The RMD Podcast

By Reverse Mortgage DailyBusiness

The RMD Podcast episodes

March 29, 2021 RMD #20: Steven Sless and Christina Harmes Hika of PRMI
In our first group interview ever featured on The RMD Podcast, we sit down with Steven Sless and Christina Harmes Hika of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. to talk about the recent news of the company’s expansion to San Diego!With an eye toward becoming a top 10 lender in the reverse mortgage space, PRMI’s Steven J. Sless Group has hired Harmes Hika in its effort to build out a physical west coast presence. But both professionals can also speak from experience about what it’s like to transition to other companies, and in addition to discussing their exciting business plans they also share with our audience some of the lessons they’ve learned in making those kinds of transitions.Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- What made the time right for PRMI to expand westward-- How that presence will help serve PRMI and the Sless Group’s larger industry goals-- What reverse mortgage professionals should keep in mind when changing companies-- How to leverage personal branding when changing companies-- And more!
33 min
February 12, 2021 RMD #19: Jonathan Scarpati, VP Wholesale Lending at Finance of America Reverse
To dive deeper into the very active reverse mortgage wholesale channel, The RMD Podcast is thrilled to welcome Finance of America Reverse's VP of Wholesale Lending, Jonathan Scarpati!Like most of the reverse mortgage industry, wholesale lending has had to evolve and change with the new realities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but those changes have also brought about new opportunities. Jonathan describes what this new environment is like in a vibrant discussion of the state of the wholesale business channel.Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:What makes the wholesale channel unique in the reverse mortgage industryWhat many of FAR's most successful wholesale clients are doing to remain successfulHow originators can learn from successful wholesale clientsWhat has had to change about the wholesale channel due to the pandemicAnd more!
26 min
December 15, 2020 RMD #18: Reza Jahangiri, Founder and CEO of American Advisors Group
The RMD Podcast finishes out 2020 with a guest we've been planning to have for some time now, American Advisors Group (AAG) Founder and CEO Reza Jahangiri!In this episode, Reza sits down with RMD Editor Chris Clow to talk about the tumultuous journey of the year that is 2020, and how the reverse mortgage industry and AAG specifically have had to adapt to meet the needs of American seniors during this unique moment in time. That means changing the approach of work, and finding novel ways of connecting with potential borrowers on how their retirement plans can be affected by the incorporation of home equity.Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- What the reverse mortgage industry at-large, and AAG specifically have adapted in response to COVID-19-- How industry-wide news like FHA's Annual Report to Congress and the rise in the HECM lending limit could affect the industry in 2021-- What types of products will lead the industry and the priorities AAG is maintaining for 2021-- And more!Subscribe to The RMD Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!
24 min
October 19, 2020 Christina Harmes Hika, Loan Originator at C2 Reverse
The RMD Podcast returns to talk about the "new normal" origination environment with Christina Harmes Hika, reverse mortgage loan originator with C2 Reverse in San Diego, Calif.The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have the chance to change the reverse mortgage industry forever, and Christina describes for RMD Editor Chris Clow how she has adapted to many of the new realities the pandemic has caused, before also describing her entrance into the industry and offering a look ahead to the end of the year and 2021. Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- How origination practices in a very active reverse mortgage region of the country have had to change-- Thoughts on ways in which the industry can bring in greater numbers of younger professionals-- How the pandemic could end up permanently changing aspects of the reverse mortgage industry-- And more!Subscribe to The RMD Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!
30 min
August 25, 2020 Harlan Accola, Reverse Mortgage Director at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
The RMD Podcast is back with Harlan Accola, Reverse Mortgage Director at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. In a wide-ranging discussion, Harlan details for RMD Editor Chris Clow the path he took to arrive in the reverse mortgage industry, the work that still needs to be done to increase the comprehension and market penetration of reverse mortgages and efforts Fairway has undertaken to expand the American retirement landscape.The episode also includes a discussion about how Fairway is trying to forge partnerships to expand the reach of the product category, and how the pandemic could be a pivotal turning point for the industry going forward. Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- The approach that Fairway is taking for reverse mortgage business by using the extensive forward and reverse infrastructure at the organization-- The most pivotal changes that the industry has made — and should still make-- The test that the pandemic is proving to be for the resiliency and capacity of the reverse mortgage industry to meet seniors' needs-- And more!Subscribe to The RMD Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!
31 min
July 24, 2020 Shelley Giordano, co-founder of the Academy for Home Equity
