Longbridge Financial has announced the promotion of Larissa Morrell to vice president of product development, underscoring the company’s continued investment in product innovation and tailored financial solutions for older homeowners.
In her expanded role, Morrell will steer the company’s product development strategy. She will collaborate across product, technology, operations, compliance, and sales divisions to translate new concepts into scalable solutions designed to address the shifting financial requirements of Americans aged 55 and older.
Morrell brings over two decades of mortgage and financial services experience to the executive position, with a core focus on the reverse mortgage sector. Before joining Longbridge Financial in 2022, she spent nearly nine years as director of sales logistics and development at Reverse Mortgage Funding, following earlier leadership and business development roles at MetLife.
Since joining Longbridge, Morrell has transitioned her focus from sales strategy toward driving product innovation. She has played a pivotal role in several major company initiatives, including the rollout and ongoing development of HELOC For Seniors® and the expansion of the firm’s proprietary Platinum reverse mortgage portfolio. Additionally, she has spearheaded new tools and sales processes aimed at optimizing both the borrower experience and loan officer efficiency.
“Homeowners 55 and older represent a large and diverse population with a wide range of financial circumstances and goals,” said Melissa Macerato, chief revenue and marketing officer and co-founder of Longbridge Financial. “Larissa’s years of experience working directly with loan officers and borrowers in the reverse mortgage industry have given her a deep understanding of what homeowners are looking for and what loan officers need to effectively serve this market.”
Morrell noted that her vision for the role centers on broadening how home equity is utilized within comprehensive retirement planning.
“I believe product innovation starts with a deep understanding of how homeowners’ financial needs are evolving,” said Morrell. “There’s an opportunity to think more broadly about the role home equity can play in a homeowner’s financial planning and to develop products that address a range of needs and circumstances. I’m excited to continue that work and help Longbridge evolve its product portfolio.”
