Paying it forward is an expression when the recipient of an act of kindness does something kind for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed. This newsletter is about paying it forward for the Financial ConNEXTion project.
What is Financial ConNEXTion? It’s a career exploration “team” competition for college students in the financial planning curriculum (this is the 20th anniversary, which is impressive).
How Many Teams Compete?
Teams of two students from over 30 schools compete for only FIVE finalist slots. Some recent schools in the finals have been: Texas Tech, Texas A&M, U of Toledo, Bowling Green, U of Akron, U of M – St. Louis, Eastern KY, Kansas St., Utah Valley, U of UT, and UT Valley.
Why Do I Care About This Competition?
I’ve been on this cruise for the last four years and helped out as a judge or as a speaker for educational sessions. To say that I’ve been blown away by the students I’ve met and seen present would be a HUGE understatement.
I’ve been so impressed that our IMO donates $2,500 a year to help with the cost of bringing students who can’t afford to attend the last two years and will again this year.
Cruise Ship Competition
One of the cool aspects of this competition is that the finals are held on a cruise ship.
All the students, judges, speakers, non-speaking professionals, and students who attend get several days’ worth of interaction with each other. Everyone has the option of eating dinner together in a special dining area. Of course, you are together during scheduled events, but you also run into attendees at breakfast and/or lunch, around the ship, and even on excursions, etc.
Why is running into everyone all the time good? Well, when running into students, they like to ask lots of questions to learn more about the industry, and this is our (the professional attendees) opportunity to impart practical knowledge and wisdom onto them.
How Can You Participate and/or Help?
1) You can attend in person so you can interact with the students and further their learning.
2) You can forward this newsletter to your colleagues.
3) You can sign up to be a sponsor (most of the students don’t have the money to attend the cruise competition (without taking on more student debt)). I was so moved by the competition that I agreed to sponsor a student to attend.
4) Volunteer to be a speaker and/or judge.
How Do You Learn More?
The Next Competition Cruise is February 13-20, 2027, leaving out of New Orleans, LA
To learn more about Financial ConNEXTion, click on the following link:
https://www.financialconnextioncruise.com
To download the flyer for the February 2027 event, click on the following:
https://www.uploadedimages.net/content/PDFs/cruise.Promotion.2027.pdf
Will I Be on the 2027 Cruise?
Yep, my wife and I will be attending. I’m not sure if I’ll be a speaker or judge, or just along to lend a helping hand where I can. I welcome all who are interested to join me and help “pay it forward!”
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