Podcast appearances and mentions of don graves

Listen to my conversation with Penny Kittle, author of Micro Mentor Texts: Using Short Passages From Great Books to Teach Writer's Craft (Scholastic, 2022). This will be our book club selection for January - March 2026. Join the chat below.Full subscribers can also access the video recording of our conversation here. See a preview below.Brief Bio* Penny is a long time teacher at every level of education. She writes about her practice at https://substack.com/@pennykittle. * She is the author of several books, including Write Beside Them and 180 Days (with Kelly Gallagher, with whom she also co-hosts digital discussions). * Penny is also the chairman of the board for the Book Love Foundation, dedicated to providing “classroom libraries comprised of hundreds of books carefully chosen by the teachers to meet students where they are and lead them to the deep rewards of reading”. Check out the Book Love Foundation Podcast to learn more. * When not in the classroom, Penny enjoys spending time with her grandchildren in New Hampshire. SummaryIn this conversation, Penny talk about a variety of topics, including:* the importance of teachers being knowledgeable and able to problem solve,* how to build students' confidence as writers by showing them the process of writing that you as a teacher use, and* simple strategies, such as prompt writing, that can lead to students engaged in deep conversations during book clubs.Educators will walk away with a renewed sense of hope and agency in their own work with readers and writers.What part of this conversation resonated the most with you? Share your thoughts in the comments.Enjoyed this conversation? Restack and share this post to let others know!Full TranscriptMatt Renwick: Hi, this is Matt Renwick, and welcome to Read by Example, where teachers are leaders and leaders know literacy. And I'm joined today by someone I've met, I think a year ago in Wisconsin, when she was here doing a training around micro-mentor texts, Penny Kittle, long-time teacher, professor, all things education, literacy. So welcome, Penny.Penny Kittle: Thanks, Matt. It's good to be on your podcast. I enjoyed meeting you that day, that was a lovely day.Matt Renwick: Yeah, it was fun. I don't think it was on my schedule, but I'm like, I'm gonna make this on my schedule, like, I wanna hear Penny talk. Just all the good things I've heard from Reggie Routman, and just what I read about you, so I was not disappointed. It was a great experience, and I know the teachers walked away that I was working with, like, this is good, like, we want... and I'm still working with those teachers, actually.Penny Kittle: Oh, that's cool.Matt Renwick: Yeah, we still talk about the micro-mentor text, and just giving them that foundation, that knowledge that I think they were craving. They were looking for just a resource, and you really give them some nice ideas to build their practice, so...Penny Kittle: That's good.Matt Renwick: So I have been reading, as this year before, Micro Mentor Text through Heinemann, Using Short Passages from Great Books to Teach Writer's Craft.Penny Kittle: From Scholastic, just so they would want to know that.Matt Renwick: Oh, I'm sorry. I told you I'd mess something up, Penny.Penny Kittle: We all do.Matt Renwick: Yeah, I'm not gonna edit it out, though, so... Thank you for correcting me. Yeah, Scholastic. And, yeah, terrific book, very practical, very wise. I'm like, I think I'm highlighting the footnotes as much as the content.Penny Kittle: Oh, that's so funny. I had so much fun writing that with footnotes.Matt Renwick: Just the asides were just really cool, some of the cool stories from, like, Don Graves and Don Murray. But your subtitle says it pretty well, but what is your definition of a mentor text? Because I hear that tossed around a lot. What makes a mentor text micro?Penny Kittle: Yeah, I mean, I think that I always talk to students about, we're mentors to the authors and their craft, right? The text is just that particular vehicle, and we're using it to say, what kind of decisions do writers make? Are they things that I want to try? Are things that I want to imitate, or are these things that will make my writing stronger? So anytime we're studying anything, we're looking at pieces of work in that genre. You know, it's the idea of authenticity in a writing classroom. We're making things that exist in the world, and here are some people who make those things, and then what do our essays or poems or whatever we're writing look like next to them. And so, micro-mentor texts came about because I do quick writing with kids day after day, and I realized how much of the time, if I used a passage from a book, and said, what do you think of this? What do you... and used it instead of the whole, that I could get them interested in reading a book, but I could also, in a few minutes, look at craft. It was almost... I think we put a magnifying glass on the cover of the book, because I said it's like, a micro-mentor text is small enough that you can just look at it carefully. And you can't do that with a whole book. So, that is the idea, is that we look at a passage, we think about how does it work, and we imitate it.Matt Renwick: I used to teach 5th and 6th grade, and I would do, like, book blurbs, and I would read a small passage from it to promote it, to recommend it, but what you're saying here is you almost got, like, a two-for-one, like you're sharing great literature, but you're also honing in on those specific craft moves that writers do.Penny Kittle: It is definitely the way to combine a book talk with a little bit of writing. And I, you know, I honestly feel like I've taught more grammar through Micro Mentor texts than anything else. Because I'm often, when I ask them, what do you notice? Talk to each other, and I wander the room, they'll bring things up. You know, what is that? Is that the colon or the semicolon? What's it, you know, if it doesn't come up naturally, I often don't have to say anything, but I like that oftentimes this organic... Okay, do you see how this sentence is structured? Why is this such a long sentence, kind of thing. A really natural way to make grammar a decision, not a right or wrong.Matt Renwick: Yeah, you're pulling the lines away from the craft of it, you know, you're giving kids access to a writer, to the author's intentions.Penny Kittle: Right. And their choices.Matt Renwick: Yeah. So, let me frame it this way. I think with the science of reading, a lot of folks are concerned with decoding, and how kids learn to read, and I see less about actually helping kids comprehend text. I mean, it's there, but it's not as prevalent. And there's like this double-edged sword where I think literacy leaders, teachers want to get away from the 3-cueing system, we want to support kids with being good decoders. But I think what happens is we're not teaching kids to like read text for real, like once kids know to decode a word, what's the purpose of actually reading the text? And so what I like about your book is, you're using real text, you know, kids are reading it for real reasons, and so I'm wondering what are the connections between micro-mentor texts and the science of reading that you've been thinking about.Penny Kittle: I mean, I think for me, in the idea of what I do with a micro-mentor text, I'm not decoding it, right? Unless they're stopping and asking me. But I usually read it to them. And so I'm a fluent model, or another student in the room is a fluent model. And then we're diving into this idea of the pattern, the rhythm, what makes it interesting? And so to me, when you're looking at written text and thinking about writing text, you need fluency. And fluency is one of the pieces of the science of reading. So sometimes I'll have kids with me that are reading two and three years below grade level. And fluency was something that we never worked on. They're still word callers in high school. And so getting them to read with more automaticity and faster is gonna help comprehension because they're gonna have more energy and, you know, more focus to spend that effort on it, rather than in word by word. So my, you know, in the idea of the science of reading, I think that we have to first realize in secondary there are a lot of skills and strategies that I teach on a daily basis and a lot of kids lack. And so we have to keep teaching them and letting kids know it's okay to ask. You know, what does that word say? What is it? What does it mean? And when they hear us talk about it, then they learn, right? So I just think that there's a great emphasis on that 20 to 30 minutes of core instruction that, of course, is gonna support skills and strategies. But that then have a whole child, right? We can't just do 20 minutes of skills and strategies and think we've taught the whole learner. We need to get to comprehension, which is the whole point. And we also need to write, because when we're composing and creating text, we're adding to that power. The science of reading includes writing. It's not just about decoding. And I think sometimes that's where people come to rest. But of course, as you know, Scarborough's Reading Rope has both sides. And word recognition isn't any good without language comprehension. We need both of those things.Matt Renwick: So you do have like a routine in your book that you talk about. So you read text to kids. I've seen that example of you reading The Outsiders for example. But then what do you do after reading that text? What's the typical steps that you recommend?Penny Kittle: Well, I mean, the steps that I do are pretty simple. And I think that almost at any level, from elementary through college, you can do these steps. So I read a passage, or a student reads a passage. Then I say, turn and talk. What do you notice? And I give them time. And I try not to be the one that tells them. I want them to point out things. So they're gonna point out things. And then I might say, so what do you notice about this sentence? Or what do you notice about this? So I might do a little nudging in that conversation. And then we imitate it. So after they've talked about it and noticed it, I say, so take that idea. Let me show you an example of how I did it. Here's how I imitated it. Now you do your own. So they do a quick write. Sometimes that's five minutes or ten minutes. Sometimes they write for the rest of the class. And then many of those quick writes could stay in their journal forever. But often what I'll say to kids is, this might be the kind of craft technique that you want to save and try in your next piece, or that you might wanna use in your revision of your piece. So I'm teaching them to think about these tools as transferable to other times we write. Or I might, in that week or the next week, say, so I want you to take one from this list and put it in the piece you're working on. And then come talk to me, and I'll tell you whether I think it's working. So that's the steps. Read it, talk about it, imitate it, try it out.Matt Renwick: Yeah, I think you have Reggie Routman's steps there. And you also have that conversation in there around, like, self-assessment for kids. How did that work? What made that successful? What are you gonna do going forward? That agency piece, which I think is crucial for kids to take it on themselves, that responsibility for learning and being better.Penny Kittle: Yeah, I think for secondary especially. You know, what I like about Reggie is that shared demonstration step is so essential, and I think it's what's missed most of the time. So in secondary education, my professors would give me an assignment, like, you're gonna write a 15-page paper on this, and they wouldn't tell me how. They would just tell me to go do it. And that is completely lacking in what I think is good instruction. So when I'm writing with kids, I show them what I'm doing. I think aloud, I share my rough drafts. I show them, I think this is where I'm stuck, and I'm gonna try this. And that modeling and talking about our thinking is essential. And then we get kids writing, but we gotta talk about what we're doing. We've gotta show. That's the idea of a mentor text. We're gonna show you how someone else did it.Matt Renwick: Yeah, I can't think back to any instance in high school or college where I had a professor or teacher actually write with me or in front of me, and I had papers. So, yeah, it's a blind spot.Penny Kittle: Huge. And it is one that, you know, you and I have probably spent hundreds of hours doing this. Right? Because you write, and you know the challenges, and you think about kids, and you go, I need to help with this.Matt Renwick: Right. So those examples in the book, are those your writing or student writing, or both?Penny Kittle: They're both.Matt Renwick: Okay. So I think that's a good way to kind of mix it up. You give kids that authentic example from someone who's actually learning, and then yours. Did kids ever give you a hard time? Like, you're a published author, like, of course you're gonna write well. Like, this is easy for you. Or did you share your struggles as a writer?Penny Kittle: I shared my struggles all the time. And, you know, my quickwrites are way messier than the kids'. You know, I often would have scratch-outs and things where they would have done it on a computer and deleted. But I would just start with paper so that I could show them, and so, no. I mean, the kids, you know, it was funny. When I started writing Write Beside Them, I didn't have a publisher yet. I'd been working on it for a couple of years. And I, one day in class, I had a girl who said, do you even write? I said, I've been writing a book for two years. She said, well, when's it coming out? I said, I don't have a publisher. And she said, so you're just like us. And I said, yeah, I'm just like you. I'm trying to figure out how to get my work published just like you are. And I was in NCTE, and I went to Heinemann and pitched them the idea. And I came back and said, I have a publisher. And so it was, you know, it's not like I was sitting on this huge legacy of, like, I'm a published author. I was just somebody trying to figure it out, you know? And I think kids respond to that. They respond to our humanity.Matt Renwick: Yeah, and just the vulnerability of sharing, like, I don't have this down either, like, I'm still trying to figure this out.Penny Kittle: Yeah.Matt Renwick: So, you talked about teaching 180. Are you still teaching? 