Schmitz told the story of meeting with an elderly member on a series of appointments and how that led to him mowing her lawn after one appointment and being repaid with homemade pickles. “Sometimes it’s those little things and they truly matter,” Schmitz said.
Catholic United Financial recognizes the benefits of the FIC training, which places a strong emphasis on sales ethics, and encourages the Advisor’s involvement in the volunteer and mission-building activities of their association. After joining the Catholic United sales team, Member Advisors are required to pass FIC exams within their first year of employment.
Schmitz is the fourth representative of Catholic United Financial to earn this honor in the past seven years. Denise Degerstrom of Hinckley, Minn., won in 2020; Brian Zitzmann of Worthington, Minn., received the award in 2018; and Peter Ryan, of Delano, Minn., won in 2016.
About NAFIC and the International FIC of the Year Award
The National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors (NAFIC) is an organization of mutual aid insurance professionals, comprised of 47 associations in the U.S. and Canada. The Fraternal Field Managers Association (FFMA) awards the Fraternal Insurance Counselor (FIC) designation to agents who have completed roughly one year of coursework and tests which emphasize the ethical responsibilities of life insurance sales and prioritize participation in fraternal events and activities. Each FIC-designated agent promises to take responsibility for: Maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, honesty, fairness, and competence; knowing and adhering to all applicable insurance regulations; continuing their education about the financial and fraternal elements of the field; empowering and educating their members; and serving their own society by putting others first.
About Catholic United Financial
Catholic United Financial is a member-owned not-for-profit financial services company, connecting people of faith, protecting their future and generously impacting parishes, schools and communities. Certified in 2023 as a Great Place to Work™, Catholic United Financial has been based in St. Paul, Minn,. since 1878 and serves more than 70,000 members in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas. The company provides financial security for Catholic families through life insurance, credit union, charitable giving, planning, retirement products and Medicare Supplement insurance, then reinvests its profits in local Catholic communities through scholarships, service projects, grants and other community-building programs.
