My Partnership Symposium Top 10

After spending the last two days at the Partnership Symposium, I’m convinced that this conference is one of the best in the financial services industry. Here’s ten reasons why:

10. Many of the attendees wore jeans.

9. After seeing that many of the attendees wore jeans on the first day, more people wore jeans on the second day.

8. Admission to the conference was only $125.

7. The dinner reception managed to combine Oktoberfest and Rock Band.

6. Smart use of technology. The presentations were broadcast live over the Internet, and twitter was used to allow audience members to pose questions throughout.

5. There was definitely a sense of community among the attendees. The conference served as an extension of an online community in some respects – giving people like me the opportunity to meet people face-to-fact that I’ve only talked with online – and it managed to bring other attendees into the mix.

4. The Q & A session with presenters was the best I’ve seen at a conference. Rather than opening the floor to audience questions after the presentations, each presenter was asked some really challenging questions from Ron Shevlin – and these points spurred additional conversation and really enriched the conversation.

3. Instead of handing attendees a binder with session handouts at the registration table, conference organizers gave each attendee a small piece of paper with the wi-fi access code.

2. I’ve never seen so many macbooks and iPhones in the same room at the same time.

1. The speakers were really smart - they are among some of the most innovative and involved people in the industry. And the respect among the speakers really showed – especially as some of them prefaced their presentations with how nervous they were about talking such a highly acclaimed group.

If you have the opportunity to attend the Partnership Symposium next year, I highly recommend it. Besides, aren't we all looking for an excuse to travel to Fishers, IN?