'Cause I know in the book you mentioned...Penny Kittle: No, I'm not.Matt Renwick: Okay, so what, about seven years ago or so?Penny Kittle: I retired in 2018, and then I taught another couple of years, so probably six years ago. Yeah.Matt Renwick: Okay. So I remember you telling, like, a story, I think it was your first year teaching, where, like, you handed out a paper, and kids were, like, upset about the directions, or something like that. Do you remember that story?Penny Kittle: I probably told that story, but I don't remember exactly. Tell me more.Matt Renwick: I think it was just like, you had made some assumptions about, like, what kids would understand, and they didn't understand it, and they got frustrated, and you're like, okay, I need to be more clear about what I'm asking kids to do.Penny Kittle: Yeah, I mean, I think that's, you know, that happens all the time, right? We make assumptions about what kids know, and they don't. And so we have to be really clear. And I think that's one of the things that I learned early on was, I need to show them what I want. I can't just tell them. I have to show them. And that's, again, that idea of shared demonstration.Matt Renwick: So, circling back to your book, I know you have a chapter on nonfiction, which I appreciated because I think a lot of times when we talk about writing, we're talking about narrative or fiction. But you have a whole chapter on that. What are some key things you want teachers to know about teaching nonfiction writing?Penny Kittle: Well, I think that, you know, we read so much nonfiction now. We read articles, we read blogs, we read all kinds of things online. And so kids need to be able to write that way. And I think that one of the things that I tried to do in that chapter was to say, here are some patterns that nonfiction writers use. Here are some ways to organize your thinking. And I think that's really helpful for kids. Because sometimes they sit down to write an essay, and they don't know where to start. And if we can give them some structures, some patterns, then they have something to lean on. And that's what mentor texts do. They give us something to lean on. So, you know, I think that nonfiction is really important. And I think that we need to teach it more explicitly. Because it's not as intuitive as narrative for a lot of kids.Matt Renwick: Yeah, and I think, too, like, the connection to content areas. Like, if you're a science teacher or social studies teacher, like, you're writing nonfiction all the time. So having those examples, those mentor texts, I think is really helpful.Penny Kittle: Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's where, you know, in secondary, we have this huge advantage. We have kids for different content areas. And if we could coordinate and say, okay, in science, you're gonna write a lab report. Let me show you some mentor texts for lab reports. In social studies, you're gonna write an argument. Let me show you some mentor texts for arguments. Like, if we could do that, we would be so much more effective. But we don't often do that. We don't often coordinate across content areas.Matt Renwick: Right. So, I have a question about, like, the role of technology in writing. Because I know, you know, we have AI now, and we have all these tools. And I'm curious, like, what's your take on that? Like, how do we teach kids to write in a world where AI can write for them?Penny Kittle: Yeah, I think that's a huge question. And I think that, you know, we have to be honest with kids about the fact that AI exists. And we have to be honest with them about the fact that it can write. But we also have to help them understand that AI can't think for them. AI can't have their ideas. AI can't have their experiences. And so, you know, I think that what we need to do is we need to help kids understand that their voice matters. Their ideas matter. And that's what we're trying to develop. We're trying to develop their voice. We're trying to develop their thinking. And AI can't do that. AI can generate text, but it can't generate their ideas. And so I think that's where we need to focus. We need to focus on helping kids find their voice, find their ideas, and then we can use AI as a tool. But it shouldn't be a replacement for thinking.Matt Renwick: Yeah, I like that distinction. Like, AI can help with the mechanics, but it can't help with the meaning-making.Penny Kittle: Right. Exactly. And I think that's where we need to be. We need to help kids understand that. And we need to help them understand that, you know, the best writing comes from thinking. And AI doesn't think. It generates. And there's a big difference.Matt Renwick: So, thinking about your work, you know, you've been doing this for a long time. You've written several books. You have the Book Love Foundation. What's next for you? Like, what are you working on now?Penny Kittle: Well, I'm working on a few different things. I'm working on a book about leadership with a colleague. And I'm also working on some online courses for teachers. And I'm doing a lot of speaking. So I'm traveling a lot and talking to teachers. And I'm also working on my Substack. So I'm writing there. And I'm just trying to stay connected to teachers and stay connected to the work. Because I think that's really important. I don't want to lose touch with what's happening in classrooms. And so I'm trying to stay as connected as I can.Matt Renwick: That's great. And I think, you know, your Substack has been really helpful. I've been reading it. And I think it's a great way to stay connected to teachers and to share ideas. So, I appreciate that.Penny Kittle: Thanks. Yeah, I think it's been fun. I think it's a good way to just keep the conversation going.Matt Renwick: So, one more question about mentor texts. How do you find them? Like, where do you look for good mentor texts? Because I think sometimes teachers are like, I don't know where to start. Like, how do I find good examples?Penny Kittle: Well, I mean, I think that the first place you look is in what you're reading. So if you're reading, and you come across something that you think is really well-written, you save it. And I have, you know, I have a Google Doc that I've been adding to for years. And it's just a collection of passages that I think are really interesting. And I don't even know if I'll ever use all of them. But I save them. And then when I'm teaching, I go back and I look at that document. And I say, okay, what fits what I'm trying to teach right now? And so I think that's the first place. Just read a lot. And when you come across something that you think is really well-written, save it. And then the other place is just to look at books that are popular with kids. So, you know, what are kids reading? What are they excited about? And then you can pull passages from those books. And that's a great way to get kids interested in reading more. Because you're using books that they're already interested in.Matt Renwick: Yeah, I think that's a great strategy. And I think, too, like, you can also look at, like, articles and essays and things like that. Like, it doesn't have to just be fiction. It can be nonfiction, too.Penny Kittle: Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's where, you know, I use a lot of articles. I use a lot of essays. I use a lot of different kinds of texts. Because I want kids to see that there are lots of different ways to write. And there are lots of different purposes for writing. And so, yeah, I think that's really important.Matt Renwick: So, in your Google Doc, do you organize it in any particular way? Or is it just kind of a running list?Penny Kittle: It's just a running list. I mean, I should probably organize it better. But it's just a running list. And I copied a bunch of those, because they're very interesting. They're often patterns of language and interesting phrasing that I'm looking for, and I don't even know how many of those I would use if I were teaching right now, but that's where I collect them.Matt Renwick: Yeah, I'm sure they get in your brain, and then they show up somewhere else when you're writing and thinking.Penny Kittle: Right.Matt Renwick: I noticed your awesome library in the background. I was supposed to ask you about your wavy bookshelf, but I don't see it. That must be somewhere else.Penny Kittle: Oh yeah, that's in a different room, and honestly, it's because it was on this wall. My desk was turned this way, and I kept banging it with the back of my head, because it sticks out from the wall like a foot. I was like, I can't do this anymore. So it's gone.Matt Renwick: Oh, darn it.Penny Kittle: Yeah.Matt Renwick: But you had an interesting metaphor, I think in that same post I mentioned before, or just a visual, a library without books. So, to the point you're making was, we don't have writers, we don't have readers, and so making that connection for kids, and stressing the importance of building writers. So, just to kind of close things out, what classroom conditions are essential to help kids write for real, you know, write without rules, Matt De La Pena said in the forward to your book, and then writing for life. What are some essential classroom conditions? So you mentioned before, shared demonstration, that's a Heli-Dion.Penny Kittle: Yeah, yeah, and I think so much about teachers that are in classrooms right now, where they have a scripted curriculum, and I'm really connected to that idea that it demonstrates a lack of trust of teachers, and the idea that I was thinking today, because I was gonna be late to a doctor's appointment, and I was super annoyed with my husband that we were gonna be late, and I was watching every minute to be sure I could get there, and then I thought about the crowd that would be at the front door to the school that was always late. And I thought, what are the conditions that would make kids be like, I can't be late, I gotta get to first period? So, I think that it goes back to those pillars of engagement, right? We talk about this. So there's a science to engagement. We talked about the science of reading, but the science of engagement says that kids will use the skills and strategies we teach with greater persistence and effort when they're engaged. And then they learn more, right? Greater persistence and effort. So for me, it has to be that. So they need to write for real purposes and real audiences, and they need the conditions that say what they have to say matter, right? They need to be in writing groups so that they get more feedback than just mine. They're writing for, you know, and they'll, in a group of 3 or 4 other kids, often they may not want to at the start, but they become kids who share their writing. And when you have to read your writing to someone, or a part of your writing, and ask for help, you hear it differently. Those are essential conditions. We need lots of books, because the more you read, the better you write. That's just a simple formula. Wait, I wrote them down, what else did I put up here? Oh, relationships. So, it's not just the teacher, but the teacher has to have a relationship with reading and writing that is positive, and that knows its power, as well as its challenges, because I think when I first got my secondary credential, what was demonstrated in all my coursework was that I need to become an expert on texts. And that isn't what we need to be expert in. We need to be expert in kids and motivation, and learning how to talk to a kid that doesn't want to talk to you about what they're working on in a way that you can help them. We need to be really superb listeners, and so the conditions are, we have to be able to set up a flow within a class period so that I have time to meet with as many kids as I can, both as readers and as writers, and I need to have us write every day. I'm really into volume, right? We read every day, we write every day, we work on revision almost every day. So that the conditions are a kind of a mutual agreement that we're here to work. They have a playlist for every class, they choose it. Like, the cowboy one was always killing me off, but the boys in this one class, Outdoor Writing, all wanted this, you know, very cowboy-centered playlist, but that stuff helps them feel like it's their space, too. And I think that the teachers who, you know, there are teachers that I worked with every year who volunteered for everything, who were at every dance, and you know, they're just giving 110% to the school and the culture of the school. I love that, but they also have to be that in their classroom, so that their content comes alive and feels meaningful.Matt Renwick: Yeah. Trust the kids, trust themselves, yeah.Penny Kittle: It's so much about trust.Matt Renwick: Yeah. Well, this has been great, Penny. You've got your substack. What is the URL again? Is it...Penny Kittle: You mean my on Substack, I'm just Penny Kittle.Matt Renwick: Penny Kittle, okay.Penny Kittle: Yeah.Matt Renwick: And then you have the Book Love Foundation. Yep. Several resources, which I'll link in the notes.Penny Kittle: I have a YouTube channel that has all my interviews with Kelly Gallagher, and the different authors, and we're putting up... we just released a podcast today called The Moves Leaders Make. It's all about leaders we're interviewing, and those are on Apple, and we actually have about 4 or 5 seasons of Book Love podcasts on there, and there's a lot of places that you can find out more.Matt Renwick: Cool. Well, thanks, Penny, for being here, and good luck with your time, and your time to yourself. So, thank you for being here.Penny Kittle: Thanks so much, Matt. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readbyexample.substack.com/subscribe

