March-April 2021

EARLY IN HER career, Lyn Coffin, CRMP, was the closing notary for a real estate law firm, and she loved facilitating paperwork signings. When a loan officer position opened for a local lender, she got the job not for her experience but for her potential. She became the loan officer who was always handed the government loans—“VA, FHA, the toughies.” “I was always fighting for the underdog,” Lyn says. “I don’t think I did a conventional loan for about a year.” From that perspective of serving the underdog and navigating complexities, Lyn pivoted to reverse mort- gages in 2003. Today, she is a Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP) with Mortgage Network Inc. Lyn first learned about reverse mortgages when her mother-in-law was struggling to meet her monthly obliga- tions and drawing from her retirement savings. Together, they learned about reverse mortgages through an AARP publication, and it was “the perfect solution.” “I saw the impact it had on her peace of mind and her financial security,” Lyn says. “I continued to learn about them, eventually changing career paths.” In 2006, Lyn joined Bank of America to introduce branches to reverse mortgages as a viable option for some homeowners. When Bank of America closed its reverse mortgage division, she transitioned to Mortgage Network Inc. There, the firm wanted one person solely responsible for reverse mortgages. Lyn is now the authority ready to be of service and guidance to colleagues and their referral partners— the real estate agents, accountants, attorneys and bankers whose own clients weren’t helped by traditional mortgages—on the intri- cacies of reverse mortgages. She also takes direct client referrals, offering the opportunity to discuss a family’s hopes and dreams and, if warranted, originate a reverse mortgage. Lyn tries to serve as an inter- nal asset, available for consultation and services that help Mortgage Network Inc. deliver the precise mortgage prod- uct needed to serve customers’ needs. Her colleagues are her “boots on the ground,” sending warm referrals her way when a reverse mortgage seems like a possible solution. “It’s about being their dedicated originator and trying to be there with guidance and assistance when my colleagues feel they have someone who might benefit from an intro- ductory conversation about reverse mortgages,” says Lyn. She reminds younger loan officers, who often start cli- ent conversations with questions about the kids, to take the conversation to another level by adding aging parents to the dialogue. “I want everybody in my company to feel comfort- able knowing they can call me to help,” she says. “Helping Helping Others Re-envision the Future Through Reverse Mortgages A Chat With Lyn Coffin, CRMP By M. Diane McCormick CRMP: Across the Kitchen Table Lyn Coffin 16 REVERSE MORTGAGE / MARCH-APR I L 2021