While the federal government requires you to meet with a counselor before taking out a reverse mortgage, the quality of the counseling is uneven. If you want a rigorous analysis of whether you're better off with a reverse mortgage or a less expensive home, consult a fee-only financial planner. Because fee-only planners don't make commissions from investments they sell you (instead, they charge by the hour), you can be confident that they won't be peddling annuities just to score high fees for themselves. To find one near you, go to napfa.org. 
