SPONSORED CONTENT
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Prudential’s
Jason
Hoeltzel
A Passion
For Helping
People
J
ason Hoeltzel started in the world of financial
services back in 2004, after graduating from college,
and was successful at it through 2008. But a string of
health issues derailed that success and forced him to
sit on the sidelines until he recuperated.
“I had cancer twice and that really puts things into
perspective” he said.
With two life-threatening scares behind him, Hoeltzel
reentered the workforce as an entrepreneur and opened
a restaurant in California, which allowed him to pursue his
passion for cooking. And while the cooking and menu were
a hit with customers, the success of a growing business
started taking a toll on his other passion—his family.
“It was a fantastic time and we spent five years building
the restaurant up, but, eventually, we decided to leave
it behind to have a better family life,” he said. “We were
working so much, we wanted to spend more time with our
kids and be a part of their lives.”
That experience has proven invaluable to him, however,
as he retired his chef’s hat, moved back to Pittsburgh and
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put on his business suit to reenter the field of financial
services.
“I came to the realization that cooking will always be a
passion, but this is what I really loved,” he said. “This is the
more important work of my life—how I can help more
people. Having cancer really taught me how important
protecting your loved ones is and I can’t do that from a
kitchen.”
Based in Wexford, Hoeltzel opened up his Prudential
office close to home, his wife of nearly 12 years and his two
children. While his doors are open to everyone seeking
financial -advice or having insurance needs, Hoeltzel
discovered that there was a niche market in catering to
business owners, who make up most of his clientele. Having
been a small business owner himself not only prepared him
to understand their needs, it also allowed him to discover
coverage area blind spots that many small business owners
overlook.
“Small business owners, like optometrists, they kind of
do things to the beat of their own drum. They’re running