Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks invites Utah women to attend financial empowerment conference in September

SALT LAKE CITY – August 17, 2022 – Utah Treasurer Marlo M. Oaks invites Utah women to attend the 2022 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 Socio event platform on Friday, September 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Translation services will be available both in-person and online.

This year, there will also be a workshop and dinner on Thursday, September 15 at the Sheraton Salt Lake Hotel for women in the beginning stages of their financial empowerment journey.

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. Utah Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, Utah Director of Multicultural Affairs Nubia Pena and Utah Women & Leadership Project Director Susan Madsen will provide the conference keynote. 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. Attendees can view session recordings through the virtual platform for a year after the event.

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 statistically 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, 2020 and 2021 conferences provided valuable financial information, tools, resources and networking opportunities to hundreds of Utah women, including more than 900 women last year.

“We adopted a hybrid model last year, which enabled us to serve women from across the state live online, while also offering the invaluable in-person experience for those who were able to join us in Salt Lake,” Speirs said. “We’ve taken the feedback and lessons from past conferences and are eager to offer an even better event this year.”

Previous conference attendee, Renee, from Salt Lake City said, “Everything was so well organized, and there were so many resources! I loved talking to the vendors, listening to the great speakers, learning from the workshops, and being there in person! I also loved the swag and food that was kindly provided. This conference is an incredible value for any woman who earns, manages, or spends money in Utah!”

Another past conference 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!”

There are a limited number of seats available for attendees who wish to attend the conference in-person, so individuals should register before tickets sell out.

Registration for the in-person conference is $10 for Thursday and $25 for Friday, 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.

Media Contacts:

Ania McGrath                                                             

Utah Office of State Treasurer            

(801) 538-1473                                               

amcgrath@utah.gov

Brittany Griffin

Utah Office of State Treasurer

(801) 918-1411

bngriffin@utah.gov