Seeing boner drugs all over the TV channels, 24/7. You're lucky to encounter only 10/day. (10 boner drug ads EVERY FARKIN' DAY? 24/7/365? Seriously? Give us a break!) To be so heavily promoted, the makers must be able to put them out for $.05 cost while charging $20 each. Reverse Mortgage ads are almost as revolting. (As an ex-financial planner, thought I should look into them enough to understand the finances. Wasn't pleased.) I'm seeing Fred Thompson and Fonzie pimping these things at least as much as boner drugs, so must consider there's LOTS/EXCESSIVE profit for the lender. Wouldn't go so far as to call them a scam... and at 4-4.25% interest rates on the borrow are not exorbitant, but they certainly seem to be heavily laden with fees/closing costs/points up front. If you're considering one, check out the costs before signing. FWIW...
Sitting in front of my screen for a good portion of the day, I concur with what you've said. You would think that the male population is suffering from a serious lack of sex drive. I recently turned 53 and asked my wife if she would be game for me to try one, and she agreed. I almost sawed the poor woman in half. Never again. As for the RM's, yes, one must be careful about the fees. I am currently helping a friend who has turned 70 go through the process and weigh his options. He lives on a meager pension, SS, and owns his home outright for a long time now. No kids. I asked him what is he saving it for? He does not want to move, so I suggested RM may be the way to go since his equity is in excess of 1M. For him, it seems to make sense.
They can make a gallon of pills for a penny. And to bring up who blows billions of dollars on advertising, add in the insurance companies (Buffett spends a billion on Geico ads alone) and their insult-your-intelligence tactics. Do you really want to give money to a company that has Mr. Mayhem smashing cars? I'd rather be with one that offers free safe driving lessons for kids and elders. Insurance is mafia. They lobby government to mandate it on the people. In a lifetime you'll spend hundreds of thousands of dollars even if you never have one fucking claim. Fuck Warren Buffet and his posse. Car dealers budget $700 per car for advertising and they scream in your face. Buy some foreign fucking car that causes American factories to shut down and give all that money to an asshole who screams in your face, and then you willingly walk into his place of business and give him $40k? WTF! What the fuck is up with people in this country? Why do I see a Toyota on the road with a US Marines sticker on it? Remember Pearl Fucking Harbor? What the fuck? Are Al Queda brand autos next? Americans are fucking starving and these fucking assholes go buying foreign shit. I don't give a fuck where it's made. Fuck them.