To help members connect and learn from one another, NRMLA regularly features professionals from across the reverse mortgage ecosystem in its Member Spotlight series.
This edition highlights Jackson Matheson, a loan officer with Fairway Home Mortgage, based in Nashville, TN.
After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in May 2014, Jackson spent the next six years as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army, including two years as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division.
After leaving the military, he landed a job at Fairway Home Mortgage originating traditional mortgages and then later transitioned to reverse mortgages. More recently, Jackson played a pivotal role getting legislation introduced and passed in the Tennessee legislature to update the state’s reverse mortgage law to permit proprietary reverse mortgages.
Q: You went from West Point to the Army to reverse mortgages—how did that transition happen?
A: I always planned to be in the Army long-term. That was my dream growing up, and even after graduating from West Point, I didn’t really have any other career plans. But during my time in the military—especially after getting married and going through a significant faith journey—I began to feel called in a different direction. Leaving the Army was by far the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t go straight into reverse mortgages—I entered the mortgage industry because I needed a job and had a family connection at Fairway. After about 18–24 months as a traditional loan officer, I discovered reverse mortgages almost by accident. That’s when things shifted from “this is my next job” to “this could be my career.” What really drew me in was financial strategy. I enjoy looking at how reverse mortgages fit into a broader retirement plan. That’s what I’m passionate about—not just the loan itself, but how it can be used strategically.
Q: How did your involvement in Tennessee legislation around reverse mortgages begin?
A: It started with a problem. I began working with higher-value clients, but many of them couldn’t qualify for a HECM because of the mortgage amounts on their homes. After digging into it, I realized Tennessee didn’t allow proprietary or jumbo reverse mortgages—not because of investor limitations, but because of state law. After running into this multiple times, I decided the law needed to be changed. I didn’t really know what that meant at first, but I reached out to the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association (TMBA) with a detailed explanation of the issue and a proposed solution. They were supportive, and we decided to pursue it. I wrote the initial draft of the bill over the summer of 2025—just late nights of research and writing. From there, it became a team effort involving the TMBA, lobbyists, regulators, and other industry professionals, especially Nathan Guerrero out of Chattanooga, who’s been in the reverse mortgage business a lot longer than me and was an essential resource. The bill has since passed both chambers in the Tennessee legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
Q: What surprised you most about the legislative process?
A: Honestly, how accessible legislators are. Before this, I didn’t even know who my local representative was. But once I got involved, I realized they’re very open to meeting with constituents and hearing concerns. It’s not a fast process—it took 18 months—but the system does work. There’s definitely bureaucracy, but I was encouraged to see that if you’re persistent and collaborative, you can make progress.
Q: What advice would you give to others who want to get involved in advocacy?
A: First, if you’re not advocating for your industry, no one else will. It’s your responsibility. Second, advocacy is a team sport. Get involved with your industry associations—they provide resources, relationships, and structure that are critical. And finally, don’t assume your local representatives are inaccessible. They’re not. Reach out, introduce yourself, and start building those relationships. It’s easier than people think. A lot of people get fixated on national issues. They are important, but in terms of you personally and your quality of life, your local school board, your city council, your state representatives, those people impact your family and your neighborhood way more than whatever decisions are happening in Washington, D.C.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about working in reverse mortgages?
A: I love helping people understand financial strategy. A lot of people need guidance when it comes to retirement planning, and I enjoy walking them through their options so they can make informed decisions. I also love that “lightbulb moment” when everything clicks for someone. It never gets old. Even though I have similar conversations every day, I genuinely enjoy seeing people connect the dots.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
A: Right now, most of my time is spent with my family. I have three kids under five, including a newborn, so life is pretty full. Even outside of work, I tend to stay engaged with financial education—reading, listening to webinars, and refining my approach. I used to ride motorcycles and golf more, but those hobbies are on pause for now. It’s a busy season, but it’s a good one.
