The overall amount of home equity controlled by U.S. homeowners ballooned by 12.2% in 2017 — a gain of $908.4 billion in just 12 months. That works out to about $15,000 per homeowner, according to the most recent home equity report from real estate analysis firm CoreLogic. But as has been the case for some…

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Stretching leg muscles every day may benefit seniors and other people with mobility problems, a new study reports. Researchers placed splints on lower limbs of older rats to stretch their calf muscles. The splints were placed on one leg for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. This stretching program increased…

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Early in his new book on retirement strategies, financial planner and professor Jamie Hopkins introduces the idea of reverse mortgages as a potential part of long-term retirement planning — and he quickly anticipates the potential backlash. “Let me preface this by pleading with you to continue to read and not give in to your urge…

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Eating lots of vegetables may help older women keep their blood vessels healthy, Australian researchers report. The biggest benefit seems to come from cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli. Eating these strong-smelling veggies was linked to less thickening of the carotid arteries, located in the neck. Thickening of this major blood vessels…

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Dear Mr. Militello I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the valuable assistance you’ve given me during this horrible time in my life. I truly appreciate the help you’ve given me pulling my home out of foreclosure. I am 87 and was a step away from being put out in the street.…

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A reverse mortgage has never been a one-size-fits-all solution. For some borrowers it helps bridge a specific financial gap; for others its a means of eliminating a monthly mortgage payment. Still for others, it’s a rainy day fund that can cover unexpected expenses. But there are other common problems a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage can…

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The old notion that reverse mortgages should only be taken out as a last resort simply is no longer true today. In fact, I believe there are five ways reverse mortgages can improve your retirement income plan. First, a definition: A reverse mortgage is a way to convert home equity from your primary residence into…

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One of the biggest assets seniors have is their home, and in some situations those who are facing challenges in retirement may be able to live a bit more comfortably by tapping into their home equity, explains a recent article from U.S. News & World Report. Using a home as a retirement fund is one…

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There is a countless number of investment strategies retirees can use to plan for their financial future, but one method that has often been considered a last resort option may offer a “surprising” solution to retirement income planning, suggests a recent article from TIME Money. “Despite a bad reputation, reverse mortgages, which let retirees tap…

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Reverse mortgages have cultivated an aura of mistrust and skepticism over the years, mostly as a result of a generally misinformed public. But knowing how these financial products can play a vital role in retirement income planning can alleviate the most common fears about reverse mortgages, according to a recent TIME Money video segment. “Reverse…

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