On this episode, guest speaker Don Graves of the Housing Wealth Institute dive into the world of reverse mortgages and how they can be a valuable financial tool for retirees and homeowners.Don speaks to key considerations, including the impact on inheritance, potential tax implications, and how to make a reverse mortgage part of a broader retirement strategy. We also address common misconceptions and provide practical advice for making informed decisions.7947522.1 Exp 5/27To learn more about C&A Financial Group, schedule a meeting or to consider a career with us, visit www.ca-strategy.com for more information. Follow us online on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube

Don Graves tried to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps the day after President Franklin Roosevelt declared the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor a day of infamy. Since he was only 16 years old, Graves had to wait another six months to enlist. When he did, he went through basic training in California and was soon assigned as a flamethrower operator in the 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division.In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Graves recounts the harrowing landing during the third wave at Iwo Jima, getting pinned down in the water, what they had to do to reach the volcanic ash beach, and how he begged God to spare his life as the bullets flew above him.Graves also tells us about the fight up Mount Suribachi against Japanese forces with the higher ground. He explains what made the difference in the fight, a shocking encounter with a Japanese soldier during the battle, and what he remembers about the iconic flag raising atop Mount Suribachi.Then Graves details an even more intense fight at Hill 362 A, where his unit lost all its remaining officers. He also takes us into the fighting in the caves, both with guns and with his flamethrower. And he shares one of the most devastating moments of the battle that took place in his own foxhole.Finally, Graves describes leaving the island alive when so many other Marines didn't. And he remembers hearing the news of the Japanese surrender just as he was training for the invasion of Japan.

Today, economics is more a part of the national security equation than it has ever been. Trade, science, technology, innovation, and supply chains – to name a few issues – intersect with national security with more depth, breadth, and frequency every year. As a consequence, U.S. economic agencies are increasingly called to the table to solve national security challenges.To help understand these many connections and what economic security looks like in practice at the highest levels of decision-making, The Debrief spoke with Don Graves, who served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2021-2025.

On this episode of Coffee, Country & Cody, we welcome Don Graves & Jason Sever   0:00 - Welcome / What’s Coming Up 2:00 - Interview with Don Graves & Jason Sever 21:56 - Entertainment with Bill Cody   Connect with WSM Radio: Visit the WSM Radio WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/650AMWSM Follow WSM Radio on TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@wsmradio Like WSM Radio on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/WSMRadioFB Check out WSM Radio on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/WSMRadioInsta Follow WSM Radio on X: http://bit.ly/WSMRadioTweets Listen to WSM Radio LIVE: http://bit.ly/WSMListenLive Listen to WSM on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/live/wsm-radio...  

1.10.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: DOJ Tulsa massacre report, Biden/Harris job growth review, Calif. wildfire impact on Black families More than a century after a white mob terrorized Tulsa's Greenwood community and burned it to the ground, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a report acknowledging what's now known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. The next administration will inherit a healthy job force. I'll talk to Don Graves, Jr., the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, about the job growth over the past four years. The California wildfires are leaving thousands homeless. I'll talk to two black families about how they are coping with their loss. And I will share my thoughts about Amazon paying Melania Trump millions for her biography. But what exactly has she done? #BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbase This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing. Download the #BlackStarNetwork app on iOS, AppleTV, Android, Android TV, Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and XBox http://www.blackstarnetwork.com The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platforms covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Cashflow Legendz, we're diving into the world of reverse mortgages—a topic surrounded by both curiosity and confusion. Joining us is a special guest, Don Graves, a seasoned financial advisor and reverse mortgage specialist with over 20 of experience in helping homeowners navigate this unique financial tool. We'll break down: What a reverse mortgage is and how it works. Common misconceptions and who can benefit the most. The pros, cons, and crucial considerations before deciding if it's right for you. Real-life examples and lessons from Don's experience in the field. Whether you're planning for retirement or simply curious about financial options, this episode is packed with insights to help you make informed decisions. Tune in and take a closer look at how reverse mortgages could be a game changer for your golden years!

According to recent studies, using housing wealth strategically can extend your retirement savings by five to seven years. Are you prepared to maximize your home's potential to secure your financial future? Tim Whistler is joined by Don Graves, President and Founder of the Housing Wealth Institute, to delve into incorporating housing wealth into your retirement … Read More Read More

Join host Bryan Bibbo and special guest Don Graves, RICP®, CLTC®, CSA® Certified Senior Advisor, president and founder of the Housing Wealth Institute and an Adjunct Instructor of Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services, as they explore the often misunderstood world of reverse mortgages and their potential role in retirement planning.  Together, Bibbo … Continue reading Episode 26: Enhancing Your Retirement Health – The Role of Reverse Mortgages in Holistic Wealth Management →

Have you ever wondered if home equity could transform your retirement income? Tim Whistler welcomes Don Graves, President and Founder of the Housing Wealth Institute, to delve into the topic of using housing wealth as part of retirement income planning. Don discusses the concept of the “fourth bucket” represented by home equity and how incorporating … Read More Read More

