Where Will You Go in 2014?

Are you bummed that you couldn’t make it to Vegas for CES 2014? Don’t worry, there are other conferences that are just as worth your time.

Before you scoff at the idea of dropping your cash on a conference badge, remember: conferences and trade shows are a must for anybody who wants to learn about industry from the industry leaders themselves. From an investment point of view, conferences and trade shows offer you the best chance to gauge which startups and corporations are most worth your money. They also provide some pretty sweet networking opportunities you probably won’t get outside of a convention hall. Here are some of the best conferences for wealth builders to attend this year.

SXSW: March 7-15

South By Southwest (SXSW) is the biggest and most important entertainment industry convention. Make no mistake, this isn’t San Diego Comic Con—it isn’t for fans (though plenty attend). If you are an independent musician, thinking about starting your own label, hoping to become a producer or learn how to invest in entertainment products to make a profit, this is a convention you must attend. The star-gazing (lots of mega-celebrities attend) is just icing on the insider-info cake.

The FPA Retreat

The FPA Retreat is a fantastic and must-attend conference for advanced investors who want to keep up with and learn about emerging trends in financial and investment planning. This isn’t for the beginner who has some cash to throw around and is looking for good ideas. This is for the planner with an established portfolio who already knows what she is doing. It’s great for keeping your portfolio on the cutting edge of investing and planning for the next year.

E3: June 10-12

E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is happening in June in Los Angeles and is definitely worth attending if you hope to invest in or become part of the gaming or computing industry. This is typically where companies like Sony and Microsoft unveil their new gaming systems and other electronic advances. Remember: this isn’t just video games (though gaming companies are represented). It’s about electronic equipment as well as the entertainment presented on it as well as things like Internet Security, IT issues and solutions and hardware and software development.

AWMC: October 7-8

This is one of the best wealth management conferences and it is the convention for financial planners who want more information on better planning their high-risk clients’ financial futures. It is one of the best conferences you’ll attend within the world of finance and that it happens later in the year is only helpful because it is geared toward helping you plan the year ahead. It might not be as widely known yet as SXSW but the intimacy of the convention allows for more one on one time with experts, something that you’re definitely want to take advantage of.

Are there any conferences, conventions, trade shows or retreats that you’re determined to attend this year? Share the details in the comments!