Telos Meet the Team:

Jacob Martis, Actuarial Analyst

Jacob just celebrated a year here at Telos. We are thrilled to have Jacob here and look forward to working with him for many years to come!

The business side…

What led you to pursue this career path? I always thought I wanted to be an engineer because of my love for math and science. However, one physics class made me rethink my career goals. I learned about actuarial science from a family friend and decided to try it out. Four years of college and three exams later and I haven’t looked back since.

What is the best piece of career advice you have been given? No one is going to pass all their actuary exams on the first try! Failure is just an opportunity to learn more about yourself.

What has been your most rewarding professional experience so far? Passing my first exam was a huge accomplishment and it gives me the motivation to keep studying for more.

What is the most stressful part of your job? Studying for exams outside of work.

Do you have a professional mentor? My dad has been a huge help to me in navigating my school and professional life.

How do you approach your work/life balance? Prioritizing physical and mental health makes work a lot more enjoyable.

Do you feel you have a specific area of expertise in your field? I don’t think I would consider myself an expert in any areas as I am still learning every day, but I know one day I will be!

What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute to your success and why? I love following a routine. This allows me to approach my work in an organized way and take on big tasks by breaking them up into smaller tasks.

Do you have any specific goals or milestones you are striving to achieve?   My current goal is to finish all the ASA requirements within the next 2 years.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out in your same career path? Don’t compare yourself to others, make your own schedule when it comes to exams and make sure you stick to it.

Do you have a professional book that you would recommend everyone read?‍ ‍Atomic Habits

And the personal side…

What is your favorite food?  My favorite food is steak. Favorite restaurant? My favorite restuarant is Cheba Hut.

What was your first job? My first job was driving a truck for Kona Ice.

What is the best vacation you have ever taken? Travelling around Italy.

Do you have any siblings? I have one older sister.

What is your favorite holiday and why? My favorite holiday is Christmas because I love the snow and being with family.

What is your guilty pleasure? Golfing whenever I have the chance.

What is something that always makes you smile? Being with family and friends.

Where did you grow up? Fort Collins, Colorado

What is your favorite season and why? Winter - I love being in the mountains and snowboarding.

What is the first concert you ever attended? Macklemore How about the best concert? Zach Bryan