As many of you are keenly aware, the advent of April marks the end of the fixed-rate Standard HECM—for now, at least. Much of the content in this April edition of TRR addresses this fact, as several of our contributors assess various ways the industry can evolve without its most popular product.

Nationwide Equity’s Ed O’Connor talks about the need for reverse professionals to develop some ingenuity to survive in the face of this change. Thinking outside the box, O’Connor says, and welcoming new players with innovative ideas, will enable this business to thrive.

Maverick Funding’s Joshua Shein encourages readers to study up on the benefits of the fixed Saver and the Standard ARM, reminding us that there are still thousands of seniors out there who could benefit from a reverse. Plus, he points out, “The HECM product has been around since 1986 and grew profitably for many years without the fixed Standard option.”

One Reverse’s Mark Acchione sheds some light on how the secondary market will fare in the wake of the moratorium. “Back-end premiums for the prevailing Standard ARM margin have crept up significantly over the past six months with the fixed Saver following suit,” Acchione writes. “The timing couldn’t be better for an industry that is refocusing its efforts back to the ARM market.” According to Acchione, investor demand on Wall Street shows no signs of fading. “Fixed or ARM, smart investors love the HECM story and demand will always be present.”

However the story plays out, it seems that many are confident that the reverse sector will evolve—as it always has—despite the challenge. As the industry adjusts, The Reverse Review will be here, chronicling the process and encouraging conversation about how the reverse mortgage product can better serve our nation’s seniors.