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.
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Not that many years ago while in Wyoming, our windshield was hit by a rather large rock traveling in the opposite direction a little slower than our car was moving. The bang sent shivers done my spine. There was a small crack.
We saw Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and the great town of Jackson Hole. It was interesting and my kids saw everything from elk nosing on our car windows and sliding down a steep incline, to buffalo grazing next to our car. While I trembled they even ran with elk for a few thousand feet. What we did not see was the growth in that crack.
We were lucky that small crack did not end up ruining our vacation. So sometimes we need to pay attention to those cracks that develop and grow.
That story is much like the pattern of endorsement stagnation that has grown over the last five years. Rather than seeing it for what it was, a growing crack, we blamed stagnation on everything from lower principal limits to financial assessment. Yet for some reason we see endorsement growth this year that is part of the pattern of hills and valleys this stagnation has resulted in..
Will the “endorsement” crack be fixed before the end of fiscal 2018 (i.e., by the end of next fiscal year)? Those who say “yes” or “no” cannot both be right. For now fiscal 2018 is too far into the future for anyone to be all that sure. Hopefully by the time of the NRMLA Conference in San Francisco late fall we have a handle on that crack to see if stagnation continues or the windshield has finally been replaced.