Rightsizing to our Retirement Dream Home

Rightsizing to our retirement dream home

In 2005 my wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given 4-5 years, and I became her full time caregiver. At the time I was the President and CEO of a National Investment Firm with 700+ Financial Advisor’s based in Omaha, NE. In 2006 at age 59 I decided to retire and move to San Diego to focus on my wife’s health out of the snow and enjoy your wonderful weather. To be sure this is where we wanted to live, I leased a home in Olivenhain for $4,500 a month. After three years without snow and below 0 degrees in the winter we began looking for our Retirement Dream home.

In 2009 I purchased a home in the Aviara section of Carlsbad. My intention was to pay cash since we did well on the sale of our home in Omaha. After I made an offer Wells Fargo Mortgage called me and suggested in lieu of paying cash I may want to consider a new product “Reverse for Purchase”, frankly, I was hesitant about Reverse Mortgages of any kind. After providing me with an overview of the product I decided to take an in-depth look as a CFP .

When I confirmed the following facts, The loan was non-recourse and that I only had to make a 40% down payment. Have no mortgage payments for as long as I lived in the home and keep the 60% working for me in the market. I did have to pay the Real Estate Taxes and Homeowners insurance. I moved forward with the Reverse for Purchase.

The home needed extensive work to accommodate my wife’s disability, so I spent $150,000 out of pocket on the remodel. In 2012 the value of the home had increased substantially, I refinanced the home with a new Reverse Mortgage at a lower fixed interest rate and received $165,000. I was able to put back in my pocket my cost of the remodel.

I have lived here since Jan. 10th, 2012, I have never made a house payment, the lien against the home is approx. $625,000 which includes principal borrowed plus accrued interest. Current market value is $1,850,000

After my wife passed, I began a new career, based on my own experience financing my Retirement Dream Home.

I now own “Retirement In Reverse” collaborating with Financial Advisors, Insurance, Agents and CPAs as a CFP to enhance their client's retirement plans using Reverse Mortgage Products.

Planning for the Future: How CFPs Can Guide Clients Through Rightsizing with Confidence

As a Certified Financial Planner, you’ve helped clients prepare for retirement, fund their grandkids’ education, and navigate market shifts. But one topic that often gets overlooked—and yet can have a major financial and emotional impact—is housing. Specifically, helping clients think through when, why, and how they may want or need to rightsize.

Rightsizing isn’t about giving something up—it’s about aligning a living situation with a person’s lifestyle, health needs, and financial goals. And when clients are in or approaching their later years, housing becomes more than just a place to live. It becomes a tool for creating peace of mind, freeing up equity, and ensuring access to care and connection.

Why You Should Start the Conversation Early

It’s human nature to avoid big life changes until they’re absolutely necessary. But waiting until a health crisis or family emergency forces a decision often leads to stress, rushed choices, and greater expense. You can be the voice of reason, helping clients look ahead and explore options on their own terms.

Some clients may want to move closer to family, others may consider downsizing to simplify life or reduce expenses. Still others may want to explore communities with built-in social connections and care services. By addressing this proactively, you can help them understand:

What their current home is really costing them (maintenance, utilities, property taxes, accessibility upgrades).
Whether their space still matches their lifestyle or future needs (stairs, yard work, isolation).
What options exist—from active adult communities to independent or assisted living—and what those choices cost.
How to pay for it—including using home equity, retirement income, or a reverse mortgage for purchase.

Your Role as a Trusted Resource

You don’t need to have all the answers—but you do need to ask the right questions:

Have you thought about where you want to live 5 or 10 years from now?
Would a smaller home or a different location make life easier or more enjoyable?
Are you planning to age in place, or would you be open to exploring other living arrangements?
If you needed care in the future, how would you pay for it?

Opening the door to these conversations may feel personal, but your clients are likely looking for someone they trust to bring it up. When you do, you’re not just helping them manage money—you’re helping them protect their quality of life.

Aligning Housing Decisions with Financial Planning

Whether it’s unlocking home equity, evaluating long-term care insurance, or helping a couple decide when to sell their family home, your guidance can turn a difficult transition into a thoughtful plan.

