 from our studios at Think Tech Hawaii in downtown Honolulu and from my home office in Makiki. Today, Wendy will be talking story with Wendy. That's because I have Wendy Oshiro of Neutral of Omaha, where Wendy Oshiro is a reverse mortgage specialist, a CRMP. She'll be discussing financial health, especially for our Kapunas. Wendy is also a dog riskier and a volunteer extraordinaire. Welcome, Wendy Oshiro. Thank you for having me, Wendy. Good to meet you. I know. I'm so excited. I mean, don't you just love our names? Well, I'm so blessed. I feel so blessed to have that name. I mean, it's such a happy name and I guess we kind of live into that name. So we're blessed. Yeah. Well, I got the name because I was born on a windy Wednesday. Oh, so you're a windy, not windy. Oh, no. Wendy, please. And, you know, I hate it when people call me a windy. Come here. I'm like, no, it's windy. But anyway, Wendy, let's get started. And let's just you tell us a little bit about who you are and your family life. Oh, I love to. This is my family. And this picture was taken last year in April. And it was a very special occasion because our family grew by four feet. And before I talk about those little four feet, let me tell you a little bit about myself. So you know how a local style, right? You say where you, what high school you went. So I went to a high school, and then I went to University of Hawaii, where I studied engineering for a while, and then I ended up in education. So I became a math teacher and I taught for 16 years, the last 12 and a half years was spent at Hawaii Baptist Academy. And I ended up going to that school because I was a new Christian. And my one of my really good friends had moved there the year before she thought it would be a really good place for me to grow and not just to share my faith with the kids, but also to grow on my own spiritual walk. And that's where I met my husband. So Darin is the athletic director for Hawaii Baptist Academy. And we got married after I moved to that school. And then we had two children, so Paige and Peyton. And what makes our family really special, I think, is that we like each other, which is good. My kids, we all enjoy each other's company. And we can just sit around and talk story, which is really important because together as a family, we also grow in our walk and our faith. And we have conversations all the time about God, about the lessons that we learn and are made real, what we see in the Bible and what we experience in life. And basically, it's like our iron sharpens iron, right? And we just help each other to grow. And one of the things that we love to do is surf. So that's how we got Sophie, our little rescue dog. And we just decided, you know, if we want to pet, let's try and do some good in the community as well. So Sophie was a homeless dog, was found in Waianae with two little pups. And we fostered her for a time and then we ended up rescuing her. Wow, how neat is that? And I know that when I met with you the other day and had a lot of other friends from this organization called Her Angel Foundation. So I wanted to just dedicate some time to this organization. So I know that it's close to your heart. And I know that your family really enjoys being with your rescue Sophie. And that's so important because those furry friends, they need to find forever homes. And especially doing these times when we find ourselves needing these furry friends to help us with mental health and stability. I know it's important because I'm looking at one as myself, as well as my daughter volunteers tirelessly at all different dog shelters. So just, will you just share a little bit about how others can get involved with the Her Angel Foundation or just dog rescue? Yeah, you know, before I share about that, I just like to say that, you know, we thought we were doing something good by getting a pup, you know, giving it a second chance in a new home, not realizing that this dog was going to change our lives. So, you know, this dog, when we come home from work or, you know, being out of the house for a while, we open the door and she's doing the Tahitian hula. She just is a bundle of joy. And then she's pretty chill too. She'll just sit next to us and watch TV. She's helped us get out of the house every single day since we've had her, you know, going to the park, getting exercise. So I can understand now how companionship from a pet can really help improve your health. Yeah, it just brings so much joy and allows you to express it in a way that you can't do other people, right? So, you know, it brings out, it can bring out the best in you if you have a pet that's a really good fit for you. So for Furniture Foundation, we do what we do because of the help of volunteers and donors. We are a nonprofit organization and I say we because I just joined the board in September. I really believe in their mission about actually bringing dogs and people together and, you know, because there's so much good that can come out of that. So we are looking for fosters. And if you're unable to have a pet in your home, then we also take donations of either items that can help them like, you know, the puppy pads or beds and blankets and, you know, toys and things like that. But financial donations also help a lot too with the vet bills, which can be really large. Like one of our last pups, I think it was $8,000 because they had parvo. So any kind of help, we'd really appreciate it. Just go to the www.ferrangelfoundation.org website and you can learn more information there. Wow. And I know towels are always in in desperate need just so that when we wash them up and clean them up, your towels go quickly. So all that love and affection from your furry friends can help us all with our own mental health and stability. So yeah, guys, call the Fur Angel Foundation and help bring home one of your very own fur angels. It's just so rewarding and exciting. But she, like you said, we think we're doing a favor, you know, by getting a dog. But I mean, actually the dog comes home to us and it's therapy. Yeah. Complete therapy for us. So invest in your well-being by going out