Today we have two guests on the podcast, Don Graves and Wade Pfau. Don Graves is the president and founder of the Housing Wealth Institute and an instructor of Retirement Income at The American College of Financial Services. He is considered one of the nation's leading educators on incorporating housing wealth into retirement income planning. He is also the author of three books, Housing Wealth: An Advisor's Guide to Reverse Mortgages, Housing Wealth Conversations, and The Retiree's Guide to Housing Wealth. He graduated from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.Wade Pfau is professor of retirement income in the Financial and Retirement Planning Program at the American College of Financial Services. He is also co-director of the American College Center for Retirement Income and Retirement Income Certified Professional program director at the American College. Pfau has written several books, including his most recent Retirement Planning Guidebook. He is a co-editor of the Journal of Personal Finance, and he publishes frequently in a wide variety of academic and practitioner research journals. Pfau holds a doctorate in economics and a master's degree from Princeton University and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Iowa. He is also a chartered financial analyst.BackgroundDon Graves: BioThe American College of Financial ServicesBooks: Housing Wealth: 3 Ways the New Reverse Mortgage Is Changing Retirement Income ConversationsThe Retiree's Guide to Housing WealthWade Pfau: BioBooks: Retirement Planning GuidebookReverse Mortgages: How to Use Reverse Mortgages to Secure Your RetirementJournal of Personal FinanceReverse MortgagesHome Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM): Definition, EligibilitySandra Timmermann“Reversing the Conventional Wisdom: Using Home Equity to Supplement Retirement Income,” by Barry H. Sacks and Stephen R. Sacks, financialplanningorganization.org, February 2012.HECM Origination Counseling“Using Reverse Mortgages in a Responsible Retirement Income Plan,” by Wade Pfau, retirementresearcher.com.“The Decumulation Drawdown: How Spending Became the Big Dilemma in Retirement,” by Alessandra Malito, marketwatch.com, June 4, 2022.“Jamie Hopkins: A Framework for Financial Freedom,” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, Dec. 2, 2022.“Reverse Mortgage Net Principal Limit: Meaning, Pros and Cons,” by Julia Kagan, Investopedia.com, April 7, 2022.“Understanding Why and How the HECM Line of Credit Grows,” by Wade Pfau, forbes.com, Jan. 7, 2021.“Standby Reverse Mortgages: A Risk Management Tool for Retirement Distributions,” by John Salter, Shaun Pfeiffer, and Harold Evensky, financialplanningassociation.org, August 2012.“Integrating Home Equity and Retirement Savings Through the “Rule of 30,'” by Peter Neuwirth, Barry Sacks, and Stephen Sacks, Journal of Financial Planning, October 2017.“Wade Pfau: The Risk of Retirement Today,” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, Aug. 2, 2022.“Unbundling Investments From Insurance to Solve for Lifetime Sequence-of-Return Risk,” by Wade Pfau, retireone.com, Jan. 12, 2022.

Last week, we followed Don Graves and his story of service as a U.S. Marine from basic training to the invasion of Iwo Jima to seeing the raising of the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi. Now we focus on his actions and reflections over the rest of the six-week battle on Iwo Jima.In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," we'll hear Graves describe his memories of the Japanese sinking the carrier escort USS Bismarck Sea while he was fighting in the mountains of Iwo Jima. He will also share details of the intense fight for Hill 362 A, losing many officers there, and using his flamethrower to help force the Japanese to retreat.Now 99 years old, Graves also tells us about the damage inflicted by Japanese mortars and how he was able to help take out a critical mortar battery, the regular threat of Japanese banzai attacks, and the brief scare that the Japanese might be using poison gas. He even has an anecdote about a lighthearted moment with the enemy.But his most powerful reflections center on the price of freedom, in terms of the total losses in the battle, the large number of his friends who died there, and one young Marine whose death still haunts him. And you'll hear his thoughts on the legacy of the Greatest Generation.

Don Graves was born in Michigan in 1925 and his family struggled mightily during the Great Depression. He was 16 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He immediately ran down to the U.S. Marine Corps recruiter's office to sign up. He was too young, but on his seventeenth birthday, Graves officially became a Marine. Nearly three years later, Graves was among the Marines invading the critically important island of Iwo Jima.In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Graves shares his vivid memories of learning about the attacks at Pearl Harbor, his intense training in San Diego, and his sudden new assignment as a flamethrower operator. He also shares, in great detail, what it was like to make the amphibious landing on Iwo Jima under heavy Japanese fire. Graves then describes the difficulty getting off the beach and what it took to fight to the top of Mt. Suribachi.Finally, Graves tells us about the historic flag raising atop Mt. Suribachi that was immortalized in the Joseph Rosenthal photo and again in the sculpture ot the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.In our next edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Graves will detail the fighting in the weeks of fighting that followed the flag raising - from the brutal effectiveness of Japanese mortars to the power of his flamethrower and from enduring the loss of so many friends to the death of just one in his own foxhole. He will also reflect on the legacy of the Greatest Generation nearky 80 years later. 

#SOTF Radio - Don Graves WW2 Iwo Jima Veteran (Encore Performance) This special Independence Day SOTF Radio features World War 2 Iwo Jima Veteran, Don Graves! Originally from Detroit, Don quit high school to join the Marine Corps in 1942 when he was 17. As a flame thrower he stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima and was 1 of 18 in his platoon who survived. Becoming a Pastor later in life, Don now travels the country speaking to High Schools about the importance of patriotism and singing "God Bless America". Don Graves is a true embodiment of what is great about America! To view the in studio video, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpaeSzvBhwk Follow Sons of the Flag across all Social Media @SonsOfTheFlag https://sonsoftheflag.org/   Brought to you by The Fire Store and MagneGrip.

In this podcast episode of the Neil Haley show, Neil Haley interviews Don Graves, the CEO of the Housing Wealth Institute. Don shares his background, including his experience with Habitat for Humanity, and explains how he transitioned into the world of housing wealth for retirees. They discuss misconceptions surrounding reverse mortgages, emphasizing that it's essentially just a mortgage and not as scary as some believe. Don breaks down how reverse mortgages work, highlighting that homeowners retain ownership of their homes and never owe more than the home's value. Don addresses concerns about leaving a legacy for children, stressing the importance of prioritizing one's own financial security in retirement. He provides insights into incorporating housing wealth into a comprehensive retirement income plan. Listeners can find more information about housing wealth on Don's website, housingwealth.net, or by attending his masterclass at housingwealthmasterclass.com. Don also welcomes inquiries via email at askdongraves@gmail.com.  

At Strategic Wealth Strategies, we understand that the most important decisions in life involve money. That's why we strive to provide our clients with top-notch financial services to help them make the best decisions. Our team is made up of experienced professionals in their fields and is led by Alan Porter, a SMART Advisor. With over five decades of experience between us, we are confident that we can provide the guidance and advice needed to help our clients succeed.

Ron Desantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, oh my! Republicans scramble for their chosen candidate, crime and inflation on a quiet decline, an uncanny publication merger, a timely inquiry into Watts Happening Cultural Center, and a historic donation to Atlanta's Spelman College. DeRay interviews U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves on the advancing  economic initiatives within the Biden administration.NewsTrump mocks Nikki Haley's first name. It's his latest example of attacking rivals based on raceThe Great NormalizationCondé Nast Is Folding Pitchfork Into GQ, With LayoffsA Trailblazing Campaign to Celebrate and Conserve Black ModernismAtlanta's Spelman College receives historic $100 million donation

This week, we sit down with Don Graves, to have a discussion about retirement income planning. As we unravel the complexities of reverse mortgages, you'll discover the transformative potential these tools hold for your golden years. From debunking long-held myths to highlighting the modern applications of this misunderstood financial instrument, we dive into the heart of managing wealth when the traditional working years are behind you.This episode isn't just about presenting options; it's about equipping you with knowledge to make informed decisions in partnership with expert advisors, ensuring that your retirement planning is as robust and secure as possible.>>Download your FREE guide: 10 Questions to Discover Your Money Mind, >>Aspirations & Freedom>>Subscribe to Life Money Balance® YouTube for content beyond the podcast>>Discover a client relationship. Schedule a FREE, 20-minute Good Fit Meeting>>Connect with us across social media for more content - top right corner>>Find your story & learn about services that fit your journeyThank you for tuning in; we hope the information is educational and valuable. Remember to like and subscribe to the LMB® channel. We appreciate you. Listen to the disclaimer at the end of the show.#lifemoneybalance, #financialfreedom, #retirement, #aspiration, #wellbeing, #wealthbuiding, #wealth, #financialwellness, #compassion, #financialeducation

Don Graves is the president of the Housing Wealth Institute and an Adjunct Instructor at the American College of Financial Services. He is one of the nation's leading educators on incorporating reverse mortgages into retirement income planning. Don has been quoted in Forbes Magazine, featured on PBS, and is a sought-after professional speaker whose workshops are helping advisors and their clients determine if a reverse mortgage is right for them.Learn more:https://hecmadvisorsgroup.com/ Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-don-graves-president-of-the-housing-wealth-institute-discussing-serving-financial-advisors-with-reverse-mortgages

Don Graves is the president of the Housing Wealth Institute and an Adjunct Instructor at the American College of Financial Services. He is one of the nation's leading educators on incorporating reverse mortgages into retirement income planning. Don has been quoted in Forbes Magazine, featured on PBS, and is a sought-after professional speaker whose workshops are helping advisors and their clients determine if a reverse mortgage is right for them.Learn more:https://hecmadvisorsgroup.com/ Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-don-graves-president-of-the-housing-wealth-institute-discussing-serving-financial-advisors-with-reverse-mortgages

All eyes are on Johannesburg as it hosts the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum from Thursday to Saturday. US officials and their counterparts in Africa will discuss Washington, DC's flagship trade program for the continent. AGOA provides duty-free access to the US market for most agricultural and manufactured products exported by eligible African countries. The trade pact has also been renewed twice and is due to expire in September 2025. Sakina Kamwendo Spoke to US Embassy Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves   

Show notes are available at QueenofPeaches.com. Today on I'll Follow You, I'm in conversation with two of the most influential people in my musical life, Ed Bialon and Don Graves. Ed and Don were members of my dad's band, the Terry Felus Trio, for about ten years, from the early 1970s through the early 1980s. The Terry Felus Trio was known and loved around Northwest Indiana as a great party band, getting hired to play for wedding receptions, milestone anniversary celebrations, and New Year's Eve shows, though they were also frequently booked at local venues like Mama Puntillo's in Highland, Indiana, and Sarti's Restaurant and Lounge in East Chicago. I wanted to sit down with them and get the scoop on how exactly they did what they did. I wanted to dig into the history of how they all knew each other, where and how they all trained as musicians, and get a glimpse into this now mostly bygone era of live bands who didn't try to sound like anyone but themselves. 

