How We Make Money
We believe you deserve to know exactly how our business works. Here's the complete picture.
The Simple Answer
Lenders pay us a referral fee when you connect with them through Trustiva and close a loan. You never pay us anything.
This is 100% free for you.
The Detailed Explanation
1. How Referral Fees Work
When you choose to connect with a lender through our platform and ultimately close a reverse mortgage loan with them, that lender pays us a referral fee. This is a standard business model in financial services comparison sites.
Typical referral fees range from $500 to $2,000 per closed loan, depending on the lender and loan size. These fees are paid by the lender from their marketing budget — not added to your loan costs.
2. Why This Model Works for You
This model aligns our incentives with yours:
- •We only earn money when you're satisfied enough to complete a loan
- •If we provide inaccurate estimates or poor lender matches, you won't proceed — and we don't get paid
- •Our success depends on your trust and satisfaction
3. Do Different Lenders Pay Different Fees?
Yes. Some lenders pay higher referral fees than others.
Here's what matters: We do NOT let commission rates influence lender ranking.
Our lender ranking is based exclusively on estimated value to you (available funds minus total costs). A lender paying us a higher commission does not appear higher in your results.
How We're Different from Other Comparison Sites
Many comparison sites (in mortgages, insurance, travel, etc.) rank results by commission, not consumer value. The option that pays them the most appears first.
We don't do that. Ever. Our ranking is based on your estimated net benefit, period.
Our Transparency Commitments
We Display This Page Prominently
"How We Make Money" is linked in our main navigation and footer, not buried in fine print.
We Disclose on Results Pages
Every results page states: "Lender order is based on estimated value to you, not on what they pay us."
We Explain Before Data Sharing
When you choose to connect with a lender, we clearly explain our referral relationship before sharing your information.
No Hidden Revenue Streams
We don't sell your data to third parties. We don't have affiliate deals for related products. Lender referrals are our only revenue source.
What You're NOT Paying For
Using Trustiva does not increase your loan costs. Here's why:
- ✓Lender fees are the same whether you come through Trustiva or contact them directly. Origination fees, MIP, closing costs — all identical.
- ✓Rates are the same. Lenders don't charge higher rates for referrals from Trustiva.
- ✓Referral fees come from marketing budgets. Lenders would spend this money on TV ads, direct mail, or Google ads anyway. We're just a more efficient channel.
Questions About Our Business Model?
We're happy to answer any questions about how we operate. Email us at [email protected].
For more about our values and commitments, read The Trustiva Promise.