and getting one of those fur angels. Yeah. So, you know, I found a fight on our next fight. I found this website. You look like you're 20 years old in there and your parents. So tell us a little bit about your parents. Oh, yeah, that was like when I was 20. I'm trying to work out right now to get back down to that skininess. So those are, that's my mom and my dad. And I think it was my birthday. My parents are really special to me. We weren't particularly close, but you know what? I gained, they contributed to my life so much. And I'm glad I have a moment to honor them. My dad, he was an engineer. So very analytical. But at the same time, he was very social and he liked to be in the community. He loved to volunteer. He was active with the United Okinawan Association. So for him, he had great joy in being active, you know, playing golf at the club, being with people. And as for my mom, she was totally on the other side. She enjoyed being quiet with her Bible. And for her, she's my spiritual influence because without her prayers, I might not be talking to you about the Lord's influence on my life and, you know, how he's changed my life entirely. So my parents are actually the reason why I do what I do and I'll share more about that later. But you know, they were for a time very, very active. My mom also used to go bowling once a month, once a week on Sundays. And she really looked forward to that time. And it was really nice to see them active and happy and just thriving. Sounds like you had a great family life. I mean, I would not know that, you know, we all have family issues, but the foundation is solid. And, you know, you had that growing up. So that's why you were always, you know, you always knew that that was there for you. So, you know, I found another photo and it's a photo of a house. I believe your father built this house and it served as your family home for the past 30 years. Tell us what this house or this home meant to your parents. My dad found this property. It was on a sugar flume. So the house is built on a sugar flume. It's an IAO. So I guess the sugar flume is where they used to put the sugar cane and have it go down to the CNH sugar mill. So it was kind of to me, especially because there's a piece of history and my dad took great pride in it because he actually designed the house and he built it with his friend. And they lived there for just about 30 years. And home, his home was his castle. It was really funny. This is my picture of him when he came home from work, you know. In my mind, I see him changing his clothes and sitting in his lazy boy recliner chair, turning the TV onto the news. He would have beer in one hand and boiled peanuts in the other. And that was like his throne in his castle. That was his time to unwind and he just loved it. And you know, for my mom, she enjoyed, like I said, she enjoyed quiet moments. She would go feed the birds at a certain time every day outside of the back door. And she named the birds too. I mean, it was it was a really, really inviting and calming place for them. Right. But you know, that's the key, right? I mean, like when we raise children, they like everything to be, you know, like, you know, the same, you know, like the system. And our parents, my parents is like your parents, I mean, come home from work. But my dad, his castle was his home as well. But he'd go to the yard, 10 to the yard, and mom would be cooking. And then we'd be sitting at the table and then we'd watch Flintstones and Gilligan's Island and the New Zealand. And it was every day, it was the same thing. And we all sat down together for dinner. We cleaned up, and then we sat down again, watched more TV and homework, and then we went to bed. And that was life, how I remember it. So very similar to your upbringing too, Wendy. Yeah, we built our own home as well. And so the love and the passion behind it is just not another home that we purchase. We have sweat equity in that home. And so I can really relate to your family's story. I know that in 2005, I know your father suffered from a stroke. How did this stroke impact your family? Well, it was unexpected. My dad had gone to an eye doctor appointment. And a lady went to the receptionist and said something's wrong with this man. So my dad was hiccuping and he was drooling. And immediately they recognized he was having a stroke. But even though they tried to treat, he was in a shot hospital. They treated him right away, but he still suffered paralysis on one side of his body. So he lost his independence. And one year later, in 2006, my mom had an aneurysm. And then she had bleeding, she had strokes from the surgery to clot the bleeding in her brain. So she lost her independence as well. So it was a tumultuous year from 2005 to 2006. And they both had their health episodes on the first week of school, 2005 from my dad, first week of school, 2006 from my mom. So it was, it was crazy. And I didn't last very long. I ended up having to quit my job so that I could handle their affairs and try and take care of them. And, you know, it was really difficult because nobody teaches you how to be a power of attorney, how to be a successor trustee. And I was going from the standpoint of being a math teacher, right? I'm looking at numbers. How am I going to pay for their care? What's the best way to do it? You know, so I was thinking a lot about the money and not so much about their quality of life. And I wish there was some sort of class, you know, that you have to take to understand that quality of life for the people that you are interested with, you know, their care is important. So because I didn't realize it was important, I actually sold their house. I sold their house because I thought that was the only way I would get money to pay for their care. And my dad was telling me from the care home, you know, Wendy, I want to go back home. I want to go back home. He was not happy where he was in his care home. And I didn't listen to him. I just thought, no, we got to sell so we can get money to pay for your care, you know. So the sad thing was I was actually approached by one of my parents from HBA