Erik Wheelock knew how to invest his money before he knew how to drive a car. His father’s early financial-management lessons and a love of numbers led Erik to follow his interests through college—where he studied corporate finance—and directly into a career with MassMutual.

A love of numbers still makes Erik tick, but the human side of the business has fulfilled him the most over the past 20 years. He considers it a privilege to help people who help others and to work in an industry centered on trust. Both appeal to Erik’s personal ethic of positivity and reciprocity, which inform every relationship he builds—in and out of work.

Erik is similarly guided by a belief that you should never stop growing or learning. Accordingly, he considers his young daughter his most influential teacher. Their year-round adventures include sailing, fishing, and skiing.