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Manufacturing an American Century podcast! In this episode, your host Matt Bogoshian, reconnects with an old friend and esteemed guest, Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of Commerce for the United States. Get ready to dive into a dynamic conversation about the critical role of American manufacturing in shaping our economy, innovation, and national security.

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan....with confidence in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God." - Franklin D. Roosevelt These were the words that would change the course of history forever. These words would also give way to the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most costly campaigns of World War II. Of the 7,000 killed and nearly 20,000 wounded, Don Graves, a Marine would survive amongst them. Graves shouldered one of the most feared responsibilities in the Marine Corps–wielding a flamethrower in the caves and pill boxes that littered the island. In this episode, Graves recounts his experience in those 36 days of fighting and lends his perspective on where the country is headed now. Graves, now 98 years of age, has a wise view and a wealth of knowledge to share with the American people. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://hvmn.com - USE CODE "SHAWN" https://helixsleep.com/srs https://1stphorm.com/srs https://ziprecruiter.com/srs https://betterhelp.com/shawn Don Graves Links: Foundation - https://airpowerfoundation.org Support Veterans - https://roll-call.org Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special Independence Day SOTF Radio features World War 2 Iwo Jima Veteran, Don Graves! Originally from Detroit, Don quit high school to join the Marine Corps in 1942 when he was 17. As a flame thrower he stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima and was 1 of 18 in his platoon who survived. Becoming a Pastor later in life, Don now travels the country speaking to High Schools about the importance of patriotism and singing "God Bless America". Don Graves is a true embodiment of what is great about America! To view the in studio video, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpaeSzvBhwk Follow Sons of the Flag across all Social Media @SonsOfTheFlag https://sonsoftheflag.org/

Rocci Stucci and Tim (TK) Klund officially kicked off Battle Scars Podcast at The Country Network in Fort Worth, TX. Their first guest was B. Taylor Ambassador. You can catch the episode HERE:Going into the second episode, we're honored to sit down with WWII Iwo Jima Veteran Don Graves. Saturday, March 4th at 6PM CST.For most it's an iconic moment captured in a timeless photo and placed in just about every U.S. history book in existence: that moment a group of United States Marines planted the American Flag on the peak of Iwo Jima during World War II.It's an image of patriotism for most, but for Don Graves it's a memory that still lives as clearly in his mind as it did the day after he stood just feet away from that flag being planted in the rocks.“That was my Colonel's flag,” said Graves who was 19 when he and his unit fought in that infamous battle. “He gave it to Lt. Schrier and said, ‘put this up Harold. Get some boys together, and put it up for me.'”Graves, who's now in his 90's, said gunfire was raining down on him and his fellow marines as they took in the sight of that flag being planted on the Japanese island; a battle that ended up being a major step in victory during the war.https://battlescarspodcast.comhttps://butverve.comhttps://romikadesigns.com

David had been skeptical about reverse mortgages and now considers himself a “late convert.” Don Graves sees reverse mortgages as a financial planning tool cleverly disguised as a mortgage. Using a football analogy, think of a reverse mortgage as the 11th player on the team (along with income, pension, social security, etc.), which will increase the chances of you winning. Don explains why reverse mortgages should be considered a tax-free stream of income, right along with Roth IRAs, Roth 401ks, Roth conversions, LARPs, and so forth. The idea is that, when you take income by way of a reverse mortgage, it's a true tax-free stream of income. This income does not count as provisional income, thus not counting as a threshold that causes Social Security taxation. Don shares a couple of examples of how reverse mortgages can lead to great outcomes. Don describes the profile of the typical person for whom the reverse mortgage strategy may apply. Mentioned in this episode: David's books: Power of Zero, Look Before Your LIRP, The Volatility Shield, Tax-Free Income for Life and The Infinity Code DavidMcKnight.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter  @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube HousingWealth.net AskDonGraves@gmail.com Ed Slott

Part 2 with the amazing Jeremy Lock, a retired US Air Force Master Sergeant, who was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his distinguished service in Iraq, as well as Military Photojournalist of the year seven times. What an honorit has been to interview him and especially to hear him talk about his "21 Exhibition". We learn that there are really 22 photos - the 22nd one being the hardest phot he has ever had to take - his grandmother's last breath. Whew - it is fascinating to hear him tell this story. Then we talk about him being a cast member of The Dallas Housewives to support his beautiful wife D'Andra Simmons. They had 3 rules while being on the show and he tells us a funny story from their Season 1. They were on the show for 4 seasons. Lots of fun tidbits about what happened and why they think the show is on hiatus. He tells us about one situation in particular which caused a huge stir and where they got screwed by who he thought were great friends. That leads us into a conversation about betrayal and how hard it is. We talk about fakeness in marriages and on social media and how crazy competitive people can get. Jeremy says he loves his wife more than anything and believes in putting the work in to better their marriage at all times. Then we hear about his 2 adult sons that have been living with them for the past year. He says that he would be ok if he died tomorrow but he is missing 2 things. Listen to what they are. Jeremy is the host of the Last Letter's podcast that is in the top 1.5% globally and he tells us about an episode that he is very proud of. He interviewed a 97 year old WW 2 Hiroshima survivor Don Graves who has one last wish. He wants to go to Ireland and sing Danny Boy in an Irish Pub.We are asking all our listeners to make this happen for this hero and donate to the attached GoFundMe Link.https://www.gofundme.com/f/wwii-iwo-jima-veteran-cpl-Don-Graves-usmc-ret-WISH QUESTION OF THE DAY SEGMENT:If you and your SO live together should you get up at the same time every day? PARTY WITH MISS POLLY SEGMENT:Have you ever had the Boss/Employee sex fantasy? This segment gets hilarious and we decide to start a Speed Dating Contest for anyone who wants a chance to date our Co Host Marcella. Cruz and Jeremy give lots of hints for potential guys, so we will know who listened and took it serious. GOSSIP SEGMENT:We talk about one of our guests who wasted our time with lies and who turned out to not be who he says he was. Marcella especially was super frustrated and we found out all kinds of secrets about him and we are naming names etc. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/last-letters/id1539128647https://www.lastletters.net/https://www.instagram.com/lastletterspod/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/lastletterspodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lastletterspodcasthttps://www.jeremytlock.com/https://www.instagram.com/jeremytlock/?hl=en

Don Graves is the President of the Housing Wealth Institute. He is considered one of the nation's leading educators on incorporating housing wealth into retirement income planning. On this episode, we'll talk to Don about what exactly a reverse mortgage is, how they can utilized in a retirement plan, and why there seems to be a negative association with them from many people. Important Info: Securus Financial: https://www.gosecurus.com/ International Financial Advisory Group: https://www.internationalfinancial.com/ Call John: (858) 935-6210 Call Thomas: (973) 394-0623

Son, Husband, Father, and WWII Veteran CPL. DON GRAVES, USMC, RET. sits down with host Jeremy Lock to discuss The Battle at Iwo Jima, The Great Depression, Patriotism,  A Love of Singing, and how the Greatest Generation feels in "WE TRIED OUR BEST"Last Letters Website

Retirement planning conversations can easily focus only on traditional savings vehicles - 401(k)s, IRAs, money market accounts and stocks. However, home equity is an important asset that shouldn't be overlooked. Today, Don Graves, a best-selling author and President of the Housing Wealth Institute explains why every agent should be knowledgable about reverse mortgages when building plans for clients. Rapidly rising home values in the last 18 months only makes this information more valuable. Also, do you want to get regular updates on news about guests of our show? Go to https://thatannuityshow.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Links mentioned in the show: www.housingweath.net askdongraves@gmail.com

At SEMICON West Hybrid 2021, everyone was talking about the impact of the chip shortage, global fab expansion, the talent shortage, and the over-arching topic of the importance of sustainable semiconductor manufacturing. We spoke with Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI, to get his perspective on all these issues, and the role SEMI plays in providing a collaborative environment to find solutions. On the topic of global fab expansion, he noted that between now and 2024, there are plans to open 25 8-inch fabs and 60 300mm fabs around the world. This added 300mm capacity represents 48% growth – a number he says he's never seen before. The revenue attached to that is an increase from $550B this year, to $2.2T by 2030.Manocha also shares some key takeaways from his fireside chat with Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves, and how the US Government is finally understanding the important role the semiconductor industry plays in our lives, from accelerating the development of the vaccine to ensuring national security. And lastly, as an industry with a massive carbon footprint, yet with devices that help other industries reduce theirs, we find ourselves in a bit of a conundrum. How do we continue to support market demand for more and more chips without having a negative impact on climate change?  As an industry organization, SEMI is on the case, and Manocha provided some details on the establishment of the Sustainable Advisory Council. You can learn more about SEMI here. Connect with Ajit Manocha on LinkedINSEMI A global association, SEMI represents the entire electronics manufacturing and design supply chain.

8.19.21 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Qualified immunity taken off the table; Biden unveils plan to end COVID; AL doc says NO to the unvaxxed; Mississippi hospitals have no beds and a staff shortage amid pandemic; Will Black biz see infrastructure $$$? Commerce Deputy Sec. Don Graves will join us to discuss + Update on Haiti and Afghanistan Support #RolandMartinUnfiltered via the Cash App ☛ https://cash.app/$rmunfiltered or via PayPal ☛ https://www.paypal.me/rmartinunfiltered #RolandMartinUnfiltered is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brett and Patcharles speak with Don Graves, Adjunct Professor, Retirement Income Planning at the American College of Financial Services and Business Development Manager at Mutual of Omaha. They discuss what a RELOC is and the hidden powers of it if you are heading into retirement. If you are heading into or currently enjoying retirement, you must listen to this podcast to learn how you can avoid and ride out this potential retirement perfect storm bearing down on us. Want to learn more? Go to Deservemagazine.com Please like, subscribe, and leave a review. We greatly appreciate it!

