Hoopis entered the insurance industry in 1974 as assistant superintendent of manpower development at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee. In 1977 he became a general agent for Northwestern in Chicago. Since then, his agency’s field force has increased to 140, from 34, and the face amount of sales has increased to $2.8 billion, from $50 million.
Hoopis has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, and he holds the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant professional designations. He is also a past president of GAMA International and the founder of the Hoopis Family Foundation, a charity that raises funds for the City of Hope and treatment of cystic fibrosis.