who said, hey, Wendy, I have a solution for you and it'll help your folks stay in their home. And they came, she brought her friend to my house to meet with me and talk about this solution. And she kept mentioning reverse mortgages. And I was like, why are you talking about reverse mortgages? And then she said, well, because that's how you're going to help your parents stay in the home. And I believed all the myths about reverse mortgages. And I shut them down. And I said, no, we're not talking about this. And that was the end of that. So the sale went through. My dad never got to see his home again. And it wasn't until after like four months later, I had had no job. I quit my job. I was so stressed out. I learned about reverse mortgages during that time. And I was so, it just was a terrible feeling to think that, wow, I really didn't do my research. And I didn't entertain an option that could have given my dad his wish, which was to remain in his house. And to help me see that we did have money. We did have money to pay for care if I had looked at this option better. So I was offered a job, ironically, by the same person that I sent away, because my parents had told her, hey, Wendy had a change of heart, you know, she found out through her son, who was in my class, that he had visited me to see how it was doing. And they ended up, she ended up offering me a job as a reverse mortgage specialist at a bank, you know, so that was 15 years ago. And here I am today, trying to do my best to help people be open to learning about it. So I'm like, totally no pressure when I meet with people who are thinking about a reverse mortgage, because I want them to feel comfortable in knowing that they can ask whatever they want, they can take as long as they want. But they know they can trust me to give them good information and help them make an informed decision, you know. So that's how I care. Wow, what a learning experience. And I know, you know, I know the kind of person that you are. And so, yes, that's why I understood because I only knew you from your commercials and I understood what we needed to do because of what your testimony was on your commercial. And I would hear it constantly and I would wonder, what is that all about? And so, you know, a lot of people, I would say, majority of the people, what you experience when your mom and dad had their health challenges, a lot of people are thrown into that arena. And frantically wondering, how am I going to manage, how am I going to survive? And what can I do? So your responsibility, Wendy, is a great one because you need to find them, you know, when times are good, you need to find them so that you can breathe this knowledge and information and they can prepare themselves. So when and if something did happen, they are financially, mentally prepared as one more step in the process of life. So you mentioned about preparation. Yes, we always should live in preparedness and that's so important. So we need to get your information out so more and more people can understand, hey, let's just listen. Well, we have a clear mind and we're not stressed out. And Wendy, yeah, you need to get that message out to more and more people, especially in these times where a lot of people are having health challenges now and so we need to get your word out even further. But before we go further, I have a question from one of the viewers in the audience and they wanted to know, how do I find the right reverse mortgage partner to work with? It's good to interview who you're thinking about working with and well, how do you find them in the first place? Well, to be honest with you, there are not a whole lot of reverse mortgage specialists in Hawaii. I think I only know of maybe about five altogether or six at the most. However, any lender can probably do a reverse mortgage, but it does benefit people to work with a specialist. A specialist is one that doesn't do any other kinds of loans, only reverses. And that's important because reverse mortgages have different guidelines and regulations than the traditional mortgage loan officer has to follow. We also see the reverse mortgage products as a financial planning tool. It's not just a mortgage that you apply for and you get. You have to know how it can help you in retirement, how it can improve your cash flow, how it can increase the chances of you having sufficient cash flow throughout the entire retirement, not just today and not just take the money and go spend it on Vegas or something. We are trained to teach the partners that our clients work with, like financial advisors and attorneys, insurance people, CPAs. We teach them how to use equity in a way that benefits their client, not just today, but throughout retirement, giving them a better retirement with more security and peace of mind. That's important. Going back to your question, I kind of digress there, but interview. It's important to interview the people that you want to work with for your reverse mortgage and see how comfortable you are with their knowledge, with the way that they will serve you. For instance, my commitment to my clients is as long as I'm able, you can call me and I will assist you. I have people that I've helped get their loan 15 years ago that still call me. If they have a question about their mail, want me to get with them on the phone and call the service center, that's my pledge to my customers. When you talk to you out there, when you're talking to prospective loan officers, what do you expect from them going into the future? Do you still want their help? Because those are important questions to ask. Will you still be there for me? How so? Tell me about how you continue to service your clients. Because it's not just about taking an application. It's about how the loan officer is going to help the customer make an informed decision before that even starts. The education part is so so important and I think by talking to a loan officer you can tell. You can tell if they are selling a product or if they're trying to help you have a better retirement. The topic of our show is taking your health back and what you're trying