A fortunate change led to Andy Vetor’s insurance career in Indy [The Indianapolis Star]

Oct. 28--Andy Vetor didn't expect to be building a career in the insurance industry.

As a finance major at Indiana University, he planned to work in the corporate world. Then he was offered an internship at an insurance agency. Following graduation, he joined MJ Insurance full time.

"It was a blessing in disguise," he said.

At age 32, Vetor is now one of 11 partners at MJ Insurance. His specialty is employee benefit plans.

"I think this business is one that from the outside isn't very sexy. However, we have an unbelievable opportunity to affect organizations," Vetor said. "We help guide wellness and encourage companies to take on a culture of wellness. It's very powerful and rewarding."

How did you manage to stand out in a crowd and advance quickly in your career?

Hard work and dedication. What comes to me from a young age is that my dad has been an incredibly hard working guy. Joe Perkins, one of my mentors, was committed to helping build my career. He was willing to teach me, let me make mistakes and take on a lead role. That is what has helped get me to where I am today.

What was your first job or entrepreneurial experience? How did it impact your future?

I've worked since I was 13 or 14 years old. I worked in the cart barns at Edgewood Country Club.

Working there, I would say, helped me build interpersonal skills and confidence. I had to talk to older, successful professionals. You have to have a level of confidence to speak to them. I don't think I've had an issue with engaging a conversation with someone older, wiser and with more experience than I had. When I was reaching out to CEOs and HR people who were well tenured with more experience, having a pure conversation with them was easy for me. I wasn't intimidated by their experience.

What's the toughest mistake you ever made and what did you learn from it?

I don't know that I can point to any certain mistake. A lot of mistakes are small things that add up to continuous improvement. Every day is about getting better. Being young in this business, and having a small amount of experience, the main thing I had to do was question, question, question. If I didn't understand something, I asked questions until I get the concept down.

How important is it to have a mentor? Did anyone in particular help you advance in your career?

For any measure of success, having a mentor is the most important factor.

Joe Perkins has been instrumental in my career. Joe is a selfless guy. I think that really helped me. He put aside his own ego in any way to help me succeed. He's a great coach. He told me, "You're going to make mistakes, but don't worry about it. It's okay to make a mistake. We are all going to make mistakes, but let's continue to get better."

I work as part of a team here. There are others who have provided a great experience. I learn something from everyone I interact with. I learn from my clients too. They give me something new every day. I get exposure to so many different businesses and how they are successful, what makes them tick.

What advice would you give to other young people trying to get started in the insurance industry?

I'm sure no one dreams about getting into the industry, but falls into it. Especially with health-care reform, I think there's going to be a lot of new jobs. I think technology is going to have an important role in our industry. Our influence and knowledge can help shape the culture of an organization. I think that's a great thing.

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