What began as a simple financial review turned into something deeply meaningful for one family—and a powerful reminder of how Catholic United Financial cares for our members.
When Senior Member Advisor David Stang met with Members Pete and Joyce Hoppe in 2012, he was just two years into his career as an Advisor. During their meeting, Stang and the Hoppes discussed the life insurance policy that the couple had originally purchased decades earlier. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear to Stang that the couple had bigger intentions: they wanted to leave a meaningful and lasting legacy for their children.
Working with Stang, the couple established a new life insurance policy designed to pass on something lasting. It wasn’t just about money; it was about reflecting their love, values, and the support they had always given their family.
When Joyce passed away in February 2025, Stang met with the couple’s children to deliver the death benefit of the life insurance policy. For their daughter Jennifer, the experience was unexpectedly emotional. She hadn’t known about the new policy, but when she learned from Stang how her parents had planned ahead, it left a lasting impression.
“I felt like I was getting this big hug from my mom,” said Jennifer. “I know she’ll always be with me, but just knowing she had this policy in place—it was like she was still taking care of me, even after she was gone.” She added, “When Dave met with us, it was only a couple of weeks after mom passed, and the emotions were still really raw. But he was so personal, so comforting. He told us how my parents came to him and how important it was for them to leave a legacy.”
Because Pete and Joyce had prepared well, the death proceeds weren’t needed to cover Joyce’s final expenses. Instead, the proceeds were shared among Jennifer and her siblings. Jennifer used her portion to help her son pay for college, modeling the support her parents had shown her in the past.
What stood out to Jennifer was how well Stang knew her parents. “He remembered their conversations and shared those memories with me,” said Jennifer. “Not as a sales pitch, but as someone who truly knew my parents. Having an agent who knows you and cares makes a huge difference.”
For Stang, this moment was especially meaningful. It was the first death benefit he ever delivered for Members he had been protecting since the beginning of his career with Catholic United Financial.
“I’ve cried in a few of these meetings,” said Stang. “It’s about building relationships and honoring what people built together to help their families carry that love forward.”
Whether you’re planning for your family’s future or reviewing a policy from years past, our Member Advisors are here to help. Visit catholicunitedfinancial.org/rep-finder to connect with your local Member Advisor.