On July 29, Business Forward hosted Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, for a briefing on workforce development and K-12 & adult skill building. In his conversation with NewDEAL leader and Montgomery, Alabama, Mayor Steven Reed, he answered questions from business leaders across the country on topics ranging from education to equity and workforce recruitment. They also discussed how business leaders can get involved with workforce development in their communities.

In this special episode, recorded during our third and final writers group, we talked shop - writers workshop - with Tom Romano and Regie Routman.Tom is the author of several books on writing, including Write What Matters: For Yourself, For Others.Regie has also authored many professional literacy resources for educators, most recently Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners. So get out your notebooks, settle in with a favorite beverage, and soak up the wisdom from two excellent teachers of writers and writing. Related ResourcesTranscript + AudioTom’s article we discussed: “Giant at Reds”Regie’s article we discussed: “Roaming Around the Known” (plus her website)A book Tom recommended about writing memoir: Inventing the TruthCheck this episode out on Apple below, and give the podcast a rating!Full TranscriptMatt Renwick:In this special episode recorded during our third and final writers group, we talk shop - writer's workshop - with Tom Romano and Regie Routman. Tom is the author of several books on writing, including Write What Matters For Yourself, For Others. Regie has also authored many professional literacy resources for educators, most recently, Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity For All Learners. So get out your notebooks, settle in with a favorite beverage and soak up the wisdom from two excellent teachers of writers and writing.Matt Renwick:Again, feel free to chime in, any questions or if you want to piggyback, for Tom or for Regie. And you both spoke to this just now, which is great. And in your pieces that I shared out too, involve story. Is that a great place to start with writing or do you see it as more than just a tool for your own writing purposes I guess? I'll start with Tom on that.Tom Romano:There is very little I write that doesn't have story in it some way. If I'm writing that piece about the night the giant visited, I mean, it's pretty much all story, except, I think the last part in the last paragraph and that version of, did I say about giants all around us and teachers, I guess there I'm being a little bit expository. But I can't imagine writing anything that doesn't have at least the kernel of story in it, because stories appeal to us all. They are how we know the world. I mean, think about the trial that just ended. There were two stories, two arguments, but here's the story of how this went down, here's another story of how this went down.Tom Romano:For me, it's just, the story is bedrock. I guess that's why I always, when the Common Core standards came out in Ohio, well, I guess they were nationwide, and then they got rid of them, and then pretty much states just use them anyway and call them their own standards. They seem to me to really disrespect story and how I know story work in people's writing. So what did I just read? I just read an Anne Lamott book that was published in 2017 or 2018. And she said, "Story abideth." Tom just ran out of gas here, go ahead Regie.Regie Routman:No, I agree with everything you said. A story for me, I'm looking at it in a little bit different way. I'm trying to be an anti-racist like everybody else, not just talking about it, but trying to do something. And one of the ways I think that's very powerful is valuing every child's story and having them write their story and honor that story, their language, their culture that goes with it through poetry, through a vignette from part of their life, writing about something that happened that, the story of their life. And using story in a way that even though that story that you've just written was very painful perhaps, you're working with older kids, your story is not foretold by what's happened so far. But your story can be changed. And using story in that way is a part of what I'm working on now, that you have the power to rewrite your story. That might seem preordained because of your circumstances, because of your housing, lack of resources, but it's not.Regie Routman:So I see our job as educators, as being opportunity makers. And one way to do that is to get kids to write and first to value their own stories, which is so, so powerful. And then I would model, of course I would share one of my stories that shaped me. And it would be probably about my grandmother who never went to school, but never got past fifth grade because she had to support her family and didn't consider herself a writer. But when I would stay overnight with her, she'd pull out this big brown box from the top of her closet, and she was writing her stories down, but didn't consider herself a writer.Tom Romano:Wow.Regie Routman:But she was.Matt Renwick:You both speak to a sense of self-empowerment too, with Tom writing in the study halls and your grandmother writing, but not identifying as a writer themselves. And I noted in Tom's book here on page four, just your first activity here, Tom says, "Give yourself 15 minutes long if you need it, write about why you write, what you get out of it, and what rewards writing holds for you. Maybe you've not articulated that before, don't be afraid to ramble, Joey wasn't. With faith and fearlessness write through to the truth." I've heard that phrase before, "Write through to the truth." Tom, can you say more about that?Tom Romano:Write through to the truth. From last June until January, I wrote a memoir that I'm trying to find a publisher to read, and that's not always easy since it's not really a Heinemann book, or a Stenhouse book, or Scholastic book. But a lot of times I'm just trying to tell things as truthfully as I can, the way I remember, the way that I imagine it. Like that giant story, I was thinking about that. I mean, I think there's truth in there. There's a lot that's made up. And what I mean is, I don't remember that... Like I say, Joe Keester, there's a character who said, "That's Paul Bunyan" right off the bat. Well, I don't remember that happening, but my dad had a friend named Joe Keester and I found out some way that that wrestler was Paul Bunyan. And so I invented that.Tom Romano:There's a book called Inventing the Truth and it's about writing memoir. So there's a lot of places in there where I think I did invent the truth. Although I stayed close to the emotions, I'm pretty sure I remember feeling. And some of the things that were indelible memories, like when he would, I think I wrote that, "He would put forward and all his hair would go over his face and then he would go like that and comment like that, and then push it forward." That's an indelible memory. I really believe in those for sure. Now I want to get kids, whether they're elementary school kids or graduate students in a class, I want them to start trying to find those indelible moments or indelible memories. They don't usually last very long. And I want them to write about those.Tom Romano:I think the last two or three things that I have published in English Journal came from me, writing in my college class with my undergraduates. I asked them to find indelible moments. And I did that too with them and develop that into a piece of writing, which I'm trying to stay close to how I remember and how I think. Yeah. Writing through to the truth.Regie Routman:I think one of the, I used to tell the kids the secrets of what writers do, is that when they write memoir, I remember working with fifth graders on this, that you can't possibly remember what was said, what somebody said five, six years ago.Tom Romano:No.Regie Routman:So you have to invent that dialogue, but the feelings are true. And as long as you stay true to those feelings, right, it's going to work because you can't remember exactly what happened. But you do, those feelings are there.Tom Romano:You mentioned dialogue, Regie. I always thought in schools, that's the great underused form of expression, that kids don't put dialogue in their pieces. And I love dialogue. When I'm reading a novel, I love turning the page and see those indentations. I want to invent that dialogue that moves my story along. I think that makes for good reading.Matt Renwick:Really reveal characters and what they're thinking, and then move things along and apply. And as you said, evoke that feeling. And you've both used journals, notebooks, I should say, how do you use them specifically? Everyone has a different method to help, not just document experiences, feelings, and moments, but also to generate more writing and document your reading. Regie, how do you use notebooks specifically and why do you...?Regie Routman:I specifically grab my notebook and let me just find it. Start with Tom or someone...Matt Renwick:All right.Tom Romano:I have friends, Penny Kittle and Linda Reef. Their notebooks are just beautiful. I mean, they write in them, but they also draw in them and they're aesthetically pleasing on their own, I think what they're creating. And I also know that Penny, a lot of times will, if she's writing the piece for Voices From the Middle or any other publication, that she will often draft in the notebook. I don't do that. I can't do that. If I have a piece I know I'm going to write, I might doodle a little bit in the notebook, but I would get out of a yellow pad. And part of the reason I use a yellow pad instead of drafting on the computer is because I like to drink coffee and I don't want it to get cold too quickly. So I could write with my left hand and drink coffee with my other hand.Tom Romano:The way I use the journal is pretty much to collect things. People say things I noticed rambling around in my thoughts. As I told you, that I would start to write on a note pad if I had something that I wanted to write for publication. I just thought of an exception to that. When I came home from Italy in 2018, my wife and I spent two weeks in Italy and we came back, I had some things to write about and I wrote about them discursively in my notebook, went on for several pages. When I was writing in this memoir and I came to the chapter that had to do with that subject matter, I went to my notebook and typed a lot of that stuff that I used for the chapter then. I guess once in a while, I might start an article or a chapter in there. Regie, what about you? How do you use that notebook?Regie Routman:Well, it depends what's going on in my life, right, at the time. So like the article that you have for me, Roaming Around the Known with an Adult Learner, I'm working right now twice a week, tutoring, a 54 year old man teaching him to read. And so that's been pretty fascinating. And so you've got the start of the story there. Now we've been working together for 10 months. And I've always worked like this. So I have a notebook and it's just messy. But every time that I'm working with them, I'm writing down everything that he's saying, everything that we're doing, thoughts that come into my head. This is like almost a full notebook just from working together.Regie Routman:And at some point, you can see just a lot of writing there. What happened, what I'm thinking. I use it a lot for reflection and I know I'm going to write something from that. I have no idea what it's going to be. But it's the only way I can remember. I used to tell teachers, "Even though you've got all those kids in front of you, tell them, show them your notebook." Okay. Kids take out your book. I write down what just happened because I don't want to lose it. You just can't remember even the actual words that somebody said. And a lot of the kids will start keeping their own notebook. I think of it more as a place to reflect. Then I go back and look at it.Regie Routman:But this is such an intense thing that I'm involved in right now. So I have a whole notebook just devoted to that. And that's been really helpful because there's no way I could remember some of the gems that he says, it helps me with my planning and also the writing. And then I feel like I have a body of work there.Tom Romano:I mean, who knows if I'll write another book. But when I'd have a professional book, I wanted to write, I would go back to my notebooks from where the last book ended. And I would read through everything for maybe three, four years just to see what I could pick up. And invariably, I picked up stuff that I had completely forgotten about, that I was able to then use in the book.Matt Renwick:This is great. I can listen to this all day. And normally when I have more time, I send the questions ahead of time for doing a podcast or something like that. But we can tell Tom and Regie had no problems speaking very knowledgeably about this topic. But does anyone else have any questions for Tom or Regie?Virginia Soukup:Not a question. I just wanted to comment about Regie's notebook, since you encouraged me last time to start one. I have. And so I keep one at school about the different things that teachers are doing just to... Because that's what I like to write about. It's the work. So you inspired me to start that.Tom Romano:Regie, what gave you the idea to start writing in a notebook regularly? When did you start that?Regie Routman:I have no idea. I don't ever remember being told that I was a writer. I always wrote poetry for some reason, but it was the rhyming poetry. Of course, it's all free verse poetry. I don't know. I think it was... When I started this first grade book flood, what was called this experiment in this school in Shaker Heights, where the kids were all failing in literacy, I just did it. I got introduced to Don Graves' work. Maybe it was something I read from him. I don't know. But it just seemed to make sense. I wasn't smart enough to remember everything. And so I had to write it down. What are the kids saying? What are they doing? What's the plan for the next day?Regie Routman:It wasn't a notebook in the sense of the way Penny keeps it. It wasn't like I'm thinking about writing ideas. It was, here's what I'm thinking about my life, about one of the things that I did because I want those of you that are teachers like me to also be bringing your life into the classroom. So in my last book, Literacy Essentials, I interwove stories, professional and personal stories into my book and then recorded them to speak them, which I think is really important because for... And you can find that on my website, if you wanted to see that. I think for kids whose stories are not valued, their culture is not valued, and even if they're having struggle with reading and writing, they can record their stories. That's so powerful. Oh my goodness, look, I'm a writer. And then they see it in writing and it makes them feel like they're a writer.Regie Routman:So it's been always important to me to bring my life, not separate my life like this and cooking from my husband and not having hugged my grandkids yet and what that's like to bring that into school as part of the stories that I tell. And that helps kids value. "Oh, she's just writing about hugging somebody. Well, I could write about that." Or just not to separate it as their school writing and then there's home writing. I think of it as teaching, learning and living and they all go together.Tom Romano:That is a good title, Regie.Regie Routman:I know. I'm thinking about my next book because I think we separate it too much. We separate it too much. And Matt knows. We've talked about this a lot because we've become good friends over the years, is always all about relationships. Kids are not going to bare their soul if they haven't developed a trusting relationship with us, right?Tom Romano:Right.Regie Routman:And so that's true with school and it's true with real life, right? Everything is about trusting relationships. So I think they all go together. And so I don't know, I just write whatever comes into my head. So then I don't want to forget it. And then I can go back to it. I have like this. I probably have about eight notebooks over... One notebook might last me, I don't know, six months, it might last me three months, it might last me two years. And I keep everything in one notebook so that I can find it. And then I just read. So if I go to a conference, my notes are there. So I can always find what I'm looking for by the date. So I think it's a little different than just whatever works for you. But they can also keep just a simple notebook and reflect on their life and ideas and what they're thinking. And it doesn't have to be complicated.Matt Renwick:Just get it down.Tom Romano:Can I say one other thing about that?Matt Renwick:Please.Tom Romano:I think that writing in a journal notebook taught me how to write better. I wish that a teacher had told me, that had me in high school, "Keep a notebook. Start keeping a journal." Because I didn't start writing in a journal until I was about, I would be about 24 years old in the summertime I was taking classes. I read Daniel Fader's Hooked On Books. And one of the things that, he had them reading paperbacks, huge new thing then, right. Having these juvenile delinquent kids read paperbacks, and then also keep a journal. And I thought, this is just the thing for... I had some kids in a class ignominiously titled Basic Skills for juniors in high school would not turn you on. But I thought, this is perfect for those kids to help them write a journal. And then I thought, well, I better do this myself if I'm going to have them do it. And man, I've been hooked on that ever since.Matt Renwick:Yeah. Both of you as the adults in the room or the teachers in the room, you go first and then the kids follow. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit readbyexample.substack.com

