As an MBA candidate at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and CFA® charterholder, Levi Pettit brings both academic rigor and practical experience to his analysis of Lower-Middle Market Private Equity (LMMPE). His journey from college athlete to investment professional offers insights into both market opportunities and career development.
Building Foundations Through Education and Experience
After graduating magna cum laude from The University of Texas at Dallas with degrees in Finance and Economics, Pettit embarked on a career path that would combine his analytical skills with his drive for continuous improvement. As captain of the UTD men’s golf team, he learned valuable lessons about dedication. “In Division III, there are no athletic scholarships,” he explains. “Everybody who’s playing is really just there because they love the game.”
This same passion for excellence led him to pursue his CFA® designation, a journey that required over 600 hours of study for Levels II and III alone. “Nobody required it of me,” Pettit notes. “It’s something I did on my own. It was a lot of evenings and weekends studying.”
Discovering the Family Office Opportunity
Early internship experiences proved crucial in shaping Pettit’s career direction. “I really didn’t understand what a family office was at the time [I interned in one], and I fell in love with it,” he recalls. “You have a direct line of communication to the most important people in the company. It felt like something I could see myself doing long-term.”
This insight led him to a role as an investment associate at a first-generation, single-family office, where he focused on alternative investments, private equity, and venture capital. His experience there shaped his understanding of LMMPE’s unique potential.
The LMMPE Advantage
“LMMPE is generally defined as companies generating revenues between $1 – $40 million. This encompasses 99.9% of businesses in the USA,” Pettit explains. His analysis points to significant opportunities in this sector, particularly as technological transformation becomes increasingly crucial for small businesses.
“Small businesses and public sector entities are not naïve. They know they will have to incorporate artificial intelligence into the infrastructure of their business to survive and grow over the next decade,” he observes, highlighting one of many growth opportunities in the space.
Career Guidance for Rising Professionals
Drawing from his own experience, Pettit strongly advocates for in-person work environments, especially early in one’s career. “Entry-level job seekers really should be looking for opportunities where they can be face-to-face with people every single day,” he advises. “That’s where I learned the most — and how I grew the most.”
He emphasizes the importance of tangible skills and continuous learning, remembering advice from his first boss: “I know that you just graduated, and you think that you have a college degree and know everything now; but that’s not the case — and you need to realize that you will need to continue learning for the rest of your career.”
The Role of Mentorship
For Pettit, professional growth isn’t just about individual effort. “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,” he says. This perspective aligns with his view on LMMPE investing, where relationship-building and careful evaluation are crucial for success.
Looking Ahead
While acknowledging that “LMMPE has historically generated significant returns and is poised to continue to do so,” Pettit maintains a balanced perspective informed by his background in risk management and investment analysis. His journey from college graduate to investment professional demonstrates the value of combining continuous learning with strategic thinking in today’s dynamic financial landscape.
Through both his analysis of LMMPE opportunities and his insights into career development, Pettit exemplifies the thoughtful, long-term approach that he advocates for others in the field. His experience suggests that success in finance requires not just technical knowledge, but also the ability to build relationships and maintain a commitment to ongoing learning.