Many investors today face a common frustration: their advisor is hard to reach when it matters most. Whether it’s a turbulent market, a major purchase, or an unexpected life change, getting a timely response can feel like a luxury—even for high-net-worth clients paying substantial fees.
Levi Pettit, managing partner of Dornick Wealth Management, has built his firm around solving that problem. While much of the industry chases growth through automation and scale, Pettit is betting on a simpler value proposition: accessibility.
“A client should never feel like they’re bothering us,” he said. “Our time is dedicated to our clients.”
A Relationship Business, Not a Sales Business
Levi Pettit’s philosophy stands in sharp contrast to what he describes as a sales culture still dominant in the industry. Too many advisors, he argues, are rewarded for asset gathering, not for service. Client meetings often double as sales calls. Follow-ups are delegated—or forgotten. Pettit has seen it from the inside and structured Dornick differently.
His model limits the number of households each advisor can support—not to throttle growth, but to ensure depth. Pettit avoids making that number a marketing pitch, but the premise is clear: relationships need room to grow. That means fewer clients, more context, and real-time availability. Weekend calls aren’t frowned upon—they’re expected. If one client called to discuss how home improvements could affect their cash flow, Pettit wouldn’t blink.
“If it has a dollar sign in front of it, we want to be part of the conversation,” he said.
This approach extends beyond availability. Dornick’s team regularly initiates contact with clients, especially during times of market stress. Rather than waiting for the phone to ring, advisors reach out with updates, context, and simple check-ins—sometimes just to ask how clients are feeling about their plan.
“Transparent communication is important,” Pettit said, “but so is ongoing communication.”
For clients used to the traditional once-a-year review model, the difference is immediate—and disarming.
Where Financial Advice Meets Real Life
Dornick positions itself not just as an investment manager but as a kind of outsourced family CFO. The firm coordinates directly with clients’ estate attorneys, CPAs, and insurance professionals, functioning as the planning hub across all aspects of a client’s financial life. Levi Pettit insists this is what real wealth management should look like—not product selection, but collaboration.
“We’re not siloed,” he said. “We’re partners with their legal and tax advisors. That’s how we make sure everything fits together.”
The onboarding process reinforces this ethos. Dornick’s “first 100 days” aren’t focused on account transfers or portfolio pitches. Instead, advisors dive deep into goals, cash flow, tax structures, family dynamics, and lifestyle planning. The goal is not just alignment—but trust.
This level of service demands the right team—and the right temperament. Levi Pettit prioritizes communication skills when hiring, just as much as technical fluency. He’s candid about the model’s challenges: it’s slower, more resource-intensive, and deliberately personal. But for Pettit, the payoff is clear.
“Peace of mind is our number one priority,” he said. “If that means picking up the phone at 9 p.m., we’ll do it.”
In an industry increasingly driven by automation, Dornick’s model may seem like a throwback. But for clients looking for more than a portal and a performance report, it might just be the future.
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