Bob Tranchell, RICP®
Home Equity Retirement Specialist | Mutual of Omaha Mortgage
The Overlooked Asset in Retirement Planning
As of Q2 2024, baby boomers collectively hold more than $17 trillion in home equity
(HousingWire, 2024). Despite this, financial advisors often treat housing wealth as a legacy
asset or last resort rather than a strategic component of retirement planning. This traditional
view overlooks an essential fact: home equity is one of the few assets that can be
accessed without reducing portfolio growth, income generation, or lifestyle flexibility.
Through the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), advisors can unlock this dormant
asset to provide their clients with stability and control.
HECM Defined
The HECM is an FHA-insured home equity loan available to homeowners age 62 and older.
Unlike traditional loans, it offers flexible repayment options, a line of credit that grows annually
regardless of home value, and tax-free* proceeds (*consult tax advisor). As a result, the HECM
is less a borrowing tool and more a risk management and planning instrument, particularly
relevant in the distribution phase of retirement.
Managing Sequence of Returns Risk
One of the greatest threats to portfolio sustainability is sequence-of-returns risk—the danger
of experiencing market downturns early in retirement. Research has consistently shown that
incorporating home equity can significantly improve retirement outcomes:
• Pfau (2015): Coordinating withdrawals with a HECM line of credit improved the probability of
portfolio success compared to relying solely on investment assets.
• Evensky (2016): Using home equity as a “buffer asset” increases survivability of the
portfolio, allowing more aggressive equity allocations without increasing risk.
• Giordano (2016): Positioning home equity early—rather than as a last resort—creates a
reserve asset that enhances flexibility during volatile markets.
Applications in Comprehensive Retirement Planning
HECMs are uniquely adaptable and can address multiple planning challenges:
• Healthcare & LTC Planning: Fund premiums, reduce premiums, or create a self-insurance
reserve.
• Social Security Optimization: Bridge income to delay benefits to age 70.
• Tax Efficiency: Support Roth conversions, reduce provisional taxation, provide liquidity for
capital gains strategies.
• Housing Transitions: Downsize, upsize, or lateral moves without depleting portfolios.
• Cash Flow Relief: Eliminate mortgage payments to improve lifestyle and security.
The Paradigm Shift for Advisors
The old paradigm positioned HECMs as a last resort. The new paradigm recognizes home
equity as a core asset class within retirement planning. By incorporating HECMs early,
advisors can improve portfolio longevity, enhance tax efficiency, and deliver higher confidence
to clients.
As Harold Evensky, Ph.D., noted in the Journal of Financial Planning:
“Our studies indicate this will significantly increase the survivability of the portfolio in
retirement.”
Conclusion
For financial planners and RICPs, integrating HECMs is no longer optional—it’s a professional
responsibility. Ignoring $17 trillion in client assets risks leaving strategies incomplete. By
treating home equity as a strategic reserve, advisors can deliver holistic, resilient, and
tax-efficient retirement plans.
Bob Tranchell, RICP®
Home Equity Retirement Specialist
[email protected] | 833-411-HECM (4326)
Citations
• Wade Pfau, *Incorporating Home Equity into a Retirement Income Strategy*, Journal of
Financial Planning, 2015.
• Harold Evensky, Ph.D., Journal of Financial Planning, Editorial Review Board.
• Shelley Giordano, *An Alternative Buffer Asset*, Retirement Management Journal, 2016.
• HousingWire, *The Silver Tsunami: Housing Wealth Will Mostly Stay in the Family*, 2024.
• Journal of Financial Planning, *Healthcare Costs Lead Planners’ Concerns About Clients’
Retirement Security*, March 2025.
*Please consult a tax advisor.
Bob Tranchell, NMLS ID 286716. Mutual of Omaha Mortgage, Inc. dba Mutual of Omaha Reverse Mortgage, NMLS ID 1025894. 3131 Camino Del Rio N 1100, San Diego, CA 92108. Connecticut Mortgage Lender License ML-1025894. Florida Mortgage Lender Servicer License MLD1827. Maine Supervised Lender License 1025894. Massachusetts Mortgage Broker and Lender License MC1025894. Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department, Mortgage Banker License 1025894MB. Licensed by the New Jersey Banking and Insurance Department. New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lender License 1025894. Pennsylvania Mortgage Lender License 72932. Rhode Island Lender License 20163229LL. Rhode Island Loan Broker License 20163230LB. Virginia Mortgage Broker and Lender License, NMLS ID #1025894 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). These materials are not from HUD or FHA and the document was not approved by HUD, FHA or any Government Agency. Subject to credit approval. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org
Equal Housing Lender