And remember—planning doesn’t mean moving today. It means your client has time to explore, visit communities, talk with family, and create a roadmap that fits their vision for the future.

Could This Strategy Benefit Your Clients? Let’s Find Out!

Do any of your clients fit this scenario? Retirement in Reverse would be happy to provide a customized, hypothetical scenario to help you assess if this strategy could be a valuable solution. Let’s explore how we can make it work for your clients!

Who would have ever thought you could use a reverse mortgage for this?

Today’s reverse mortgage is no longer the loan of last resort. It’s a flexible financial tool that can be used strategically for:

Charitable giving
Buy-sell agreements
Paying for long-term care or in-home support
Funding a business venture
Helping Grandkids Fund College Expense
Gift down payment to your Kids
Any many more….

It’s all about what the money costs. It’s just math.

Retirement In Reverse offers Objective, Competent Advice to help you make informative decisions for your clients.
Furthermore, we have No Conflict of Interest, as we do not sell Financial Product, nor enter into financial planning engagements. We share your commitment to your clients’ financial stability and quality of life.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

The Benefits of Physical Activity in Older Adults

September 3, 2025

Physical activity is important at any age, but the biggest benefits of staying active might come in your golden years. Engaging in regular physical activity is a critical component of healthy aging, promoting wellness, functional independence, and an overall better quality of life. Key Benefits of Physical Activity Improved Attitude and Mood Exercise can significantly enhance mental health, reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Physical activity releases endorphins, which act as natural mood lifters, helping to improve your overall outlook on life. Better Sleep Regular exercise helps regulate your sleep patterns, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. Quality sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being, especially as we age. Stress Reduction Physical activity is a great way to manage stress. Exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are natural painkillers and mood elevators. Enhanced Mental Health Regular physical activity can help manage mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Outdoor exercise, in particular, can provide the added benefits of sunlight, which aids in the absorption of calcium and helps prevent depression. Physical Health Benefits Cardiovascular Health Sustained exercise improves cardiovascular function, reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and enhances circulation. This can prevent conditions like myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis, leading to a healthier heart and vascular system. Bone and Muscle Strength Weight-bearing exercises and strength training increase muscle mass and bone density, which is especially important for aging women at risk of osteoporosis. Regular activity can delay or decelerate bone loss, reducing the risk of fractures. Improved Flexibility and Balance Activities such as stretching, bending, and twisting help maintain flexibility and coordination, which are critical for preventing falls and maintaining independence. Weight Management Regular physical activity helps control weight by burning calories and increasing muscle mass. This is crucial for managing and preventing obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Designing an Effective Exercise Program For physical activity programs to be effective for older adults, they should be multidimensional, combining: Weight Training for Strength Aerobic Exercise for Endurance Calisthenics for Flexibility Despite the clear benefits, only about 71% of adults aged 65 and over participate in leisure-time physical activity, and only one-third achieve the recommended levels. Interventions to encourage a sedentary older adult to initiate physical activity, as well as those to help maintain it, are essential. Incorporating physical activity into daily life not only enhances physical health but also contributes significantly to mental wellness and quality of life. It is never too late to start reaping the benefits of a more active lifestyle. Always consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program to ensure it is safe and appropriate for your health conditions. By embracing regular physical activity, older adults can look forward to a more vibrant, independent, and enjoyable life. Find a physical activity that you love doing and do it every day, soon it will become a healthy habit. Have fun:) Author: Kinga Wulczynska-Lauer Disclaimer: Retirement In Reverse is a mortgage company dedicated to serving older adults, financial planners, and wealth managers with a strong focus on education and informed decision-making. While we strive to provide helpful information on a variety of topics, we are not experts in all areas. That’s why we collaborate with a trusted network of professionals—including attorneys, tax advisors, and financial planners—to help connect you with the right expert based on your individual needs. The information provided in this article is for educational and illustrative purposes only. Before making any financial, legal, or lifestyle changes, we strongly recommend consulting with a qualified professional who can review your personal situation. If you are considering Reverse Mortgage, call Ted Lange at 760-753-1568 to learn more.