Tag: home equity

Senior man calculating finances

Introduction Many of today’s workers are at risk of having insufficient resources in retirement. The reason for this gloomy picture is a rapidly changing retirement landscape defined by a rising Social Security retirement age, a sharp decline in traditional pensions coupled with modest 401(k) balances, and longer life spans. Yet, in spite of these trends,…

Senior man calculating finances

Introduction Housing equity is the most important asset for the vast majority of Americans. In principle, this asset might be used to support consumption in retirement. Reverse mortgages were envisioned as a mechanism that would allow older people to consume their housing equity without selling their homes. Yet this market is extremely small — less…