Levi Pettit Shares Essential Career Insights for New Finance Professionals
The landscape of financial careers has shifted dramatically in recent years, particularly with the rise of remote work options. However, for those just entering the field, the fundamentals of building a successful career remain rooted in personal connection and continuous learning.
For finance and investment professional Levi Pettit, who graduated magna cum laude from The University of Texas at Dallas with a double major in finance and economics, the path to success in finance isn’t about finding the most flexible work arrangement – it’s about maximizing learning opportunities and face-to-face interactions.
Why Levi Pettit Advocates for In-Person Work Experience
“The young people who want to pursue finance may find that attractive,” Pettit notes, drawing from his experience across various roles including enterprise risk management and credit analysis. “However, [for an] entry-level job, [they] really should be looking for opportunities where they can be face-to-face with people every single day. That’s where I learned the most — and how I grew the most.”
This perspective comes from his time working at institutions like Independent Financial and Veritex Bank, where daily interactions with leadership provided invaluable learning opportunities. The ability to observe company leaders making decisions and handling day-to-day operations proved instrumental in his professional development.
Beyond the Degree: Building a Competitive Edge
For new graduates entering the competitive financial sector, Pettit emphasizes the importance of going beyond basic job requirements. He suggests taking initiative through additional education and skill development, such as pursuing financial modeling courses during weekends or preparing comprehensive stock pitches to showcase during interviews.
His own journey exemplifies this approach. While working full-time, Pettit committed to studying over 600 hours for his CFA Level II and III exams. “Nobody required it of me,” he explains. “It’s something I did on my own. It was a lot of evenings and weekends studying.”
Creating Growth Opportunities Through Relationships
The value of networking and mentorship stands out as a crucial element in Pettit’s career progression. His transition into family office investment work came through maintaining relationships – a lunch with a former boss led to an opportunity to help build out a first-generation, single-family office, where he spent four years managing private equity and venture capital investments.
“You’ve got to do it,” he advises. “You have to put yourself out there. Find mentors — I would definitely not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the mentors I have in my life.” This approach, combined with his commitment to continuous learning, has shaped his career trajectory from his early days as an analyst through his current pursuit of an MBA at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.