Andrew Pravlik did not begin his financial services career in 1992 as he chased a trend or jumped into a field with high uncertainty. He began in a sphere of business that had always fascinated him. Andrew’s inherent interest in money, investing, and economic systems helped shape the type of professional that he would eventually become ,someone who embraces strategy and clarity as much as relationships and purpose.
For Andrew Pravlik, finance was never purely numbers; it was about helping individuals and families achieve settled peace of mind. That sense of clarity of mission has defined his thirty-plus-year career and guides his role as a leader at Pittsburgh Financial Group. With clients across more than twenty-five states, he has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor with a specialty in alternative investment strategies and income-generating portfolios.
Andrew’s strategy and approach have changed, however. While his focus on precise numbers remains, it has matured into a more holistic philosophy that recognizes and deploys both precision and compassion. He gets it and articulates it as follows: “I want to embrace a client-centered approach to our work, which balances performance and purpose.” That sentiment is a recurring theme in his work with clients at all ages and financial milestones.
An Emphasis on the Human Element
What makes Pittsburgh Financial Group unique in an advisory landscape that has become inundated with advisors? According to Andrew, it is a composite of consistent care, trust across generations, and a commitment to good, honest human beings and connection on a human level. Though financial technology has fundamentally changed how many advisors work, Andrew and his team have never lost the personal aspect of their work.
From making themselves available by phone to offering home appointments when you need it, Andrew believes in meeting clients where they’re at, both literally and figuratively. That personal, people-first focus allowed Pittsburgh Financial Group to serve first, second, and even third generations of clients.
“Our business has always been about people,” he explains. “Sure, we work with money, but our obligation is about so much more than that.”
A Proven History of Leadership and Community Engagement
Andrew Pravlik has never been shy to engage with the public. Early in his development as a financial advisor, he was the regular personal finance expert on Pittsburgh’s top-rated financial radio show, “Your Money and You.” Exposure on the radio not only raised Andrew’s profile but also allowed him to hone his communication skills and build a relationship with the listeners, many of whom became clients.
Soon, Andrew will begin hosting a new radio show for audiences in Pittsburgh and Seattle. Andrew sees a radio show as a way to deepen community relationships while remaining present and approachable. “It’s not just about providing financial advice,” he says. “It’s about creating awareness, fostering conversation, giving people a voice, and making sure people feel heard.”
Lessons from the Field and the Fieldhouse
Before he was managing stock portfolios, Andrew was managing his time between the football field and the lacrosse field as a student athlete at Allegheny College. These years ultimately gave him valuable leadership lessons in resilience, quick decision-making, and adapting to stressful situations, all of which serve him well in the boardroom.
“Strategic thinking, communicating, and working in teams are vital in sports just as much as finance. And sports teach you how to deal with adversity as it happens. To be able to adapt on a dime is really important in what we do.”
Whether he is analyzing the defense on the field or a volatile market in real-time, Andrew’s skill of altering direction and leading with confidence gives him a distinct advantage.
Alternative Investments and Changing Financial Landscape
As a business-owner specializing in alternative investments, Andrew is often among the first to discuss on the fringes. He has telegraphed a significant uptick in interest around private markets. With increasing volatility in public markets, investors are increasingly venturing into areas such as private debt, real estate, and infrastructure.
Andrew provides clients clarity and perspective when they are venturing into this new territory. He provides equity-based strategies that meet immediate needs and, at the same time, balance long-term risk with withdrawal and liquidity.
“There’s a shift going on to be sure. Especially for retirees, the old portfolio of stocks and bonds is no longer viable. You require a balanced approach that includes multiple income streams with reasonable expectations.”
Estate Planning & Retirement: Common Mistakes to Avoid
30-plus years in the industry have shown Andrew many of the same mistakes repeat across generations, and the most notable mistake seems to be waiting too long to begin the planning process. Whether it’s underestimating future health care costs or forgetting about inflation, many individuals go into retirement with an incomplete strategy. Andrew always tells his clients to start early and revisit plans on a regular basis. Andrew also focuses heavily on longevity, health care costs, and estate planning. He is very enthusiastic about the strategies for guaranteed income – like fixed-index hybrid annuities – where his clients can participate in the markets without the majority of the downside risk because of his background in life insurance and annuities.
“Review your estate plan every year,” Andrew states, “keep your beneficiary designations up to date. Work with a professional and keep yourself informed. These are some of the easiest things you can do that end up making a lot of difference.”
Andrew’s education in French, as well as his study abroad experiences, have also influenced his process and communication style. At that time, there was increased international trade and globalization, and his experiences in France had particular importance in the realm of economics and helped him widen his understanding of economic issues. In retrospect, he believes that these experiences – that began 20 years ago – continue to be relevant today.
Today, his son, Aiden, is fluent in French, and they still travel together to French-speaking countries. The family bonding experience serves as a reminder that the financial “world” is only a small aspect of a much larger global dialogue.
“We talk a lot about money and markets, but it’s also about people and cultures, as well as the larger context,” Andrew concludes. Looking to Nature For Perspective on Balance
When Andrew is not working on portfolios or servicing clients, the sweetest place to find him is exploring National Parks with his journey-companion’s wife, Ivy, son, and Bernedoodle Spur. Those RV vacations have changed from holidays into a vehicle for reflection.
“Time and health are our most precious assets”, he explains. “We work 50 weeks of the year to create wealth, but the holidays allow me to question why? They serve as a reminder of priorities”.
This mindset is a part of Andrew’s focus on taking a more integrated, holistic approach to financial planning. It is not just taking the most risk to generate the best return – it is about how to help people align their assets to their values and goals.
Advice for Younger Generations
When talking to students and those interested in the financial services sector, Andrew combines his personal and practical advice. He urges students to take classes in economics and finance, but to also seek coaching or internships and other real experiences as soon as they can.
He also focuses on the relational aspect of the business. “This is a trusting business”, he states. “People hand over their money, their financial future. They want to meet who you are, not just what you know.”
One of the most poignant observations he shares is about the importance of soft skills. During a time when business is dominated by technology, Andrew believes the ability to be face-to-face with clients will be a competitive advantage to those entering the field of financial planning.
“People still want to shake the hand of the person who is managing their wealth. That is not going away,” he explains.
A Financial Leadership that is Purpose-Based and Service Centric
Now more than thirty years into his career, Andrew Pravlik remains highly engaged with his clients, his community, and his partners at Pittsburgh Financial Group. Be it the gravel sports fields of Allegheny College, a financial radio station, or at a boardroom table, he is always conscious of what is important to him and the people around him.
With a leadership style grounded in trust, a history of adjusting to changing circumstances, and a philosophy of valuing people as more important than performance, Andrew continues effective leadership of the firm with clarity and purpose.
Reflecting back on this moment, it is evident that his journey and his story is not just about financial strategies, but it is about enduring relationships, real-world wisdom, and staying true to the values that matter.
