Is All Debt Bad? Dan Hultquist

by Shannon Hicks
| 2 Comments
| September 27, 2021

Part 2

<h2 class="p1">Without audience targeting are Google Ads Dead? Think again…</h2> Early this month Google announced new restrictions for targeting specific audiences. The restrictions apply to content related to housing, employment, credit, and those who are disproportionately affected by societal biases. The news of these restrictions created quite a stir among industry brokers and lenders who heavily rely upon targeted Google ad campaigns. All which may have you asking if these changes will kill future reverse mortgage advertising on the world’s most popular search engine. In just a moment we’ll hear from our online SEO expert Josh Johnson to find out. <a onclick="read_toggle(1739691060, 'Read More', 'Read Less'); return false;" class="read-link" id="readlink1739691060" style="readlink" href="#">Read More</a> <div class="read_div" id="read1739691060" style="display: none;"> Google’s restrictions are not necessarily novel nor unexpected. It was just over two years ago Facebook faced scrutiny from federal regulators for allowing those offering credit or housing finance to restrict ad audiences by race or religion among other questionable metrics that would violate HUD’s fair housing rules. An investigation by ProPublica broke this news in October 2016. It was nearly two years later in August 2018 that HUD filed a formal complaint against the social media giant for discriminatory advertising practices. Seven months after HUD’s complaint Facebook announced sweeping changes. Both Facebook and later Google, took a blunt approach much to the chagrin of lenders and service providers. What ad filters are going away? In its official release Google revealed, “credit products or services can no longer be targeted to audiences based on gender, age, parental status, marital status, or ZIP code.” Is this the end of Google ads for reverse mortgages? To answer that question I reached out to Josh Johnson who heads up Reverse Focus’ Online Dominance SEO program and Google marketing. Here’s his explanation. Here’s what makes Google unique from other platforms and why reverse mortgage Google ads will continue to reach the intended audience. To summarize, older homeowners are intentionally seeking out reverse mortgage information on Google which means, yes-your ads will be seen by your target audience, even though you can no longer target specific age groups. <img decoding="async" class="wp-image-21372 alignnone" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-300x169.jpeg" alt="" width="691" height="389" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.004.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px" /><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-21373" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" width="681" height="383" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.001.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /> <img decoding="async" class="alignright size-large wp-image-21374" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.002.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img decoding="async" class="alignright size-large wp-image-21375" src="https://apirodev.com/reverse-mortgage-news/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://www.hecmworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/In-post-pix.003.jpeg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </div>

Is all debt bad? An interview with Dan Hultquist

Is all debt bad or are there times when debt can work to your advantage? Also, the pressures today’s retirees face.

Editor in Chief: HECMWorld.com

As a prominent commentator and Editor in Chief at HECMWorld.com, Shannon Hicks has played a pivotal role in reshaping the conversation around reverse mortgages. His unique perspectives and deep understanding of the industry have not only educated countless readers but has also contributed to introducing practical strategies utilizing housing wealth with a reverse mortgage.

Shannon’s journey into the world of reverse mortgages began in 2002 as an originator and his prior work in the financial services industry. Shannon has been covering reverse mortgage news stories since 2008 when he launched the podcast HECMWorld Weekly. Later, in 2010 he began producing the weekly video series The Industry Leader Update and Friday’s Food for Thought.

Readers wishing to submit stories or interview requests can reach our team at: info@hecmworld.com.

2 Comments

James McCarron
September 27, 2021 at 5:45 am
Audio poor, difficult to understand
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RMAdvisor@gmail.com
September 27, 2021 at 1:53 pm
It is clear that not all debt is bad even Dave Ramsey modifies his position when it comes to affordable mortgages as does Suze Orman.

Dave Ramsey is Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman is Suze Orman. Neither are all that well educated in financial matters. Both have ardent followers and both are overly aggressive.

Right now HUD’s portfolio of HECMs including those in assignment is shrinking. Since 2013, it has shrunk by over 20%. Proprietary reverse mortgages have yet to catch on to any degree at all. Further the average age of HECMs is increasing. Our overemphasis on refinances has resulted in slightly downward secular stagnation in the count of Traditional HECMs (in older terms, HECM Refinances) and H4Ps on a national basis. To the unbiased outside observer, we are a shrinking industry and even to some, appear to be a dying industry. Even our long-time industry investors are expressing concerns.

Characteristically some in leadership are trying to counter the dying image by exaggerating the potential size of the HECM endorsements for this calendar year. Some have estimated that the total will be 65,000 endorsements. Where that estimate is coming from is not clear. So far through August 2021, there are less than 34,000 HECM total endorsements BUT about 40% of those are HECM (or in older terms, HECM-to- HECM) Refinances. To get to 65,000 by the end of the year will require over 31,000 endorsements in this month (September 2021) and the following three months. We have not experienced a total of over 31,000 HECM endorsements for any four consecutive month period since December 2009. The average total endorsements for the first eight months of this calendar year is less than 4.200 HECM endorsements per month. Based on the HECM endorsement performance so far this year, getting past 52,000 total HECM endorsements for this calendar year seems unlikely at best. So why estimate total HECM endorsements at 25% higher than can be reasonably exected? What has been or will be gained by such exaggerations?

When it looks like the industry will produce less than 32,000 new borrowers this calendar year, why are we spending so much energy attacking one detractor? Would we not be much better off trying to demonstrate how reverse mortgages solve the cash flow needs of senior homeowners in retirement rather than stirring up our detractors? While I admire the efforts of Harlan and Dan, continued attacks against Dave Ramsey, in particular, could prove to be VERY, VERY counterproductive.
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