SALT LAKE CITY – September 13, 2021 – Utah State Treasurer Marlo Oaks invites Utah women to attend the 2021 Hybrid Women in the Money: Utah Financial Empowerment Conference. The conference will be held in-person at the Sheraton Salt Lake Hotel and virtually on the EventMobi platform on Friday, October 8 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Recordings will be available for registrants to view through the virtual platform for a year after the event.
The hybrid conference will feature expert speakers and exhibitors who will provide valuable information and resources to assist Utah women on their pathway to financial security and success. RubySnap Bakery Founder Tami Steggell and Utah Food Bank President and CEO Ginette Bott will provide conference keynote addresses and personal and family finance experts will offer more tailored information and training during smaller workshops. Prizes will be awarded to the attendees with the greatest levels of participation during the conference.
Conference attendees will learn how to improve their personal and family finances, maximize their income, reduce their debt, improve their credit, start a business, save for retirement and develop a financial support network to build a more secure financial future. In-person and virtual exhibitors from financial services, nonprofits and government agencies will provide resources and answer attendee questions in-person and through a live chat and video conferencing function on the virtual platform.
“As chair of the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education, I am grateful for the opportunity to bring together some of the state’s top financial leaders to share their knowledge and skills with Utah women,” Treasurer Oaks said. “This is an excellent opportunity for women of all ages, cultures and financial situations to grow their financial capability together.”
The conference is tailored to women because they face unique financial situations. Women live longer than men and are more likely to outlive their assets. Women are also more likely to assume caretaker responsibilities, teach their children about money and help elderly or disabled loved ones manage their finances. Additionally, women are increasingly playing a greater role in the workforce and market. More than half of American women are the primary breadwinners in their households, and women account for 70-80% of overall consumer spending, with heavy influence in most areas ranging from healthcare decisions to new home and car purchases.
“Women fill many important roles in our state. It is critical to equip them with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to make sound financial decisions for themselves and their families, especially during these challenging economic times,” Susan Speirs, CEO of the Utah Association of CPAs and chair of the nonprofit organization responsible for the conference, said.
The 2019 and 2020 conferences provided valuable financial information, tools, resources and networking opportunities to more than 500 Utah women.
“While we were disappointed that we were unable to hold an in-person event in 2020, we received incredibly positive feedback on the virtual event and were impressed by the engagement of women during the conference,” Speirs said. “We received nearly 300 evaluations from attendees, and 98% of respondents indicated they were satisfied with the event.”
2020 conference attendee Taylor Paul said, “This conference has been fun! I was expecting it to be a dull and long conference, but I’ve been captivated all day. Everyone has been absolutely amazing to listen to and have taken hard subjects and made it fun and easy to talk about.”
Another attendee, Yvonne Cunahan, said, “The fear of not knowing how money works and not knowing where to look for help/resources is my worst enemy! This has been a whirlwind day full of great presenters, information and resources. So much appreciate being able to participate today. Thanks to all!”
To help slow the community spread of the coronavirus, conference organizers are limiting the number of attendees at the in-person event to allow for appropriate social distancing. Those who would like to attend the event in-person are encouraged to register before tickets sell out.
Registration for the in-person conference is $25, and scholarships are available to those in need. There is no cost to attend the conference virtually, but registration is still required. For more information and to register for the conference, visit: womeninthemoney.org.
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