Why conferences are worth it

I’m on a quest to continuously expand my knowledge. Maybe because I feel that if I don’t, I may fall behind, or that if I do, I’ll achieve more. And of course, there’s always that fear of getting older and losing what knowledge I have accumulated.

I’m looking into MBA programs, I read books on self-betterment, I immerse myself in the news of this industry so that I can stay abreast of what’s happening, but probably most educational and rewarding to me are industry conferences.

That’s right, those events that bring together hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of your peers. Long flights to the host city, 10-hour days spent in one hotel attending sessions, keynote speeches and the enormous exhibit floor. Nights spent at cocktail receptions or client dinners. Emails left unread and daily business left unattended to. But for good reason.

This month I’ll have the luxury of attending two great industry conferences: the Advisor Network Summit in Las Vegas and the LIMRA Social Media Conference for Financial Services in San Francisco. In September, I’ll attend the IRI Annual Meeting in Charleston and in October and November it’s the LIMRA Annual Conference and NAILBA 34, all of which will help expand my knowledge.