Before a borrower can obtain a HECM reverse mortgage, they must complete independent counseling with a HUD-approved counselor. But how often do industry professionals have the opportunity to observe that conversation firsthand?
Coordinated by NRMLA’s Education Committee, join us on July 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a unique educational webinar featuring a live mock reverse mortgage counseling session.
Thursday, July 9
1:00-2:15 PM Eastern Time
This webinar is free for members and $50 for non-members
In this interactive demonstration, Justin Lally of Cambridge Credit Counseling will serve as the counselor, while Chris Downey of CrossCountry Mortgage and Alison Calamia of Guild Mortgage Company will assume the roles of a married couple exploring a reverse mortgage as part of their retirement planning strategy.
Through this realistic borrower scenario, attendees will experience the counseling process as consumers do—from the initial discussion of financial goals and alternatives to the questions, concerns, and disclosures that are addressed during a counseling session.
Participants will gain valuable insight into how counselors educate borrowers, assess their understanding of the product, and help them make informed decisions.
This webinar offers a rare opportunity to better understand one of the most important consumer protections in the HECM program. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation of the counseling process and practical knowledge that can help improve borrower communication and set expectations before counseling begins.
Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at a critical step in the reverse mortgage journey.
Registration Instructions (PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION HAS NOT OPENED YET FOR THIS WEBINAR)
- Click the Register Now link located in the righthand column. Select Existing Customer.
- Login with your username and password. Once you’re logged in, select “Walking in the Borrower’s Shoes: A Live Mock Reverse Mortgage Counseling Session” and follow the registration process.
- If you don’t have a username and password, please contact Darryl Hicks at [email protected] and he will create a customer record for you.
- On the payment page, follow prompts to complete the registration.
Speaker Bios
In 1991, Alison Calamia helped introduce reverse mortgages to her home state of Louisiana. Over her 35-year career, Alison has originated reverse mortgages for various retail lenders, managed a reverse mortgage division, and worked on the wholesale side of the business as an Account Executive. In April 2025, Alison joined Guild Mortgage as a reverse mortgage coach and originator. Before that, she spend eight years originating loans for America’s Mortgage Resource. Alison has been an active member of NRMLA since the organization’s earliest days. She served for three years on the Independent Certification Committee that created and continues to administer the Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP) designation and currently participates on the Education Committee.
Chris Downey recently joined CrossCountry Mortgage after spending the past three years originating reverse mortgages for The Federal Savings Bank. Before that, Chris was president of Harbor Mortgage Solutions, based in Braintree, MA, where he was responsible for the oversight of conventional mortgage activities, as well as general management of the firm. A graduate of Providence College with a B.S. degree in accounting, Downey began his career as a registered representative and operations manager at a securities broker dealership before joining Harbor Mortgage in 1989 as a mortgage loan originator. Downey was named vice-president of Harbor Mortgage Solutions in 1997 and succeeded his father George as president in 2004. Chris was elected to NRMLA’s Board of Directors in September 2024 and serves as Co-Chair of the Education Committee. He has also been an active volunteer in community service programs, including the Pan-Mass Challenge fundraising event for cancer research.
Justin Lally is the Reverse Mortgage Counseling Manager at Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp., a 501(c)3 non-profit agency that offers housing, credit, bankruptcy, and student loan counseling nationwide. He has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and has been providing HECM counseling since 2010. Justin is also a HUD Certified Housing Counselor, has obtained NCHEC Certification in Homeownership Counseling, and is a NFCC Certified Credit Counselor. Justin’s responsibilities include the training and continuing education of both new and current reverse mortgage counseling staff, development of new policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with both internal and external agency requirements.