Levi Pettit on the Value of Family Office Experience in Finance

Working at a family office provided investment professional Levi Pettit with unique insights into how high-net-worth individuals approach wealth management. Now having completed his MBA at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Pettit reflects on how this experience shaped his understanding of the financial industry.

“Working at a family office, you really get to have a front row seat to high-net-worth individuals, how they go about their day-to-day, how they view their finances, their portfolios, their priorities in life,” Pettit explains. “That was an extremely invaluable experience for me.”

The Appeal of Family Office Culture

For Pettit, who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Dallas with degrees in finance and economics, the family office environment offered a refreshing alternative to larger corporate settings. Having previously worked in commercial banking, he found the direct communication channels and clear vision particularly appealing.

“It never felt like I had to talk to a boss, who had to talk to their boss, who had to talk to somebody else’s boss,” he notes. “I could be completely open and honest to even the managing partner about what was going on.”

Insights into Alternative Investments

During his four years at a first-generation family office, Pettit gained valuable exposure to alternative investments, including private equity, venture capital, and commercial real estate. This experience provided him with perspective on how sophisticated investors approach portfolio diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

“One unique aspect of family offices is they do a lot of alternative investing, more so than the traditional investor who may be trying to save for retirement or their kids’ college,” he observes.

Applying Family Office Insights More Broadly

Pettit, who holds the CFA designation, believes the family office approach to personalized investment strategies can inform financial services more broadly. He emphasizes that understanding both client priorities and appropriate investment vehicles is essential for financial professionals at all levels.

For young finance professionals, Pettit suggests seeking opportunities to observe how sophisticated investors make decisions—whether in family offices or other wealth management contexts—as these insights complement the technical knowledge gained through formal education and certifications.