2024 Annual Pillars Conference Guest Speaker: Mark Baniewicz

The Art of Risk-Taking

Mark Baniewicz didn’t follow the typical path into the world of finance. After majoring in the subject as an undergraduate, he turned down a Rhodes Scholarship to join the NFL. Over the course of his brief professional football career, he saw his contemporaries fall into all sorts of financial troubles, despite impressive contracts. Mark noticed that people with money were often taken advantage of and rarely protected properly—something he set out to address when founding Socius.

Mark began managing capital upon leaving the NFL to earn his MBA, where he was part of a small group of students tasked with managing a portion of the university’s endowment fund. His group outperformed the professional managers. Mark has been immersed in finance ever since.

A Certified Financial Planner™ professional, Mark founded Socius in 2004 to help families navigate a financial services industry that was stacked against them and overly sales-oriented. As the President and CEO, he provides leadership and strategic direction, contributes to major decisions around client capital, and spends as much time as he can with clients.

Mark earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Florida.

2024 Pillars Conference

At this year's conference, our speakers will approach the art of risk-taking from diverse perspectives, offering unique insights. A former Marine and current pilot will share insights on risk assessment and decision-making in high-stakes situations, drawing from his experiences in the military and aviation. A program director serving people experiencing homelessness will discuss the risks involved in providing aid and support to vulnerable populations, offering a unique perspective from the social services sector. Additionally, a former NFL player who now serves as a financial planner will offer his perspective on managing risks in personal finance and investments, blending sports and finance. We will also hear from a university president from Haiti, who will speak about leading an institution during political chaos and instability.

Maximizing the Art of Risk-Taking takes courage, bravery, and integrity. It is the opposite of taking chances or living by luck. Rather than relying on wishful thinking, risk-taking is an artful and thoughtful process involving an ongoing commitment to reality at all costs. Although unsuccessful, Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine (pictured below) exemplifies the art of risk-taking—a bold and innovative attempt to push the boundaries of human knowledge and capabilities, driven by curiosity and a willingness to embrace the unknown. Join us as we learn to maximize the art of taking risks.

- Lulrick Balzora, PhD

To register, visit: www.pillarsconference.org

For the complete schedule, visit: www.pillarsconference.com