Have you ever wondered why reverse mortgages carry mortgage insurance when you never had it on your last loan? I get that question all the time. On this episode I’ll explain where HECM mortgage insurance came from, how it works, and — most important — why it benefits you and your heirs. I’ll use simple examples and real-world stories from Colorado so you can hear how this protection plays out in everyday life.

• A brief history of the HECM program and why mortgage insurance was added.
• How the mortgage insurance premiums are charged and where the money goes.
• How mortgage insurance protects you if home values drop.
• Why your HECM line of credit grows over time and how that growth is guaranteed.
• What happens to payments and lines of credit if your lender fails.
• How the non-recourse feature shields you and your heirs from personal liability.
• Why the mortgage insurance fund keeps the HECM program available and reliable for future seniors.
• Real examples: a family that kept a sentimental home despite a market downturn, and a couple who used a growing line of credit for in-home care.

If you want a clear, practical view of how mortgage insurance on a HECM works — and why it might be one of the best protections you can get as a homeowner over 62 — this episode will walk you through it step by step. You’ll finish the show with an easy-to-follow list of benefits, concrete examples you can relate to, and questions to bring to your own consultation. Tune in to learn how this insurance helps keep you in your home, protects your estate, and gives you a dependable financial safety net for the years ahead.

If you own a Colorado home and worry about stretching Social Security and pension checks, this episode is for you. Today we look at a little-known way to get more control from your FHA-insured reverse mortgage. Most people know reverse mortgages let you skip monthly payments. Fewer know you can choose to make payments—and that choice can give you flexibility, protect equity, and grow your available credit for the years ahead. I’ll walk you through how it works, when it helps, and what to watch out for.

How voluntary payments change your loan outcome

Small or large payments slow the balance growth and reduce long-term interest costs. You will see how even modest payments can change your equity picture over time.

How payments move through the prepayment waterfall

Accrued mortgage insurance is paid first, then interest, then principal. This order matters if you plan to deduct interest and affects which part of your payment actually reduces the balance.

The line-of-credit effect

Paying down the loan balance increases your future borrowing power. The line of credit grows at the same rate the loan accrues charges, so lowering the balance today lets that credit grow from a higher base.

Smart payment strategies for retirees

Learn when to pay a little each month, when to use windfalls like tax refunds or stock sales, and why you should avoid paying the loan to zero if you want to keep the line of credit available.

Real-life examples for common situations

Scenarios cover homeowners on fixed income, part-time workers with irregular pay, and those facing variable expenses like healthcare or home repairs. See how different choices play out over time.

Tax and accounting notes to discuss with your CPA

Understand the basics of interest deductibility and the role of accrued mortgage insurance. Know the questions to bring to your tax advisor before claiming deductions.

Key cautions and limits

Learn how much to pay to preserve the line of credit, why paying the loan to zero closes the credit, and other practical rules to avoid unintended consequences.

Making voluntary payments on a HECM is optional, but it can be a strong tool for retired homeowners who want more control over cash flow and home equity. In this episode I explain the mechanics, share real examples, and give practical rules of thumb so you can decide if partial payments fit your retirement plan. If you want a flexible safety net for health care, home repairs, or family needs, tune in. A few smart payments today can protect your financial life tomorrow.

You heard the headlines: the Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates. But what does that actually mean for your reverse mortgage — or for your plans to get one? In this episode I walk you through the difference between the Fed’s short-term lever and the long-term rates that set reverse mortgage borrowing power. I use plain language, real examples, and 22 years of experience so you can know what to do next.

• The one thing the Fed really controls: the federal funds overnight rate and how it affects short-term borrowing.
• Why short-term rate cuts do not always lower mortgage or reverse mortgage rates.
• How long-term rates, especially the 10-year Treasury, determine how much you can get from a HECM.
• How a rate cut can help current HECM borrowers by lowering loan interest but also slow line-of-credit growth.
• Why a lower 10-year Treasury increases your principal limit, and why a higher one reduces it.
• A simple example that shows how a HECM line of credit grows and why that matters for future needs.
• Practical steps to protect your retirement income and plan for health, home repairs, and long-term care using a reverse mortgage.

This episode clears up the confusion behind the headlines and gives you clear action steps. You will learn how the Fed’s move may help or hurt you depending on your situation, what to watch in the 10-year Treasury, and how to use a reverse mortgage line of credit the smart way. If you want sensible, direct advice about protecting your savings and staying in your home, tune in.