to give to your clients or your potential clients is taking their financial and retirement health back or even start thinking about it so that they don't have to take it back because they're going to be living it. Financial health is so key for us to grow old more healthy because we have a peace of mind that our financial foundation is set and we have great advisors like yourself to guide us every step of the way to set it up so our foundation is solid and we grow old in wisdom and in greater health and joy so we can enjoy the people around us who need our advice and our love as Kupuna and it's something that I'm looking forward to and so that helped me to be a better prepared Kupuna. We can't do anything about age. It's always going to be happening but we can do something about how we approach it. We can't fight it but we can approach it in a better healthful way and so I think this is very key and so that's why I wanted you to come on to share and to teach and educate us how can we grow old with more financial dignity and so you're the other one because I hear your heart all the time on the radio and I just knew that I needed to learn and understand more so actually right now I'm interviewing you you know that right not just for the show but as always good to find out. We all know other people who might need it right so it's right we all do and we all need it not who may need it we all need it and I want to be responsible for giving my friends the peace of mind that they should have as we age together so I don't want to just be happy and healthy by myself. I want everybody around me to have the same things that I have and that's something that I know you can bring to to them and to myself so thank you Wendy for knowing your call and when God called you to do this and you have the right heart and knowledge and training for this so amen. It's a big responsibility but you get great results and so that's the value of it all you know um I was just wondering so you know after your father had his stroke did your eating your family's eating habits change after that or are they still the same or what's it like on the dining table these days? Well you know unfortunately both my parents did pass away uh my dad passed away I think three and a half years after he had a stroke and my mom um she lived uh I think about seven years um eight years after her stroke um but I can see the the difference in um quality of life in some of my well my clients you know and it it allows them so so here's if I if you don't mind me going back and talking a little bit about um what the reverse mortgage does for people just in a nutshell so it allows them to be able to access the equity in their home you know to to convert some of that to cash that they can use to pay for things while still having full use and title to their home you know there's not a whole lot of assets you can pull from and and still own it you know um but this is one that's really really special and they can use it to to afford better nutrition to afford prescriptive medications to afford activities or transportation or trips to visit family that you know just to fill their hearts with love and fulfillment you know to see their kids or their grandkids um that's what equity through a reverse mortgage converting it to cash can help people do you know well yeah you nailed it I'm glad you added that in because that right there bringing them equity this uh a little bit more that they can spend on better quality of food you know because everyone says oh eating healthy is expensive but when you do it right it's actually not and I can contest to that as well but um just having the peace of mind that you can afford organic or one more level of better than having to settle for the two you know the 99 cents burger so you know versus a two-dollar apple of course the two-dollar apple is better but we don't know that if we don't have that option because financially we don't so what you are bringing to the table is giving them a quality of life for their options to enhance their lives ahead of them wow so amazing and and and just because of what you you you you had to go through and you had to learn and go through this process so that you can save other people's lives as well as yours and your family and your friends near to you so too safe for heating to the call girl I'm so proud of you so I know I know that you have a son and a daughter but I know that your daughter Paige and you are you have a special bond and you guys are really close and I know because I met Paige we did her wedding favorites as she recently got married but I also know that she joined you in your business as a reverse mortgage specialist oh thank you feel oh I'm so proud of working with you girl that is success yeah I am blessed I am blessed so both um you can call Paige or you can call me and we're both happy to help you she is a wonderful wonderful professional and she she's teaching me how to embrace um and love other people she she's free with that like I'm like well I don't want to hug but she's really just giving of herself all the time she invites people into her space you know and um the kupuna really appreciate that because they know that she really loves them wow that's that's so sweet so you know we heard your passion behind being a reverse mortgage specialist you and Paige they're to serve let the rest of us know how do we get in touch with you so that we can better prepare prepare ourselves for our futures feel free to call me text me email or check out my website so all the information is right there and I'm happy to help you however you're comfortable communicating with me wow thank you so much Wendy Oshiro so we have to leave it there for now Wendy we've come to the end of our show you've been watching taking your health back on thing tecabaí mahalo to Wendy Oshiro a reverse mortgage specialist for talking story with us and for better preparing us on how to grow odor with more financial health and confidence Hawaii mahalo to Wendy Oshiro and we're grateful for your valuable information I'm Wendy Lowe and we'll see you back in two weeks aloha everyone