Another Way to Pay for Long-Term Care with Harlan Accola

To address this gap, families are encouraged to expand their planning tools. One strategy Accola highlights is to tap housing wealth through reverse mortgages. Because many retirees have significant equity tied up in their homes, a reverse mortgage can unlock funds without requiring monthly payments. These tax-free dollars can be used to pay for in-home care, cover long-term care insurance premiums, or bridge the gap between retirement income and care costs. It also allows individuals to remain at home longer—often delaying or avoiding the need for costly facility care—and preserves retirement accounts for the surviving spouse.

Accola emphasizes that reverse mortgages are not a universal solution, but they should be included in the suite of planning options that families evaluate, alongside insurance, savings strategies, and Medicaid planning. Far too many households ignore the issue entirely or assume Medicare will handle it.

As long-term care needs continue to rise, proactive planning is no longer optional. Exploring the full range of financial tools available can reduce stress, protect surviving spouses, and provide dignity and stability during the later stages of life.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• I’m 66 and plan to retire at 70. I can take full Social Security at 66 and 10 months. Should I start benefits now while continuing to work full-time, or wait? If I take it now, should I place the funds in an IUL, an IBC strategy, or invest through my Edward Jones account?
• I’ve borrowed from my 401(k) several times over the past decade and paid myself interest. Since I hate paying interest on loans like auto loans, is borrowing from my 401(k) a better option than taking a regular loan? If an auto loan is at 5–6%, would it be better to borrow directly from the bank?
• If I make small extra payments each month on my mortgage and loan, is that roughly equivalent to making a single lump-sum principal payment each year, or does the timing make a difference?
• I have a question about IRA beneficiaries. If someone inherits an IRA, what would the tax implications be, and is there a better way to pass the money on than simply naming a beneficiary?
• My husband and I are 45 and 50, and we’re considering a 1031 exchange on a property with about $250,000 in capital gains and $15,000 remaining on the mortgage. Should we move forward with the exchange, or would a different strategy make more sense?

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• Movement Mortgage
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)
• FaithFi App