Bill Packer, Longbridge Financial COO, named a 2026 HousingWire Insider. * Aug 4, 2026 Updated 49 mins ago Longbridge Financial, a nationally recognized mortgage lender and servicer focused on helping older homeowners access their home equity, today announced that Chief Operating Officer Bill Packer has been named to HousingWire's 2026 Insiders, a national recognition honoring 85 operational leaders whose work drives innovation and measurable results across the housing industry. Bill Packer, Chief Operating Officer of Longbridge Financial, has been named a 2026 HousingWire Insider, a national recognition honoring operational leaders whose work drives innovation and measurable results across the housing industry. Now in its 11th year, HousingWire's Insiders award recognizes the professionals whose behind-the-scenes work fuels innovation, strengthens organizations and delivers business results. Honorees were selected by HousingWire's committee based on the significance of their contributions, their leadership in execution and the measurable impact they have made within their organizations and across the industry. Packer earned the recognition for his role advancing Longbridge's operational and technology strategy over the past year. As COO, he has led the adoption of AI-powered tools and workflow innovations that improve efficiency, strengthen scalability and enhance the borrower experience, from AI empowered programs [LV1] [TC2] to automated pre-underwriting capabilities developed through technology partnerships. He has done so while maintaining the rigorous compliance standards required in a highly regulated lending environment. "Bill sees where this industry is heading and he builds for it," said Chris Mayer, PhD, CEO of Longbridge Financial. "He has a rare gift for taking new technology and turning it into something that genuinely makes life easier for our borrowers, our wholesale customers, and our internal teams. This honor is well earned, and it reflects the kind of leader he is every single day." "You do not always see the work Bill does, but you feel it in everything from how quickly we can serve a customer to how confidently our teams show up," said Melissa Macerato, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer at Longbridge Financial. "He makes everyone around him better, and this recognition shines a light on someone who spends most of his time making sure everyone else shines first." Beyond Longbridge, Packer is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, including its newly formed Senior Mortgage Solutions Network, where he collaborates with industry leaders to advance senior home equity lending. The 2026 Insiders class spans mortgage lending and servicing, real estate, technology and finance. The award celebrates professionals who solve complex challenges and lead critical initiatives behind the scenes, work that is essential both to their organizations and to the continued advancement of the housing industry. About Longbridge Financial Longbridge Financial, LLC (NMLS #957935), is a nationally recognized mortgage lender and servicer focused on helping older homeowners access their home equity through flexible, responsible lending solutions designed to support a more secure retirement. Founded in 2012 and led by a respected Ivy League professor, the company combines deep industry expertise with a strong commitment to education, innovation, and transparency. Guided by a mission to empower aging Americans, Longbridge Financial provides the tools and insights they need to help make confident financial decisions in or near retirement. Media gallery Sections. Newsletters. News update. Would you like to receive its daily news? Signup today!

Longbridge Financial CEO chris Mayer earns fourth consecutive Inman Best of Finance Award. Award marks continued recognition of Mayer's leadership in expanding home equity access and retirement security for older Americans Christopher Mayer, PhD, CEO of Longbridge Financial and Paul Milstein Professor Emeritus of Real Estate at Columbia Business School, has been named an Inman Best of Finance Award winner for the fourth consecutive year. PARAMUS, N.J.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Longbridge Financial, a leading national mortgage lender and servicer specializing in home equity solutions for older Americans, today announced that CEO Christopher Mayer, PhD, has been named to Inman's 2026 Best of Finance list for the fourth consecutive year. "Older Americans are sitting on record levels of home equity at a time when retirement savings gaps have never been more visible." - Christopher Mayer, PhD, CEO, Longbridge Financial Share The annual award recognizes top executives, advisors, and entrepreneurs transforming the residential lending and real estate finance sectors. Under Mayer's leadership, Longbridge has expanded its proprietary product suite, including Platinum Preserve, and in 2025 launched HELOC For Seniors(R), the first-of-its-kind HELOC product designed specifically to meet the needs of older homeowners. "Being recognized by Inman four years in a row is a great honor, and it's a reflection of the team we've built at Longbridge," Mayer said. "We remain focused on developing responsible, flexible solutions that give older homeowners more choices and more confidence as they look to live their best life in retirement." Mayer, an economist and emeritus professor at Columbia Business School, has led Longbridge's growth from a startup in 2013 to one of the nation's largest reverse mortgage lender and the largest wholesale lender. The company's portfolio includes Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), its proprietary Platinum suite of products, and HELOC For Seniors. Product innovation at Longbridge comes against a backdrop of growing financial pressure, and opportunity, for older Americans. According to the NRMLA/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index, homeowners 62 and older are sitting on a record $14.66 trillion in home equity as of Q3 2025. Yet a 2025 Vanguard study found that only about 40% of baby boomers nearing retirement are expected to have sufficient wealth to maintain their lifestyle - suggesting that for millions of seniors, home equity may be their most underutilized financial asset. It's a gap Longbridge is building products to address. "The data paints a clear picture - older Americans are sitting on record levels of home equity at a time when retirement savings gaps have never been more visible. At Longbridge, we're building products that help seniors turn their largest asset into lasting financial security, with the choice and dignity they deserve." The full list of Inman's 2026 Best of Finance honorees is available at Inman.com. About Longbridge Financial Longbridge Financial, LLC (NMLS #957935), is a nationally recognized mortgage lender and servicer focused on helping older homeowners access their home equity through flexible, responsible lending solutions designed to support a more secure retirement. Founded in 2012 and led by a respected Ivy League professor, the company combines deep industry expertise with a strong commitment to education, innovation, and transparency. Guided by a mission to empower aging Americans, Longbridge Financial provides the tools and insights they need to help make confident financial decisions in or near retirement.

