Dec 4 2025 Tara Durbin interview.txt
English (US)

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So my name is Tara. Tara Durbin d u r b I n. And I'm the Catholic Life insurance Board of director for region six.


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Tell us a little about region six. What kind of folks live in region six? Well, it's a region six is made up of ten branches that are spread all over Houston. And there's just some wonderful, you know, very down to earth people, um, within region six from from all over from I'm in the Richmond Rosenberg area, but I've been to to all ten branch meetings, you know, multiple times.

And they're from Feldberg, which is a little more of a country town. And then we have the greater Houston region, um, which, you know, is more in the middle of Houston and just all over. So there's just a lot of wonderful members from our region. I'm curious. Most of the people we've talked to today come from rural communities, not Houston, not Greater Houston.

Right. Is there a different characteristic that's involved in a, in a, in a branch that is urban versus rural, or what kind of you represent the first urban


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board member that that I've talked to today.


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What kind of what kind of challenge goes with representing or,


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you know, what what challenges does Catholic life have in an urban setting like that? Well, I would say, you know, some of the challenges, this is kind of interesting. It might be a little more expensive to run a social, for example, like renting out the auditorium, that kind of thing, just because it's in a bigger town or city.

I think that can be a little more of a challenge. Um, also, attendance, I think, can be a little affected. Sometimes we find that the areas that are a little more rural. You know, they that's something they really like to go to the social. Whereas maybe in the larger towns they might have, you know, other conflicts, that kind of thing a little bit.

What kind of events in a rural setting be you? I mean, in a, in an urban setting. Do you guys do? Um, well, we have done, um, for for membership engagement. Uh, there's a there was an Astros game, um, in August that, uh, a lot of the members got to attend, and that was a lot of fun. Um, let's see, sometimes our general agent, uh, Eugene Smart.

He, uh, does some, uh, seminars to for the members to learn more about Catholic life and the different products that we offer. How did you get involved? Did you buy a policy? And then how did you get involved? You know, I did some I it was my husband saw an ad in the Catholic Herald from Catholic Life Insurance, and at the time, I had an IRA that was not doing well in the stock market.

And so I saw the rates and they were really great. Talk to Eugene. No pressure at all. And about a year later, I finally, you know, contacted him and have several annuities with with Catholic Life insurance. And so that's how I started about 17 years ago. And they'll make you, you know, saying, hey, I want to be more involved than just a policyholder.

You know, I actually had to do a lot with Eugene Smart, our general agent in the area. He really encouraged me. I'd come see him once a year to add, you know, to my IRAs. And he knew I wanted to sort of, you know, get back in the working world a little bit. And he said, you know, maybe you should consider being an agent.

And so then I became an agent. And from there then I became a branch officer. And then I ran for the board. And so you sold. You sold insurance? Yes. Well. What's that? You know, it's it's interesting. It's, um, it's a it can be a challenge, but it's it's a lot. It's very rewarding as well to be able to, to help an individual or family, to be able to have the protection that they need, you know, at the time they need it the most.

And also in retirement for like annuities, um, those are very popular in the Houston area. I, you know, I know that, uh,


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you're always in competition when you're selling. There's always other people selling the same thing. What do you what's the competitive advantage of Catholic life?


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You know, if if rates are kind of calculated, the way rates are calculated. What what advantage does count? Would this Catholic life have if I'm looking to buy a life insurance policy? So I think one of the advantages that I don't know if everybody knows about this is the the fraternal aspect of Catholic life, and that not only is it offering financial services, but also, yeah, doing wonderful things in the community.

Um, there's different volunteer opportunities and then there's a lot of donating that goes on from Catholic Life for disaster recovery, for religious education, for for food banks. So a lot of behind the scenes, nice things that that can make you feel great about using Catholic life for your financial products.


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What is urban sprawl? You know, I mean, Richmond, I'm sure, used to be a little town. Yeah, definitely on nearly part of Houston. That that suburban area. How do you get. How do you get new blood into. Into


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Catholic life. New clients, new customers in this growing area. When at the same time, the idea of community seems to be shrinking. We're more online than ever. We know our neighbors less than ever. We. You know, there seems to be the very things that Catholic life seems to want to pull together, seems to be pulling apart.

Is that a challenge the board faces here in the future? To try and keep Catholic life relevant and talk a little bit about. I think that's a great question, and it definitely is a challenge as far as the


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being able to bring people in. So, um, and I apologize. I'm sorry. I'm going to start over on that one.


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Actually, I'm going to get you a drink of water. Oh, that's my boy. Sure.


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And refer to notes if you need to. Okay.


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I'm sorry. I think I've been forgetting to mention the question when I'm answering it. Is that. Do I need to do that? Okay.


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Oh, okay. Oh, thanks. Okay. It's working just fine. Okay. You're doing great. Just wait. Sorry. I get my I get a dry mouth.


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That's all


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I did.


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So I apologize. Do you mind? Like maybe saying your question one more time.


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Once again, how do you when you when you sell and you are selling, uh, what what is what is the sellable aspect of a fraternal organization? What about that makes you feel confident as a salesperson that I'm going to I'm going to close this sale because we're a fraternal the organization. I would say as far as, um, the.


