session was with financial coach Kelsa Dickey of Financial Coach Academy, who shared why current financial content isn't actually changing behavior. Despite more financial education being available than ever, savings rates recently hit an all-time low.
The disconnect? Most people don't want 47-step action plans or detailed tracking systems. They want the big picture and 2-3 actionable steps they can take right now.
Kelsa's mantra for effective financial education: Less, Simpler, Sooner.
This was a reality check for money nerds who want to share all the details. Sometimes people just need enough to get started — that's it.
What’s next for The Finance Girlies
Video Content?
We heard it everywhere: video is crucial for growth. While neither of us is particularly comfortable on camera yet, we're nervously excited to experiment with video versions of our podcast episodes. We already record the video — we just never use it. That might be changing soon!
Community Building
We were inspired by creators who've built these incredible, supportive communities where people feel safe to ask questions and share their financial struggles without judgment. That's exactly the kind of space we want to create for our listeners.
Behind-the-Scenes Improvements
We picked up tons of practical tips for podcast organization, intro/outro structure, and episode planning that we're already implementing. Anything we can do to improve your listener experience, we’re excited to try!
The People Made It Special
The highlight of FinCon wasn't the sessions — it was the connections. We got to meet previous podcast guests Jessica Norwood (The Sugar Daddy Podcast) and Jillian Johnsrud (Retire Often) in person, plus we connected with some incredible OG finance bloggers who've been at this since 2008. (Spoiler: one of them will be a guest on an upcoming paid episode!)
There's something magical about meeting someone whose work you admire and discovering they're even more wonderful in person than you imagined.
The Bottom Line
FinCon reminded us that behind all the financial advice, spreadsheets, and optimization hacks, what people really crave is human connection. In an age of AI and endless content, authentic community becomes even more valuable.
We're heading into the next phase of The Finance Girlies with fresh energy and a clearer vision of how we want to serve our community. Less overwhelming information, more genuine connection, and always — always — making money conversations feel like coffee with your most supportive friends.
And if there’s anything we didn’t mention here that you think would make The Finance Girlies even better, we want to hear from you! Drop us a line at hello@thefinancegirlies.com.
XO,
Emily and Cassidy
P.S. Want to join our community? Head to thefinancegirlies.com and tap the big gold banner to subscribe to our Substack for weekly newsletters and access to our paid episodes.
Listen to the full FinCon episode where we dive deeper into our favorite sessions, fangirl moments, and the ideas we're most excited to implement.
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Bonus episodes, starting with anonymous wedding confessions, money drama, and a full script workbook
Juicier convos that are too real (or too spicy) for the main feed
Real listener coaching sessions + deeper stories from our lives
Early access to Q&As, exclusive polls, and discounts on future events and products
Plus, surprise extras we're cooking up behind the scenes