Ask the Pros: deciphering the reverse mortgage amortization schedule and TALC. Reverse mortgages can come with a lot of moving parts - and if you've ever looked at terms like "amortization schedule" or "TALC," you're not alone if you've had questions. That's exactly why Longbridge Financial, LLC created Ask the Pros: to break down complex topics into clear, easy-to-understand insights you can actually use. In each installment, Longbridge Financial, LLC tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience of the Longbridge team to help demystify how these loans really work behind the scenes. No jargon, no guesswork - just straightforward explanations to help you better understand your options. In this installment of Ask the Pros, Longbridge Mortgage Trainer, Julie Melser, walks Longbridge Financial, LLC through two important but complex components of reverse mortgages. Let's dive into its discussion with Julie! Q: What is a reverse mortgage amortization schedule and how does it differ from the amortization schedule of a traditional mortgage? A: A reverse mortgage amortization schedule is essentially a projection tool. It shows how key elements of the loan may change over time, including the loan balance, available line of credit[1] (if applicable), estimated home value, and remaining equity. These projections are typically displayed annually and often extend out to an advanced age - commonly around age 100. Because many reverse mortgages have adjustable rates, these schedules are based on assumptions, such as an expected average interest rate and projected home appreciation. In other words, they're designed to illustrate possible outcomes. By comparison, a traditional mortgage amortization schedule maps out a fixed repayment plan over a set period (like 15 or 30 years), showing how each monthly payment is split between principal and interest. Over time, the balance steadily declines to zero. Since many traditional mortgages have fixed rates, these schedules can be more predictable, assuming payments are made as agreed. Q: Why is the amortization schedule important for reverse mortgage borrowers? A: For reverse mortgage borrowers, the amortization schedule offers valuable insight into how the loan may evolve over time. It shows how the loan balance can grow as interest and any mortgage insurance are added, and how the timing of funds taken - whether as a lump sum, monthly payments, or line-of-credit draws[1] - impacts what is owed. At the same time, it can also illustrate how voluntary repayments may reduce the balance. And while monthly mortgage payments are optional with a reverse mortgage, borrowers must, of course, meet their loan obligations, such as keeping current with property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Having this visibility helps borrowers compare different ways of accessing their equity and better understand how those decisions might affect their remaining home equity down the road. It can also support longer-term planning by offering a clearer picture of potential loan balances and equity positions at different points in time. Q: What is the TALC, and why is it important for reverse mortgage borrowers to understand? A: The TALC, or Total Annual Loan Cost, is a required disclosure designed to give borrowers a projected, "all-in" annualized cost of a reverse mortgage over time. Unlike a standard Truth-in-Lending (TIL) disclosure - which focuses primarily on finance charges - the TALC includes all costs associated with the loan. It's presented in a table or matrix that shows how the cost may vary based on factors like how long you stay in the home and how your home's value changes. "Because these variables can't be predicted with certainty, the TALC is an estimate. However, it plays an important role in helping borrowers avoid focusing solely on interest rates. It also helps set expectations by showing how upfront costs, ongoing mortgage insurance (if applicable), interest accrual, and home appreciation may impact the overall cost of the loan. Q: What factors influence the TALC? A: This is an important question! The TALC isn't a one-size-fits-all number - it's influenced by several moving pieces that work together to shape the overall cost of the loan over time. Some of the biggest factors include: * The borrower's age and how long they expect to keep the loan (shorter timeframes can make upfront costs appear higher on an annual basis) * Assumptions about home value growth over time * Interest rate projections, particularly for adjustable-rate loans * The amount and timing of funds accessed * Upfront costs, such as origination fees, closing costs, and any upfront mortgage insurance * Ongoing costs added to the loan balance, like mortgage insurance or servicing fees (if applicable) * Any voluntary payments[2] made by the borrower, which can help reduce the balance and future costs When you look at all of these together, it becomes clear why the TALC is presented as a range of scenarios rather than a single number. It's designed to help you understand how different choices - and changing conditions - can impact the long-term cost of your loan, so you can make a more informed decision. Q: What are the key differences between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate reverse mortgages when it comes to the TALC and amortization schedule? A: While fixed-rate and adjustable-rate reverse mortgages may look similar at closing, they can behave quite differently over time - especially when you look at the amortization schedule and TALC. With a fixed-rate reverse mortgage, the interest rate is locked in. This makes the projected growth of the loan balance more predictable, and the TALC estimates are generally less sensitive to changes since the rate is known from the start. Adjustable-rate reverse mortgages, on the other hand, often include a line of credit[1] and come with more variables. As a result, the amortization schedule and TALC for adjustable-rate loans are more flexible - but also more dependent on assumptions. Ultimately, the more uncertainty there is around future rates and borrowing behavior, the more important it is to view both the amortization schedule and TALC as helpful planning tools rather than exact predictions. Thank you, Julie, for helping break down these complex concepts! If you're interested in learning more about reverse mortgages or want to explore your options, its team is here to help. A Longbridge reverse mortgage consultant can walk you through the details, answer your questions, and help you determine what makes sense for your financial goals - so you can move forward with confidence. [1] Borrowers who elect a fixed rate loan will receive a single disbursement lump sum payment. Other payment options are available only for adjustable-rate mortgages. [2] You must meet your loan obligations, such as keeping current with property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Receive a free information kit. To qualify, must be 62 or older Proceeds based on appraised home value. 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