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The aspect of that you're able to give back to the community because there's a lot of events that that, um, happen as far as like there's a make a difference day project, a join hands day project. Things that you can actually come volunteer and be. And like you said, there's, uh, with with Covid and with, um, the internet and everything.

People don't get out and around people enough. And so this it gives opportunities to be around people and to, to be able to help the community. And um, so I think that may have more value as we become more and more reliant on screens and remote work and, and, you know, kind of doing virtually what people used to do, actually doing it.

I mean, is, is Catholic life offering a chance to kind of Return to more human based. Absolutely. I think that's that is something that Catholic Life can offer. Definitely is that it's more where you can be face to face with people, meet, meet other members, um, help the community. And also, there's a lot of wonderful donating that goes on again for like flood relief and religious education, um, and food banks, that kind of thing.

So ask personal question, are you are you Catholic? Yes.


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Does.


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Did you ever find selling insurance that people were under the impression that it was only


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Catholics that could buy Catholic life insurance? You know, I'm sure that that that. Yes, that you do run into that. And so that would be, um, you know, I did not. Um, but but I could see where that might be. Be a, you know, something that people may not realize that even though


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we have that in our name. Um, as long as you're,


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um, I apologize. But let's see. So even though we have that in our name. Um, as long as your values are match up, then you're, you know, you're more than welcome to be a part of Catholic Life Insurance. So, CC, yes. You're up. I'm not looking for you.


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You got kids around the same age. I'm going to answer your questions.


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Yeah. Um.


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What do you think? So? So especially, you know, are your boys girls, boy or girl? Boy and girl. Okay.


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Um, what do you think are the challenges that are facing our kids these days with finances that you think we could be an answer to that Catholic life insurance could be an answer to. Well, I think the just expenses in general have just gone up quite a bit. And, um, so just having that, uh, financial security of having a life insurance policy, um, to help as far as,


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um, I apologize.


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I know, um, let me ask you a different differently then. Okay. Is there Eugene Smart? I know he does quite a few seminars and he's. Yes. Successful? Yes. Um, do you think that there's an opportunity for Catholic life to continue to do those kind of. Are those well received? Are his seminars well received by people?

And do you think that there's things that we could do, um, to attract young people to, to see us as the experts at the branch, at the branch system, I think so. So, Eugene, there was with Covid again, there was sort of a you know, he used to do them very regularly. So he's just getting back into doing his seminars again.

And I do think that those would be really helpful as far as giving people the knowledge that they need. As far as why, why do you need life insurance and why is it helpful, and also annuities and how that can help, you know, eventually in retirement. Or you can give that to your beneficiaries in the in the future?

I think there's a lot of


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me included. I had no idea what an annuity, how how somewhat flexible an annuity could be and how if you need it, you don't have to be dead to get to defer life insurance. My whole life. Your whole life. There's ways to get access to that money if there's a need. Right. That's very true. I think people understand the flexibility of the products in some cases.

Right. So so I'm I'm thinking, you know, as we talk about these young people and especially people that, you know, are our educational systems, not really teaching financial readiness and things like that. I think Catholic Life stands because we are family focused, caring about individuals. But I also think there's a huge opportunity to let people know what we do in the community, because the younger people value that.

That is very true. So just being able to come out and do a volunteer project or, um, assist, you know, with things in the community. Definitely. I think that could draw the younger people in for sure. I also think they value the fact that it's not Wall Street and not Wall Street. Right. But the money goes back into the community.

That's very important to the younger people. That is very true. That's right. Unfortunately, we have a lot of World Cup secrets, right? That's very true. Yes. Are your kids involved at all? I mean, do they do they participate? They're grown. I know they're I, I get it. Exactly. Like,


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you know, unfortunately, right now, they are not. They're not members, but


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it's okay. Right.


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Um.


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in regards to you. So do you have a lot of non-Catholics in your branch, in the branch system? That is a great question. I actually don't know. Um, I apologize. No. Actually not.


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Exactly. You don't have to be Catholic. Uh, exactly. Right. Because I do know that the only people that are required to be Catholic, I believe, is are the board of directors. So, um. So that's kind of interesting. So


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it's not I mean, like a lot of amazing people that upstairs at work are not Catholic, but we don't care because they're great people. They they share. Absolutely. Definitely.


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Right. Was one word that you could describe Catholic life or if you had to, you know, just one thing that you can put a word, a value or something that you really think really kind of embodies the Catholic life insurance, what would it be? Uh, that's a great question. and I want, I think, compassion. It would be a good word to use because when you know somebody is in their their worst moments in their life.

Um, and that agent needs to come and help them, you know, collect on their policy or that kind of thing. It's it's the compassion that's so important. And also, I think here in the Home Office, when people call in and they, they need to hear, you know, from someone that that can understand and relate to what they're going through.

So I would say that that's an important value that I think of with Catholic Life Insurance. It's a great answer. Nobody said it so far. Oh yeah. You know, it's like you said, the worst time of your life. And that's, you know, somebody died or something. Someone's passed on and you need help and and to be able to actually get somebody on the phone.

Right. Exactly. I think I'm good. Good, good. Thank you. All right.