The National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) 2011 Annual Meeting & Expo in Boston is coming up next month, promising to offer a thorough look into what’s new in the reverse mortgage world, as well as some surprises.
In addition to presentations from Department of Housing and Urban Development leadership and representatives from the financial planning community, NRMLA will unveil some brand new industry initiatives, which it has kept quiet on—until now.
Conference-goers will get a first look at NRMLA’s consumer-facing website, an initiative that has been kept largely under wraps during development, as NRMLA wants its launch to be a surprise, says Marty Bell, senior vice president, marketing and communications for NRMLA.
NRMLA will also roll out a messaging campaign as part of its consumer website, says Bell, but he wouldn’t share too many details, saying it will be completely new to the industry.
In light of the down economy, this year’s conference will be largely focused on sales.
“There are a lot of good ideas out there, and we always try to share the best ideas from members with the other members,” he says.
The conference panels will be largely sales-oriented, with speakers detailing successful sales techniques and marketing ideas.
“We are also focusing on the bigger picture of reverse mortgages, and how they fit into the overall concept of retirement funding,” Bell says.
A panel addressing the retirement funding gap and the use of home equity will be presented by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, which earlier this year formed a strategic relationship with NRMLA.
Part of the conference will be region-specific, including a presentation on the status of a reverse mortgage bill in Massachusetts.
“We’ve learned that what happens in one part of the company often happens in other parts of the country,” says Bell.
Carol Galante, the acting Federal Housing Administration commissioner, will speak on the latest developments to the HECM program, and NRMLA’s counsel, James Brodsky of Weiner Brodsky Sidman Kider PC, will give his annual update on the regulatory environment.
Additional speakers will be announced leading up to the conference, which expects close to 600 attendees at Boston’s Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel on Oct. 24 – 26.
Written by Alyssa Gerace
