NAF's Shannon Robinson on home equity's central role in retirement planning

Key facts

• New American Funding (NAF) has expanded its reverse mortgage division from three to 85 loan officers in three years.
• Homeowners over 60 hold over $15 trillion in housing wealth, driving demand for reverse mortgages.
• NAF aims to integrate home equity into mainstream retirement planning.
• Shannon Robinson leads NAF's reverse division, focusing on education and expanding product offerings.
• NAF offers both HECM and proprietary reverse mortgage products.

New American Funding (NAF) is significantly increasing its focus on reverse mortgages, aiming to establish home equity as a core component of retirement planning. The company's dedicated reverse division has grown from three loan officers to 85 in the past three years, reflecting a surge in demand from senior homeowners seeking to leverage their housing wealth.

Shannon Robinson, senior vice president of NAF's reverse division, is spearheading the expansion of a national sales footprint to meet the needs of aging borrowers. She views reverse mortgages not as a last-resort debt solution, but as a tool for financial independence and flexibility in retirement.

Robinson noted that over 11,000 Americans turn 65 daily, and homeowners aged 60 and above possess more than $15 trillion in housing wealth. This demographic trend, coupled with inflationary pressures, is making home equity an increasingly vital part of retirement discussions. NAF, as a top 10 independent mortgage banker, recognized this opportunity and decided to build out its reverse mortgage capabilities.

Robinson, who has over 20 years of experience exclusively in the reverse mortgage space, joined NAF about three and a half years ago and was instrumental in growing the division nationwide. She highlighted the passion of industry veterans and the opportunity to educate NAF's extensive network of forward lending loan officers about the benefits and to dispel myths surrounding reverse mortgages.

She explained that older homeowners face challenges such as rising living costs, healthcare expenses, and the risk of outliving their savings. Reverse mortgages can help bridge this gap by allowing access to home equity without requiring monthly mortgage payments, providing funds for income supplementation, unexpected expenses, or home improvements. NAF offers both the traditional HECM product and proprietary solutions for homeowners with higher-value homes, aiming to provide tailored options for clients' financial goals.