Thomas Petersen did not set out to build a career in insurance. In fact, for much of his early life, he ran in the opposite direction.
Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the business, insurance was a constant presence at the dinner table. His father, who entered the disability insurance field in the late 1940s after witnessing firsthand how the lack of coverage cost his own family their farm, viewed the profession as a calling. To him, disability insurance was not a product. It was a way to protect livelihoods and preserve dignity in moments that could otherwise be devastating.
Tom, however, had other plans. He pursued marine biology, built a successful scuba and dive business, and spent his days doing what he loved most, in, on, or under the water. It was more than a career. It was an identity. Then, in his mid twenties, everything changed in an instant.
A serious car accident caused by a drunk driver left him with life altering injuries and a long road to recovery. It took months to learn to walk again. In that time, his business, built through passion and persistence, unraveled. Clients moved on. Revenue disappeared. What had once been a thriving operation was gone within a matter of months.
Looking back, Tom can now see what might have made a difference. Disability insurance, specifically business overhead expense coverage, could have given him a fighting chance to sustain the business while he recovered. But like many young professionals, he had not prioritized it.
During his recovery, his father offered him an opportunity to help with marketing. What started as a practical next step became something much more significant. As he learned the fundamentals of the business, his perspective shifted. Insurance was no longer something abstract or unappealing. It was, at its core, a structured version of something humanity had always done, taking care of one another in times of need.
That realization became the foundation of Tom’s career.
Today, as a leader at Petersen International Underwriters, he specializes primarily in disability insurance, an area that reflects both his personal experience and his professional conviction. Over the years, the company has grown into a family-driven business, with multiple generations contributing to its success. What began as his father’s calling has evolved into a shared mission carried forward by siblings, children, and extended family.
Tom’s impact extends well beyond his own firm. His long-standing involvement with NAIFA, which dates back to his father’s early membership, reflects a deep belief in the role the association plays in protecting and advancing the profession. While his own membership briefly lapsed due to what he describes as simple oversight, his commitment to NAIFA’s purpose has never wavered.
That commitment, along with decades of service to the industry and the broader community, was recently recognized with the Will Farrell Award from NAIFA Los Angeles. The honor reflects a lifetime of contribution, including his work in legislative advocacy, where he has been involved in the development of more than two dozen bills, as well as his dedication to education and industry advancement.
What stands out most about Tom is not just what he has done, but how he thinks about the profession itself.
He is quick to point out that insurance professionals operate in a space unlike any other. They meet people at their most difficult moments and deliver something tangible that helps them move forward. Whether it is a disability claim that allows someone to maintain their livelihood or a life insurance benefit that supports a family after loss, the work carries real and immediate impact.
That sense of purpose continues to drive him.
Even after decades in the business, Tom remains motivated by the role insurance professionals play in restoring stability and hope. He often describes producers as the true heroes of the industry, not because of titles or recognition, but because of the promises they keep when it matters most.
It is a perspective shaped by personal experience, reinforced through years of service, and carried forward in the way he leads, teaches, and gives back.
For Tom, what began as an unexpected turn in life ultimately became something far more meaningful. Not just a career, but a way to make a difference when people need it most.