Hi Jan,
Home equity gets treated like a simple backup plan, something to tap whenever cash is tight. But not all home equity access works the same way, and the differences matter most exactly when you need the money. This week we look at why a HELOC, despite being the cheaper option upfront, often isn't a reliable source of funds during a market downturn, and how a HECM line of credit is structured to hold up better under those same conditions. If you're thinking about home equity as part of your retirement income plan, the distinction is worth understanding before you need it.
| | | | Using Home Equity as a Retirement Buffer Asset Periods of financial stress can set the stage for difficult decisions for retirees, particularly when markets are down at the same time cash is needed for living expenses or an unexpected cost. Having another source of funds available can help reduce the need to sell investments after a decline and give the portfolio more time to recover.
By Retirement Researcher | | | | When Does a Reverse Mortgage Make Sense in a Retirement Plan? Housing decisions in retirement are rarely just about real estate. They sit at the intersection of lifestyle, health, and financial sustainability. In many cases, the success or failure of a retirement plan comes down to whether the home still fits the plan.
By McLean Asset Management
| | | | Why 100% Bonds May Not Be the Safest Retirement Portfolio
In this live YouTube Q&A, Alex and Wade field listener questions on Social Security survivor benefits after a remarriage, whether an all bond and CD portfolio still needs a small stock allocation, and how to time a Roth conversion when markets are volatile.
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