Most of us write every day, but do you remember the last time you created an imaginary world? We all love stories and, as Don Graves showed us, we all have a story to tell. But in schools, the focus is increasingly put on analytical writing. When did fiction writing fall to the side?Today on the Heinemann podcast we are rebroadcasting an episode that originally aired in 2019. In his new book, Writing Unbound, author Tom Newkirk explores the value of creating worlds through fiction writing. As Tom says, “our minds were made for stories,” so he decided to sit down with high school students to hear about the fiction they write in and out of school. In these interviews you’ll hear kids read their own creative stories and talk about their writing processes.Read a transcript of this episode on the Heinemann Blog.Learn more about Tom's new book Writing Unbound at Heinemann.com or follow him on Twitter @Tom_Newkirk

Our guest Don Graves takes all of the mystery out of the reverse mortgage and clearly explains what it is and how it works.

Are you using your housing wealth? If you don't even know what this means, don't worry – most people don't. But your home is probably one of your most valuable assets, so you should be leveraging that. To help us figure out how, we hop on a call with http://housingwealth.net/ (Don Graves). Don Graves is president and founder of the, Instructor of Retirement Income at https://www.theamericancollege.edu/ (The American College of Financial Services), and author of https://www.amazon.com/Retirees-Guide-Housing-Wealth-Retirement/dp/1732027021 (“The Retiree's Guide to Housing Wealth: 5 Ways the New Reverse Mortgage Is Changing Retirement.”) He is considered one of the nation's leading educators on incorporating housing wealth into retirement income planning. Discussion Topics https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/planning/signs-retirement-is-going-to-be-more-expensive/ (“14 Key Signs You Will Run Out of Money in Retirement”) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/27/op-ed-this-isnt-your-grandparents-retirement-plan.html (“Op-ed: This isn't your grandparents' retirement plan”) The benefits of having a dog in the family and the most popular dog names Utilizing your home in retirement What you should know about reverse mortgages How a reverse mortgage can help you sustain your retirement Common misconceptions about mortgages The 4 requirements for a reverse mortgage The 4 major sources of income in retirement When a reverse mortgage isn't the right answer The AAA philosophy: All Available Assets The pension options available to you Resources: http://housingwealth.net/ (housingwealth.net) https://www.amazon.com/Retirees-Guide-Housing-Wealth-Retirement/dp/1732027021 (“The Retiree's Guide to Housing Wealth: 5 Ways the New Reverse Mortgage Is Changing Retirement”) Have a retirement question? Ask us at http://askbeau.com/ (askbeau.com) Social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/askdongraves (Don Graves - LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/AskDonGraves (Don Graves - Twitter) https://www.facebook.com/retirementresource/ (Beau Henderson - Facebook) https://www.linkedin.com/in/beauhenderson/ (Beau Henderson - LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/richlifeadvisor (Beau Henderson - Twitter) About Beau Henderson:Beau Henderson is a retirement consultant, money and business coach, best-selling author, radio host, and Founder of RichLife Advisors. He has helped over 3,000 clients to not just improve their relationship with money, but to live their unique definition of a fulfilled life with purpose. RichLife Advisors helps clients across the United States approaching retirement with a strategy to: Save more money Pay less in taxes Properly address the 12 components of creating a successful retirement Protect the people and things that they care about the most Live their unique definition of a RichLife in retirement The Retirement Resource is produced by http://crate.media (Crate Media).

Don Graves, Principal of HECM Advisors Group, joins us today to discuss how both annuities and reverse mortgages can create more opportunities for retirement. Sponsored Message: head to  to get started and see how AgeUp can help you guarantee supplemental income for yourself or a loved one living past the ripe age of 90.   Connect with Don Graves: Website: Email: askdongraves@gmail.com   Connect with Ramsey Smith:   Connect with That Annuity Show: Twitter:  Facebook:  Website:    Connect with Nassau Re: LinkedIn:  Website:    *This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a solicitation of any insurance product. The discussion is not meant to provide any legal, tax, or investment advice with respect to the purchase of an insurance product. A comprehensive evaluation of a consumer's needs and financial situation should always occur in order to help determine if an insurance product may be appropriate for each unique situation.  

On this show, we talked about the evolution of reverse mortgages, their role in creating retirement income, and best practices with Don Graves, Adjunct Professor at the American College and reverse mortgage expert.  Listen to learn if a reverse mortgage is a good option for you! For the Difference Making Tip, scan ahead to 18:36! You can learn more about Don at HousingWealth.net, Twitter and LinkedIn. Ready to take back control of your attention, health and finances?   StriveDetox.com.  Enter “moneysavage” at checkout for 25% off.  George is honored to be included on Investopedia's list of the Top 100 Financial Advisors for 2019! You can learn more about the show at GeorgeGrombacher.com, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook or contact George at Contact@GeorgeGrombacher.com.

