From his favorite vacation and the craziest thing he’s ever done to his thoughts about the reverse mortgage market, we get the facts from Martin Lenoir, chief marketing officer at AAG.
Ten years from now my kids will be in college and beyond, and my wife and I will be spending more time together and on our hobbies!
Something nobody knows about me is I used to speak Portuguese, but I forgot it before I was 10.
My favorite vacation was my honeymoon in Tahiti. I loved the warm, clear water; exotic setting; umbrella drinks—and being newly married!
If I were a professional athlete, I would be a triathlete. Not because I can swim, bike or run well—I just love the idea of being good at three things at once.
My first car was a Ford Explorer, when it just came out. My parents didn’t understand why I needed something so “big.”
The craziest thing I’ve ever done was take a job out of college that took me to the Sahara Desert in Algeria.
If I had three wishes they would be that my kids pursue life paths that make them happy, and that my wife and I continue to enjoy each other’s company forever. I guess I just wish those two things.
My favorite movie is Heat. Great cast and crazy action right from the start.
When I was younger I wanted to be a race car driver. That was all in my head; I’ve never been a great driver.
Every morning I have a caffeinated soda to get me going.
I can’t go without Coke Zero or Diet Coke.
When I was a kid my parents would speak to each other in English to keep secrets from my sister and I since we didn’t speak it yet.
I’ll never forget the time my wife and I met for our first date. We met in Denver for a long weekend, which included fireworks. (OK, it was the Fourth of July!)
My first job was moving furniture.
My favorite time of the day is when I first get home from work—the dog goes crazy, my kids all start to speak to me at once and everyone is so excited about the day they just had.
I’ve never watched a football game live, even though I went to school in Texas.
I always chew on my straw when I’m drinking, which for some reason drives my wife crazy.
The most memorable moment in my life was when my wife said yes—the third time I asked. We were resting in a snowbank at Sunshine Village in British Columbia.
My favorite book is The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.
For success I have sacrificed building deep roots in any one community as we’ve moved around.
The biggest challenge in the reverse mortgage industry is getting the media, other third parties and consumers to look at the risks and benefits objectively.
The future of reverse mortgages is finally bright. The product is safer and better than ever, at a time when more and more seniors could benefit from this great financial tool.
Ten years from now the reverse mortgage industry will be part of the financial system as it relates to how seniors plan for and manage their retirements.
People should seek a career in the reverse mortgage industry because they want to help seniors age in place and make a real difference in many people’s lives.
I am optimistic about the reverse mortgage industry because I think it’s only a matter of time now before large, influential voices start to talk about reverse mortgages in a neutral to positive way.
