For investment professional Levi Pettit, launching Dornick Wealth Management represents more than just a new business venture — it’s the culmination of a philosophy developed throughout his career and collegiate athletic experience: the journey is more meaningful than the destination.
“When I think back on my golf career, playing in the tournament and competing and placing or winning, that was never the most fun part,” Pettit explains. “What I enjoyed the most was the process, the preparation, the work that you put in leading up to the tournament.”
This process-oriented mindset now forms the foundation of Dornick Wealth Management’s approach to client relationships and investment strategy.
From College Fairways to Financial Planning
As a two-time Cleveland/Srixon Academic All-America Scholar and captain of the University of Texas at Dallas men’s golf team, Levi Pettit developed discipline and time management skills that continue to serve him in his professional life.
“I think that you learn a lot of intangible skills that you don’t learn in the classroom,” Pettit says of his collegiate athletic experience. “Discipline is huge. Time management is huge.”
At Dornick Wealth Management, these principles translate into a methodical take on financial planning that emphasizes thorough preparation and systematic execution.
“The process of working with clients, the end goal is great. When we achieve those goals for clients and they say, ‘Thank you, we can now buy our second home,’ or, ‘I can retire and feel comfortable’ — whatever your goals are, those are great,” Pettit says. “But what I enjoy the most is the process of getting you to that point and working with you along the way.”
Peace of Mind Throughout the Financial Journey
Central to Dornick’s philosophy is creating peace of mind for clients — not just when they achieve their financial goals, but throughout the entire journey.
“It’s our goal to create peace of mind at the end of the day,” he emphasizes. “We want peace of mind that the plan that we’ve put in place is going to work for them. And we want peace of mind in times of volatility.”
This focus on the journey appears in Dornick’s investment tactics as well. Rather than making emotional decisions based on market headlines, the firm implements systematic strategies designed to weather volatility.
“It is very important to us that whatever customized plan we give you, there’s a system that we have in place that allows us to stay the course in times of volatility,” Levi Pettit explains.
Keeping a Trained Eye on Personalization
Unlike firms that offer standardized investment packages, Dornick Wealth Management tailors its blueprint to each client’s unique circumstances.
“Every client, every household, every family, their situations are unique, their risk tolerances are unique, their risk capacities are unique, their goals are different,” Pettit notes. “We are not the firm that you come in and we hand you the same playbook that we handed to the client that came in yesterday.”
Instead, Dornick combines personalization with systematic execution, a balance that Pettit believes is essential for long-term success.
“When it comes to our investment philosophy, I would say that it’s a personalized, systematic approach,” he says. “It’s really important that we systematize things so that we don’t make emotional decisions, we don’t make irrational decisions.”
Measuring Success Through the Journey
For Pettit, success isn’t measured solely by whether clients reach their financial destinations, but by the confidence they develop along the way.
“I think the biggest signal of success is when we work with a client and they are confident in us, they’ve achieved that peace of mind, that ongoing peace of mind that we’ve discussed,” he says.
This journey-focused approach reflects Levi Pettit‘s broader vision for Dornick Wealth Management — one where client relationships and the process of building financial well-being take precedence over any single financial outcome.
“Our goals are to achieve the goals that our clients bring to us,” Levi Pettit concludes. “We’re in this business for our clients, we’re not in this business for us.”