In this episode, we cover the topic of reverse mortgages. We welcome one of the country’s leading experts on the topic, Don Graves, for trusted insight. Don is a leading educator on incorporating housing wealth/reverse mortgages into retirement income planning. Our discussion covers how exactly reverse mortgages work, clarifies commonly held misconceptions, and describes the various situations where a reverse mortgage may be an option to consider. Watch and find additional insight at YourWealthHealth.com!New episode every Saturday at 9:30am EST on FOX Michiana.

Today the conversation around Diversity and inclusion continues.  There's nothing new about those words in Key Bank's lexicon.  As a matter of fact, diversity, equity and inclusion have long been  fundamental cornerstones of all things at Key Bank for years.  Today, Key Bank Senior VP Eric Fiala joins us to discuss what's going on in our world  and the role that his team plays at at Key Bank, to share both fiscal and intellectual capital,to benefit those communities they serve, from Maine to Alaska, As Director of Corporate Communnity Initiatives, Eric also oversees Key Banks's commitment to franchising and their very generous contriibutions in support of the IFA Educational Foundation and Diversity Institute.  .    

This interview is with Don Graves. In this interview, Graves discusses how he met Dr. Clore and Clore's influence not only on Graves's interest in growing wine grapes but also the growth of the wine industry in the Columbia Gorge. Graves also discusses dividing his time between working at Bonneville Dam and starting a vineyard. This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody at Graves' home in Dallesport, Washington on June 14, 2014.

Don Graves is the founder and president of the Housing Wealth Institute and an adjunct instructor of Retirement Income at the American College of Financial Services. Today on Stay Paid, Don discusses the important connection between housing wealth and financial planning. To learn how to generate more referrals and repeat business, visit: www.remindermedia.com Follow Luke Acree: https://www.instagram.com/lukeacree https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukeacree https://www.facebook.com/lukeacreeRM/ Follow ReminderMedia: https://twitter.com/remindermedia https://www.facebook.com/ReminderMedia https://www.instagram.com/remindermedia

Don Graves is a Marine Corps Veteran who fought in WWII and served in one of our bloodiest Pacific campaign battles, Iwo Jima. He was a member of the 5th Marine Division when he hit those black sand beaches at 19 years old, as a flamethrower. The education he was about to receive was one of a baptism into the inferno of combat, in a place where almost 7,000 Marines were killed and 20,000 wounded in six weeks of hellish battle. 335 men in Don's outfit hit the beach that day and only 18 made it out alive. Corporal Graves survived the battle but his greatest saving grace came after the war, with a statement of faith that changed his life forever. He's a nationally renowned speaker, minister, a singer/entertainer, and the last remaining of those 335 Marines in his outfit. Check out oscarmike.org/pages/foundation to learn more about Oscar Mike Foundation and what they're doing for wounded and disabled veterans across the country.

Increasing your income does not have to mean paying more in taxes. Listen as The Engineer of Finance shares several strategies to decrease your income taxes, and increase your retirement income. Ken Greene transitioned from being a Professional Engineer (P.E.) to the “Engineer of Finance.” His goal is to help people become financially independent and help them earn better yields with less risk by investing Off Wall Street. Links and Resources from this Episode For resources and additional information on this episode go to http://engineeroffinance.com  Connect with Ken Greene http://engineeroffinance.com  Office 775-624-8839 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-greene  https://business.facebook.com/GreeneFinance Book a meeting with Ken If you liked what you’ve heard and would like a one-on-one meeting with the Engineer Of Finance click here Show Notes Strategies to lower your taxes - 0:26 The latest episode with Don Graves - 1:51 Going into the reverse mortgage idea - 2:39 More income, paying more taxes - 4:13 Understanding the tax code and playing the game - 6:23 What to do if you are ready to retire - 7:09 Some retirement strategies - 8:00 It is all about cash flow! - 9:07 The new tax code - 13:56 What can you do to minimize your income taxes - 18:20 It takes time to know how to play the game - 20:20 Paying zero in income taxes for retirement! - 22:14 Everybody’s situation is unique - 29:30 Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Subscribe with Stitcher Subscribe with RSS

Ken talks with Don Graves, who is a RICP®, CLTC®, CSA® Certified Senior Advisor, President and founder of the Housing Wealth Institute, author, and Instructor of Retirement Income at The American College of Financial Services. He is considered one of the nation’s leading educators on incorporating housing wealth into retirement income planning. Today, they share insights about home equity conversion and reverse mortgage. Enjoy! Ken Greene transitioned from being a Professional Engineer (P.E.) to the “Engineer of Finance.” His goal is to help people become financially independent and earn better yields with less risk by investing Off Wall Street. Links and Resources from this Episode For resources and additional information on this episode go to http://engineeroffinance.com  Connect with Ken Greene http://engineeroffinance.com  Office 775-624-8839 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-greene  https://business.facebook.com/GreeneFinance    Connect with Don Graves https://www.linkedin.com/in/askdongraves https://hecmadvisorsgroup.com/ Book a meeting with Ken If you liked what you’ve heard and would like a one-on-one meeting with the Engineer Of Finance click here Show Notes What are reverse mortgages? - 2:30 Reverse mortgage and retirement - 4:54 The history of reverse mortgages - 5:28 Preparing for retirement - 6:31 Taking money from a reverse mortgage - 7:58 Requirements for a reverse mortgage - 9:00 Losing a home for a reverse mortgage - 9:30 Consequences of not paying your home taxes - 10:01 Reverse mortgages are not a product - 12:11 Making your retirement better - 13:57 Money flow - 15:14 Reverse mortgage as a powerful tool  - 15:55 The ideal candidate for a reverse mortgage - 20:52 Most Americans’ biggest asset - 27:11 Understanding more about home equity - 29:00 Get in touch with Don Graves - 29:36 Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Subscribe with Stitcher Subscribe with RSS

So just what is a reverse mortgage and how does a reverse mortgage work? Well, more technically referred to as a home equity conversion mortgage, Don Graves discusses what they are and how they work. The term “reverse mortgage” has been known to make retirees cringe at its mention, yet Don Graves, president and founder of HECM Institute for Housing Wealth Studies, says a reverse mortgage can serve as a valuable additional stream of income during the decumulation phase of life. If there were a proven resource that allowed you to increase cash flow, reduce your risk, preserve your assets, enhance your liquidity, and even add retirement dollars back into your savings account, wouldn’t you be interested? Don joins the Wealth Summit to show you how to utilize the reverse mortgage to accomplish these retirement objectives. KEY POINTS-What is a reverse mortgage?-How does a reverse mortgage work?-Home equity conversion mortgage synonym-Who can qualify? -How much money can you get?-How do you get the money? Widely known as a home equity conversion mortgage (HECM), a reverse mortgage is a federally insured home equity loan that allows those age 62 years or older to convert a portion of their mortgage to tax-free money. As the life expectancy of humans continues to increase, the initial 3 buckets of money—social security or pension income, investments, and insurances— aren’t lasting long enough to sustain the retired lifestyle many want and planned for. The reverse mortgage adds an extra asset retirees can draw money from to supplement their other 3 streams of wealth. To qualify for an HECM or reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 years old and the house must be your primary residence. Additionally, you must take a financial assessment test to make sure you have good credit and enough money left over at the end of the month to cover property-related expenses. Once you get the loan, you must maintain the upkeep of the house, hazard insurance, and pay property-related taxes. The amount you receive depends on a triangle of factors: the age of the youngest borrower, the value of the property, and the interest rate. A typical 62 year old is eligible for about 50% of the value of the home, up to a home value of $636,150. This low interest rate environment we’re experiencing currently gives you more money with less interest, as opposed to a high interest rate environment which means more interest and less money. So if you’re considering taking the reverse mortgage route, now is the time. It’s important to receive the money in the manner that suits your situation the best. It can be distributed in a lump sum or through a line of credit. You can also get monthly tenure payments, which lend a certain amount of money every month as long as you live in the house, or you can elect to receive monthly term payments, which distribute a certain amount of money for a select period of time. Finally, you can choose a combination of the two monthly payment options. Unlike many common misconceptions, a reverse mortgage doesn’t mean you lose your home. The government doesn’t want your house—just repayment of the loaned money when the house is sold. The proceeds offered by the HECM’s line of credit give you an additional stream of money that will help you enjoy retirement the way you always planned.

Most of us write every day, but do you remember the last time you created an imaginary world? We all love stories and, as Don Graves showed us, we all have a story to tell. But in schools, the focus of is increasingly put on analytical writing. When did fiction writing fall to the side?Today on the Heinemann podcast author Tom Newkirk explores the value of creating worlds through fiction writing. As Tom says, “our minds were made for stories,” so he decided to sit down with high school students to hear about the fiction they write in and out of school…

In this episode of the reverse mortgage podcast, Deb Nance has on special guest Don Graves who answers the top questions on reverse mortgages.

On this show, we talked about the evolution of reverse mortgages and their current utilization with Don Graves, Principal with HECM Advisors Group, Speaker, Educator and Advocate.  Listen to find out how Don thinks your house could play an important role in your retirement income picture! For the Difference Making Tip, scan ahead to 20:27. You can learn more about Don at AskDonGraves.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Please subscribe to the show however you’re listening, leave a review and share it with someone who appreciates good ideas.  You can learn more about the show at GeorgeGrombacher.com, or contact George by clicking here.

Today on the Heinemann Podcast, we're exploring credo.  In 2013, Heinemann celebrated the legacy of Don Graves at a special breakfast during the National Council of Teachers of English conference in Boston. Three years later, at the 2016 NCTE conference, we wanted to reprise this moment by inviting those in attendance to consider the theme of […] The post NCTE16 Don Graves Breakfast Podcast appeared first on Heinemann Blog.