The RMD Podcast returns for a conversation with Shelley Giordano, co-founder of the Academy for Home Equity in Financial Planning and of Enterprise Integration at Mutual of Omaha Mortgage. In our discussion, Shelley describes for RMD Editor Chris Clow the path she took to arrive in the reverse mortgage industry, as well as the origin story for the Academy and how it has helped to change the game in informing consumers and financial professionals about the benefits of home equity release in retirement.The episode also includes a discussion about how the Academy has helped shape industry practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, some key educational roadblocks that still must be overcome by the industry for both consumers and financial advisors, along with a hint about what attendees at RMD’s upcoming HEQ virtual event can look forward to from the Academy. Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- How the Academy for Home Equity in financial planning came into being-- Ways the industry has adapted to the pandemic because of the Academy’s work-- Ways in which financial advisors can be adequately educated about what reverse mortgages can offer-- And more!
31 min
July 01, 2020 Dan Ribler, Director at SitusAMC
The RMD Podcast dives into the issue of reverse mortgage capital markets in a conversation between RMD Editor Chris Clow and Dan Ribler, director at real estate finance technology company SitusAMC which acquired his analytics firm Baseline Reverse last year. As the initial disruption in reverse mortgage capital markets led to investor concern and the paying of two major proprietary reverse mortgage products, Dan helps explore what has taken place in the markets throughout the pandemic's economic impacts.The episode also includes a discussion about the ways that the reverse mortgage market has handled the pandemic's economic shock, how Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- How far the scale of the pandemic's economic impacts reach into the reverse mortgage capital markets-- How proprietary product activity fits into the larger construct of reverse mortgage capital markets-- A deeper look at some of the early reactions that investors had to the pandemic-- And more!
26 min
June 01, 2020 Evelyn Zohlen, chair of FPA and founder of Inspired Financial
The RMD Podcast returns to present a conversation between RMD Editor Chris Clow and Evelyn Zohlen, chair of the FInancial Planners Association (FPA) and founder of Inspired Financial, to discuss the new educational partnership that the FPA has engaged in with Finance of America Reverse (FAR) to better inform planners of the ways in which reverse mortgages can be used to help the clients of CFPs. The discussion also includes some of the best practices reverse mortgage professionals can observe when seeking out financial planner referral sources.Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- How the FAR/FPA partnership has manifested thus far, and how it's been affected by the pandemic-- What has factored into the "warming" of more financial planners to the concept of reverse mortgages-- How Zohlen's time as a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer informs her perspective as a financial professional-- How financial planners may factor into overcoming educational hurdles for borrowers as it relates to reverse mortgages-- And more!
36 min
April 28, 2020 Steven Sless of PRMI and Steven J. Sless Group
The RMD Podcast returns during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and RMD Editor Chris Clow is joined by Steven Sless, reverse mortgage division manager with Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI) and branch manager with the lender’s Steven J. Sless Group, to discuss in greater detail what challenges and opportunities reverse mortgage originators are facing in the midst of these unusual times.Reverse mortgage professionals are used to conducting business in a very consultative fashion, guiding borrowers carefully through a complex but potentially effective financial instrument. However, social distancing and virus mitigation guidelines provide some restriction to the consultative process, but this moment may also present some opportunities for those looking for additional financial options during a moment of economic stress.Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- What effects the pandemic is having on "boots-on-the-ground" originators-- How proprietary products are playing an expanded role-- Elements of a reverse mortgage transaction streamlined by technology-- The importance of checking in with clients who may feel isolated during these times-- And more!
26 min
March 31, 2020 Dr. Wade Pfau, professor of retirement income at the American College of Financial Services
The RMD Podcast is back amidst the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and RMD Editor Chris Clow is joined by Dr. Wade Pfau, professor of retirement income at the American College of Financial Services and founder of RetirementResearcher.com, to discuss how reverse mortgages can be incorporated into a senior's retirement plans in the wake of the volatility that the pandemic has introduced into global financial markets.With a lot of new uncertainty playing havoc with the retirement plans of older Americans, Dr. Pfau discusses how the reverse mortgage line of credit can be used to weather the current financial downturn, as well as the realities of using reverse mortgage product features to better connect with the product category's skeptics.Listen to this episode of The RMD Podcast to learn:-- How the reverse mortgage line of credit can help retirees weather the financial shock being fueled by COVID-19-- What originators should know when trying to forge referral partnerships with financial planners-- How he discovered reverse mortgage viability for retirees-- And more!
23 min

About The RMD Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The RMD podcast features reverse mortgage business leaders, professionals, government officials, and thought leaders to provide listeners with the pulse of the reverse mortgage industry. Hosted by…