Bridging Beats and Balance Sheets: Lessons from the Find Your Rhythm Wealth Summit

Picture this: the largest multi-genre Latin Dance Festival in the United States, buzzing with over 3,000 attendees. A vibrant community of dancers and friends, all driven by a passion for self-expression, creativity, and movement. Imagine a sea of sequins, tassels, and bodysuits.

Now, enter stage right: a dynamic group of real estate investors, each brimming with enthusiasm for abundance, unafraid of taking risks, and ready to make impactful moves. Picture baseball caps and dress pants paired with sneakers.

And onto the stage: corporate Latinos—professionals dedicated to uplifting one another, creating space at the table for more Latinos, and forging new pathways for Latino opportunities. Visualize them in sharp suits, heels, and designer bags.

Thanks to the vision of DCBX founders Lee and Kat, the “Find Your Rhythm Wealth Summit” not only came to life but thrived, seamlessly bridging the diverse worlds of dance, real estate, and corporate Latino excellence. This was the second year of this incredible event, which took place on Saturday, August 24th, at the Westin Hotel in Washington, DC.

What made this year different? Last year the conference was real estate focused. However, this year by having strong partnership with (Association of Latino Professionals for America) ALPFA-DC, they were able to bring the finance and business components to the programming.

How did this come about? Samantha Grieco, VP of Events at ALPFA and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, secured sponsorship from Morgan Stanley and brought additional partners to the event, including the Hispanic Wealth Project, Angel Investors, NAHREP, and Women Palante. Her efforts ensured that the event was well-resourced and well-attended.

By the way, have you heard of ALPFA-DC? If you’re a Latino professional in the DC area, this organization offers an incredible community and valuable resources. They also have 56 chapters nationwide, Don’t wait—become a member today!

So, what was the point of this event? It aimed to leverage the wealth of knowledge and resources within this diverse community to continue thriving and learning about financial planning, wealth management, and real estate investment.

The opening event featured an incredible salsa performance and keynotes from Ileana Musa, Managing Director and Head of Sales at Morgan Stanley, and Pace Morby, a professional real estate investor, entrepreneur, and visionary.

Following the keynote speeches, attendees enjoyed breakout sessions, a networking lunch, a networking happy hour, and, of course, dancing everywhere you looked! It was an exhilarating and inspiring event.

One of my favorite takeaways from this event was how it challenged traditional notions of professionalism and success. With around 80% of wealth management professionals being white men, attending an event that centers Latin dance and features investors and speakers with non-traditional success stories was incredibly empowering. It felt like, “¡Sí se puede!” Don’t get me wrong—this event was open to everyone, and there were many identities represented in the space. AND it was particularly heartening to be surrounded by so many unapologetically Latino individuals embracing their full identities and seeking ways to support their peers.

Below are some key takeaways from the many sessions I attended:

Keynote with Ileana Musa:

Ileana Musa challenged participants to rethink how we approach wealth. She introduced the concept of “alardosa te ves más hermosa,” a term she coined, encouraging us to value our worth and negotiate effectively, moving away from the traditional saying “calladita te ves más bonita.” She emphasized that identifying who could benefit from our unique value creates win/win situations.

Ileana shared her personal story of meeting her father at age 17 after he was released from being a political prisoner in Cuba. He taught her that persistence is crucial for success. She highlighted the importance of embracing the “no” as a part of the journey to a “yes.” Like her mother used to say, “el no ya lo tienes” (you already have the no), Ileana explained that getting comfortable with rejection is a step toward learning, growing, and ultimately achieving success.

She concluded by discussing how the Latino community often doesn’t receive what we deserve and stressed the importance of recognizing our value, negotiating confidently, saying yes to opportunities, and over-preparing.

Keynote with Pace Morby:

Pace Morby took the stage with an intriguing metaphor about aguacates. He asked the audience how often we let our aguacates go to waste, then used this as a springboard to talk about different types of people. There are those who buy aguacates at a premium and let them go to waste, those who charge extra for guacamole, and those who upcycle aguacates’ waste by planting the seed.

Pace’s point was that only 1% of the population has the foresight, discipline, and focus to invest in the future by planting that aguacate seed—anticipating long-term benefits not just for themselves but also for their communities. He emphasized that not everyone is part of that 1%. Those who choose this path often have many people depending on them, must make sacrifices for the greater good, and need a team of supporters who may not be part of the 1% themselves.

He urged us to examine our calling and decide how we can either support the 1% or commit to becoming part of it. The takeaway? Take action, know yourself, and give back.

Morgan Stanley: Advanced Wealth Management Strategies Panel with Olfa Overstreet, Jill Toomey, Rodney Bolder, and Charline Burgess:

This informative panel highlighted that only 30% of individuals have a detailed financial plan, an alarming statistic given the need for proactive financial planning to achieve future goals. The discussion covered the importance of setting SMART goals, the Secure Act 1.0 and 2.0 related to retirement, and the rule of 72.

The panel noted the significant growth in Hispanic entrepreneurship, with revenues reaching $600 billion, yet the community still faces challenges accessing capital, particularly Latinas who experience the lowest approval rates. They recommended that small business owners seek grants through grants.gov and shared a valuable resource for Latino entrepreneurs: SCORE’s Funding Resources.

Strengths-Based Business Building by Eduardo Villavicencio:

Eduardo Villavicencio, whom I’ve seen facilitate various groups and coaching sessions, once again impressed me with this interactive session. He introduced the Clifton Strengths and guided participants in understanding how to leverage their strengths to their advantage.

One major takeaway was the importance of self-awareness, knowing our value, and considering who we can partner with to complement our goals.

State of Latino/Hispanic Wealth & 10 Principles of Wealth Creation by Alba Martinez:

Alba Martinez delivered one of the last breakout sessions with vibrant energy and humor. She shared her personal journey of wealth creation and her passion for helping clients achieve work-life balance and wealth! 

Alba, representing the National Association for Hispanic Real Estate Professionals outlined the 10 Disciplines of Wealth Creation:

1. Have a mature understanding of wealth and prosperity.
2. Be in the top 10% of your profession.
3. Live below your means and be prepared for the next recession.
4. Minimize debt.
5. Invest at least 20% of your income in real estate and stocks.
6. Know your net worth, including the value of your business.
7. Be politically savvy.
8. Be physically fit.
9. Be generous with those less fortunate.
10. Be actively involved in the lives of your family and children.

Podcasting Room with Junaid Ahmed:

Junaid Ahmed, CTO at GoBox Technologies, is a podcaster and home studio architect. One of the breakout rooms at the conference was set up as a studio where Junaid educated participants on starting a podcast, recorded live episodes, and showcased GoBox Technologies’ portable podcasting equipment. If you’re seeking tech support to make your podcast look and sound professional, Junaid is your go-to expert!

Conclusion:

The “Find Your Rhythm Wealth Summit” was a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience within our community. It showcased how diverse sectors—dance, real estate, and corporate leadership—can come together to inspire and uplift one another. The event not only celebrated our successes but also challenged us to redefine traditional notions of professionalism and wealth. As we continue to navigate our paths, let’s carry forward the lessons learned and the connections made, knowing that our unique perspectives and collective strength can drive real change. Here’s to embracing our identities fully and supporting one another in our journeys toward greater success and empowerment.

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