To help our members get to know one another, NRMLA publishes periodic member spotlights featuring professionals from across the reverse mortgage ecosystem.
Meet Kimberly Gedstad, MBA, PhD, CRMP, who recently joined Guaranteed Rate as a reverse mortgage specialist.
Prior to entering the mortgage business in 2015, Kimberly studied holistic health, longevity, and leadership at Cornell, Notre Dame, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
She remains active in promoting health and wellness activities. Her health coaching philosophy centers on the understanding that true wealth cannot exist without vibrant health, and that financial stress is one of the greatest threats to physical and emotional wellbeing.
What has been your biggest professional challenge/obstacle thus far? How did you overcome/handle it?
Navigating the complexities of finance with families during deeply emotional moments has been both my greatest challenge and greatest teacher. Helping older homeowners make decisions that affect the rest of their lives requires more than financial knowledge—it takes compassion, intuition, and deep respect. I overcame this by anchoring to what matters most: truly listening, honoring their stories, and becoming a calm, clear guide.
What do you consider to be your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Being part of the journey where older homeowners reclaim peace of mind—whether it’s through a reverse mortgage or accessing equity for healthcare, travel, or legacy—is a sacred accomplishment. But the moment that stands out most? Earning the trust of NRMLA, and working toward my CRMP designation. It’s more than a title to me—it’s the highest honor in our field.
If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who wants to get into the reverse mortgage world, what would it be and why?
Fall in love with the responsibility. This work is not just financial—it’s generational. It’s the space between someone’s dignity and their next breath of freedom. Stay humble, stay curious, and always put the homeowner’s life story before the numbers. The reward will come in trust earned and lives touched.
Who has been a mentor to you in your career? How has their work impacted yours?
I’m so blessed to feel God’s whisper guiding every step of my journey. That divine nudge has helped me hold steady in uncertain times and dream boldly in the face of obstacles. I also want to acknowledge Ray—my husband and trusted business partner. When a loan scenario seems blocked or hits a wall, Ray has a unique ability to step in, recalculate, and find surprising win-win solutions. His strategic, numbers-driven mindset has brought clarity and breakthroughs where others might give up. Professionally, I’ve been deeply influenced by some extraordinary people: Lorraine Geraci, C.P.C. explained it all—then Rob Balmer made it real. Dennis Loxton found us and gave us the space to shine. Charith Rodrigo truly believed in us and saw our heart. Jesse Allen drove us to new frontiers and pushed us to stretch what we believed was possible. Peter Klamkin at CMG has unwavering faith in what we’re building. Tom Selleck—whether he knows it or not—became the trusted face of an industry I’m proud to serve in. And Darryl Hicks was incredibly patient as I pursued what I saw as the highest honor in our field—becoming a CRMP and serving NRMLA with all my heart. My mother has always been the wind beneath my wings—steady, faithful, and deeply rooted in love. And my children have been my light; they’ve always believed their mom could fix anything, and that belief has carried me through every challenge with courage and grace.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies or pursuits?
My favorite moments are still the ones I dreamed about as a child—organizing ‘office’ supplies next to my dolls, playing pretend business, and imagining the day I would publish books and blend my love of holistic business and body—what I now call ‘healthy money.’ These days, I enjoy breathing fresh air on tree-covered paths or in secret gardens, witnessing the evolving stages of my children’s and grandchildren’s lives, laughing, and deep learning. I’m passionate about helping my children embrace the evolving world of AI—not with fear, but with curiosity and courage. COVID may have brought us further online, but I believe it opened a door to transformation. I want to witness miracles—from new kidney possibilities for my son to breakthroughs in health, wealth, and technology for families everywhere. I want to dream through it and help everyone I can. I am now embracing social media to educate the masses, teach those who may not have access to resources, and step out of my comfort zone to share my years of training, studies, and knowledge in health, wealth, and financial planning.
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
I’d trade places with one of my grandmothers—either one—during a pivotal time in their life. To understand how they managed family, faith, and business during a time of limited opportunity for women would be such a gift. I think I’d come back with even more reverence for the strength in my
own DNA.
Why did you become a NRMLA member?
From the time I was a little girl tagging along to Rotary meetings, Catholic Daughters, Chat-n-Chew baking clubs, hospital volunteer shifts, and polka parties in the nursing homes—watching my grandma play her accordion and deliver fresh-baked bread to preserve our Slavic roots—I knew I was drawn to purpose-driven work that brings people peace and dignity. Becoming a NRMLA member was never just about a title—it was about aligning with the highest standard in the industry and stepping into a sacred calling. I remember when AAG and Tom Selleck exited the reverse mortgage space—it hit me harder than I expected. Tom had become more than a spokesperson; he was a trusted guardian for so many elders, representing the security and respect we all strive to offer. I even had a life-sized cutout of him by my front door—as a lighthearted ‘bodyguard,’ but also a reminder of the trust our industry holds. He probably doesn’t realize how many lives he helped protect under the reverse mortgage umbrella. I do, though. I’ve been honored to study great minds, like Dr. Wade Pfau, Dan Hultquist, and Don Graves, whose work continues to deepen my knowledge and spiritual commitment to this path. I even published my own book on the topic, to further equip families with clarity and hope (view on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fcpwMyM). For me, this journey is guided by one mission: ‘Following God’s whisper, the Holy Spirit, embrace the loving arms of your family to help all human beings and make the world a better place.’
