As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics Class of 2024, Justin Marks, finance and financial planning & wealth management double major from Stamford, Connecticut, has demonstrated remarkable drive and perseverance during his time at UD.
Marks was nominated for this series by Jack Bao, who said, “Justin just loves to learn. He has this tendency to come by to office hours to ask questions that go far above and beyond the scope of a class because he is interested in the details and wants to be great at finance. He is headed to NYU in the fall to do an MBA.”
In this profile, Marks shares his favorite UD memories, how he has changed during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.
Lerner: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Marks: I was not confident in my academic abilities and had to put a significant amount of time into each class. As time progressed, my study habits shaped to being more time efficient, allowing me to focus more on my extracurriculars such as the CFA Level 1 which I plan on taking in August.
Lerner: What have been some of the challenges you have faced during your college experience and how did you overcome them?
Marks: One of the greatest challenges in college is the struggle of balancing time. Google Calendar has allowed me to balance my classes, clubs, exercise, study blocks, CFA study block, office hours, and free time.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience and why?
Marks: The CFP accredited Financial Planning & Wealth Management program initially drew me into UD. Few schools in the country offer it and I will be back when they create the Charles Schwab Financial Planning Center.
Lerner: Did you have a Lerner professor or staff member that had a big impact on your UD experience?
Marks: The entire finance faculty have had a profound impact on my college experience and in my life.
Jack Bao and Richard Jakotowicz have acted as great mentors and have helped me realize my academic potential. I could not have done it without them!
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Marks: Being a “Lifelong Lerner” is someone who represents UD and makes a beneficial contribution to society. It is also someone who gives back to UD – which I will in the future!
Lerner: What advice would you give to incoming freshmen to make the most out of their college experience?
Marks: Go to office hours, ask questions, send emails, understand every detail of a PowerPoint, join clubs, seek out recruiters, get a LinkedIn page, master Excel, network, create a resume, and make friends!
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Marks: Starting in June I will be a summer analyst at Old City Investment Partners. In September, I will be attending NYU to get my MBA with a concentration in finance.