Back in May, Eric called me into his office. I took a seat across from him in one of those mahogany leather chairs.
"How would you like to go to San Diego?" He asked.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised. I'd only flown for the first time in my life the month before, to South Carolina. A million questions sparked in my brain: How would I get there? Would I have to pay for it? Would I have to go alone? When would it be?
Eric explained to me that every year, our broker/dealer LPL Financial hosts their Focus conference. This year, it was in downtown San Diego from August 11-13. Eric would transfer his credits to me for airfare and boarding, and most meals would be provided at the conference. My out-of-pocket expenses would be minimal.
San Diego. The West Coast. Expenses paid? It was an amazing offer, especially for a homebody Gen Z assistant that had only been working at AZTEC for a little over half a year at that point. Fear and logistics were the two primary things on my mind.
As you likely guessed by the title, I decided to face the unknown and go on the trip. Kindly, my well-travelled grandfather that lives in Berwick, ME agreed to come along with me -- taking on all the expenses that would incur. He said he didn't sign up for his golf membership this year, so the money could go toward our trip, instead!
Time Flies, and then it's Time to Fly!
In a blink of an eye, May turned to August, and it was adventure time. My grandpa and I got up at three in the morning on Sunday, took the C&J bus from Dover, and got to the Logan Airport in Boston by 6am. Three hours of waiting in the airport and a six hour flight later, and we arrive at noon in San Diego.
Time change is a funny thing! It was only lunch time there, but I'd been awake for twelve hours already. With time to kill before checking into our hotel at 4pm, the first session of the conference not starting until 6pm, and then a welcome reception and expo at 8pm, it was going to be a long day.
West Coast Welcome
As exhausting as it was, we had a nice time! Our hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, was huge and beautiful. We were on the 20th floor, and all you had to do was scan a keycard for the elevator to know where to take you. And our view from our corner room had both the San Diego skyline and a view of the bay!
The first things I noticed as we left the airport were the palm trees and the huge cacti and succulents. As a plantaholic, it was awesome to see these plants that I grow in tiny containers thrive outside in the temperate San Diego air.
We walked around the beautiful Seaport Village for the afternoon, ate some delicious tacos at a little place called Margherita's, and enjoyed the view of the bay. It was busy at the hotel, so it took a little longer than expected to get our room, but everybody was courteous and friendly.
The Conference
Around six o'clock, we joined the steady stream of snappily-dressed individuals heading up the sidewalk to the conference center. About 10,000 of us -- individual advisors and their office support, LPL employees, and sponsors -- crowded into the auditorium. It was overwhelming and chaotic at first, but over the next few days I quickly got accustomed to the crowds.
We listened to the general session, which happened once a day. The first day, they had Apolo Ohno, a famous speed skater, tell his story of trial and triumph. And on the last day, Tuesday, Jon Dorenbos -- known for his NFL years playing for the Eagles, and then as an entertainer with his card tricks on America's Got Talent -- gave a hilarious but moving keynote on his life. If you haven't heard about him, it's definitely worth a Google search! What he has dealt with in his life compared to his attitude today is mind-boggling. It doesn't hurt that he's a great entertainer and comedian, either!
My biggest takeaways from these general sessions, though, were the genuine desire from the leaders of LPL to put the clients first, to constantly improve, and to support advisors. I learned that LPL Financial paved the way for independent financial advisors to succeed. These advisors don't work for LPL; they work with them. The difference this makes is huge, because it means advisors can make their own rules, do things their way, and have the freedom to help people from all income brackets.
Aside from the three general sessions I attended, there were many other breakout sessions I could sign up for. A few of the most educational and applicable ones for me were on cyber security and how to protect our clients from scams, the mental and emotional challenges of retirement, and how to make sure our female clients are well-supported and heard. I learned a lot I can apply, and also gathered inspiration for this newsletter and our blog.
The Concert
On Tuesday night, the last day of the conference, we had a special treat: a Lionel Richie concert at the Shell. It was an outdoor venue, right on the water, and there was a lovely sunset! LPL had even provided free food and an open bar. It was mostly standing room only, but that meant you could get as close as you wanted. My grandpa and I stood in the middle of the front crowd, the closest I've ever been to anyone in concert. Everybody had a blast! Lionel was funny and engaging, and of course, then there was the music. He played all the classics: "All Night Long", "Hello", "We Are the World", "Dancing on the Ceiling", and more.
The Zoo
A trip to San Diego wouldn't be complete without a trip to the zoo. And this was an especially special time to go, because for the first time in twenty-one years, giant pandas were in the United States! They arrived at the San Diego Zoo on June 29, and weren't available for public viewing until August 8 -- less than a week before we visited!
Thanks to the encouragement of a couple from Madison, ME, we arrived early to secure a timeslot to visit the panda enclosure. Those who didn't schedule a time had to wait in an exhaustingly long line, while we got to go right in at our assigned time. Keep that in mind if you're thinking about visiting!
Something else that was special about these pandas was that the male, Yun Chuan, is the grandson of the panda my grandpa saw at the San Diego Zoo when he visited over twenty years ago.
Aside from the precious pandas, we saw many animals closer than I ever had before. Giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, gorillas -- just to name a few! The only other zoo I've been to is the one in York, ME -- and don't get me wrong, I love York's Wild Animal Kingdom -- but this one took the cake.
Wrapping It All Up
Toward the end of the day, we drove over to Coronado Island and perused some shops, and ate breakfast for dinner at a little diner called Night and Day Cafe. After that long day of traversing the zoo and exploring Coronado island, we made our way to the airport.
Finally, after a few hours in the terminal, a six hour flight, a bus ride, and a half hour drive, I was home! And ready to go to sleep...despite it being 9am.
San Diego Summation
As you can tell, I had a wonderful time on this adventure to the West Coast! I'm grateful Eric gave me this opportunity, especially with being so new to the business. I appreciated learning more about LPL, and how to improve on my end. And the beautiful sights and delicious food were a nice touch! I'm rejuvenated and refreshed, ready to get back to giving my best to all of you.