It’s hard to believe that we are already more than halfway through the year. While many of the industry’s premier conferences have come and gone, there are still many more to look forward to for the rest of 2018. When planning which events and conferences to attend, many mistakenly refer to a “trade show season,” but if WMA’s Trade Show Directory tells you anything, it’s that there is no such thing as a single season for industry events.There are valuable events held every month of the year, you just may not know about some of them. However, some of the smaller, more intimate events may have more of an impact on your bottom line than the big, national conferences that are already on your radar. Below are just a few of the notable industry events within the coming months. For a more comprehensive list, take a look at the Trade Show Directory here.
August is filled with a fair number of quality Trade Shows. California MBA’s signature annual event for the loan servicing industry, the Western States Mortgage Technology & Loan Servicing Conference, takes place Aug. 5-7 in San Diego. This event will cover everything from economic forecasts and regulatory compliance updates to digital mortgage trends and cutting edge technology. Also, the Mobile Payments Conference, held Aug. 22-24 in Chicago, is a good option for experts in the mobile payments, FinTech and cybersecurity industries. Attendees will uncover the latest on all topics associated with digital wallet, blockchain, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
September is packed with interesting events; too many to list them all by name (refer to the Trade Show Directory for the full list). You may already know about some of the bigger shows (TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco on Sept. 5-7, Five Star Conference and Expo in Dallas on Sept. 16-18, Finovate Fall in NYC on Sept. 24-27, PayThink in Austin on Sept. 24-26, among others), but here are just a few of the several other smaller shows that month worth looking into. The 2018 Bank Customer Experience Summit, Sept. 12-14 in Chicago, provides bank executives with insights on exactly what digitally minded consumers want/expect from their FI. It focuses on the most innovative technology trends to engage and grow one’s customer base. AFT Fall Summit, Sept. 23-25 in Hilton Head, S.C., focuses on the banking experience of the future, from innovation to leadership development. ABA Bank Marketing Conference, Sept. 23-25 in Baltimore, covers new ideas for bank marketers and how banks can get the most brand awareness.
Some of the most valuable events in the financial industry happen in October. Mark your calendars for Oct. 9-11 because you do not want to miss this year’s BAI Beacon in Orlando. Its unique, fast-paced campus setting offers an ideal venue for leaders in the financial services industry to connect in a meaningful way. The agenda not only focuses on big-picture industry goals and challenges, but offers individualized and actionable takeaways/solutions for financial services organizations. If you are interested in the most current issues and trends facing all experience levels in residential mortgage lending, check out MBA’s Annual Conference and Expo from Oct. 14-17 in D.C. ABA Annual Convention, Oct. 21-23 in New York is another leading event covering key banking issues and showcasing innovative products and services that reflect the full gamut of banking needs. These are a sampling of the many influential events happening in October alone, so there is no excuse to not to get out there and start learning and networking!
People typically think of November and December as slow months due to the holidays, but not according to the Trade Show Directory. No matter your interests, you are sure to find an event that will be a great experience for you. Bank Director’s Bank Compensation & Talent Conference, Nov. 5-7 in Dallas, highlights succession planning, board engagement diversity and inclusion, structuring long-term compensation and retaining talent. Credit unions may also want to mark their calendars on Nov. 5-7 for CUES’ CEO/Executive Team Network, a powerful networking event exclusively for credit union executives covering issues specifically tailored to them. NAMB National, Dec. 8-10, will take place in Vegas this year and will focus on some of the most important issues facing mortgage brokers today.
The best part is we only scratched the surface! There are so many more valuable conferences ahead, and they are all reflected in the Trade Show Directory. No matter which conferences you attend, you are sure to leave with valuable knowledge and some new LinkedIn connections. Now the only hard part is deciding which conferences to attend–choose your conference schedule wisely!
For the full list of events and locations, download the 2018 Trade Show Directory:
