About Me
With more than two decades of experience guiding retirees, families, and financial professionals, Mary Jo Lafaye has built her career on one simple principle: retirement should be lived with confidence, dignity, and joy. Serving the greater Bay Area in California and clients across the U.S., Mary Jo is nationally recognized as a trusted expert in reverse mortgage lending, specializing in FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), HECM for Purchase, Lifestyle Home Loans, and SecureEquity’s jumbo proprietary reverse mortgage solutions.
Her approach is both personal and holistic. Mary Jo understands that retirement planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about creating lasting solutions that align with her clients’ lifestyle, health needs, and family goals. She frequently invites adult children, financial planners, attorneys, and tax professionals into the conversation to ensure every client’s plan is comprehensive and sustainable.
Deep Roots in the Community
Mary Jo is an active leader in Marin County’s retirement and nonprofit communities. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of 100MARIN, a philanthropic giving circle supporting local nonprofits, and previously sat on the Board of LilyPad Homes, a nonprofit helping seniors age in place by creating income from accessory dwelling units created with unused existing space. She has also partnered with organizations such as Marin Villages, Kaiser Permanente, the Professional Fiduciaries Association of California, the Marin Center for Independent Living, and The Key (formerly Tender Rose) to educate seniors and their families about in-home care, downsizing strategies, and retirement transitions.
Her dedication extends beyond her clients—she is a frequent speaker at Financial Planning Association (FPA) events and an educator within senior resource networks, always advocating for the smart and strategic use of home equity to strengthen retirement outcomes.
Living the Marin Lifestyle
Mary Jo doesn’t just work in Marin—she thrives in her community. You’ll often find her hiking the iconic Dipsea Trail, exploring the redwoods in Muir Woods, or kayaking along Tomales Bay. She also enjoys local gatherings at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard, Sweetwater Music Hall, and Marin Art & Garden Center. Staying connected to the community allows her to better understand her clients’ retirement dreams—whether it’s aging gracefully at home, downsizing to be closer to family, or simply enjoying the lifestyle they love without financial stress.
Professional Affiliations
Mary Jo’s professional reach spans both local and national levels. In the Bay Area, she is an engaged member of the Marin County Estate Planning Council, Marin County Bar Association (Platinum Sponsor), ProVisors North Bay Chapter, and the Marin County Section on Aging. She also collaborates closely with real estate and senior service networks to ensure families receive well-rounded support.
Nationally, she holds affiliations with the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA), Academy for Home Equity in Financial Planning, Financial Planning Association, and Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts(IDFA). Her thought leadership has been featured in Barron’s and through speaking engagements with The American College of Financial Services.
Guiding Clients Through Life’s Transitions
Whether helping a retiree eliminate their monthly mortgage payment for increased liquidity, supporting a family navigating long-term care decisions, or assisting heirs in equitably dividing a family home, Mary Jo provides clarity in moments that often feel overwhelming. She is especially skilled at using reverse mortgages as a buffer asset during market downturns, funding in-home care, and creating liquidity for retirement dreams.
Her goal is always the same: to give her clients peace of mind, financial stability, and the freedom to truly enjoy their retirement years.
Mary Jo is also a specialist and educator on the FHA Lifestyle Loan, which is an FHA version of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) that enables those over the age of 62 to purchase their retirement dream home — without using all their cash from the sale of the previous home, and without taking on a monthly mortgage payment during their Golden Years. To learn more about how the FHA-insured Lifestyle Loan can help you right-size to free up cash, move closer to family, or spend more time traveling, call Mary Jo. She can prepare a personalized program comparison for you to review.
