Asset-Based Loan: Retired Physician Purchases $875K Florida Retirement Home with Investment Portfolio

Dr. Robert K., a 67-year-old retired cardiologist, had spent 35 years building both his medical practice and his investment portfolio. After selling his practice two years earlier, he now managed a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds valued at approximately $2.8 million—the result of decades of disciplined saving and smart investment decisions. As a senior homeowner (Step 4 in his financial journey), Robert and his wife were ready to relocate from their longtime home in Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, where they could enjoy warmer weather, be closer to their grandchildren, and embrace the retirement lifestyle they’d worked so hard to achieve.

Robert wanted to purchase an $875,000 waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Isles neighborhood without liquidating his investment portfolio. His portfolio generated steady returns and provided the foundation for their retirement income strategy, including eventually leaving a legacy for their children and grandchildren. Selling investments to pay cash for the home would trigger substantial capital gains taxes and disrupt their carefully planned retirement income strategy.

Despite having substantial liquid assets, excellent credit, and more than enough wealth to support the mortgage, Robert faced an unexpected obstacle when he applied for traditional financing: his limited retirement income didn’t meet conventional lending guidelines, even though his investment portfolio could easily cover the mortgage payment for decades.

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Why Couldn’t a Wealthy Retiree Qualify for Traditional Mortgage Financing?

Robert approached two traditional lenders and one private bank, confident his financial position would make approval straightforward. He had a 762 credit score, $2.8 million in liquid assets, substantial funds for the down payment, and perfect credit history. His investment portfolio generated more than enough returns to cover the mortgage payment many times over.

Both traditional lenders rejected his application after reviewing his income documentation.

Robert’s retirement income consisted of Social Security benefits, modest pension payments, and investment portfolio distributions—totaling approximately $78,000 annually on paper. Traditional lenders said he needed to show at least $110,000 in documented annual income to qualify for the mortgage he wanted. Despite having $2.8 million in assets that could cover every mortgage payment for 30 years without ever earning another dollar, traditional underwriting guidelines focused exclusively on monthly income rather than overall wealth and ability to pay.

“The whole situation felt absurd,” Robert explained. “I spent 35 years building wealth and saving for retirement. I have nearly $3 million in liquid assets that generate more than enough to cover this mortgage. But because I’m not collecting a W-2 paycheck anymore, traditional lenders treated me like I couldn’t afford a mortgage payment. It made absolutely no sense.”

The private bank offered slightly more flexibility but required Robert to move his entire investment portfolio to their wealth management division and accept their investment management fees—something Robert had no interest in doing given his satisfaction with his current advisors and portfolio strategy.

“They basically wanted to hold my investments hostage to give me a mortgage,” Robert said. “I wasn’t interested in disrupting 30 years of relationships with my financial advisors or changing my investment strategy just to get financing. This wasn’t about building wealth anymore—I’d already done that. This was about being a smart steward of the wealth I’d built and making strategic decisions about how to deploy it. Paying cash would create a massive tax bill and disrupt our retirement income plan. I needed financing that recognized my actual financial position.”

With their Chicago home already sold and a closing date approaching on the Fort Lauderdale property, Robert needed a solution quickly. Traditional lending wasn’t working, and he refused to liquidate investments or move his portfolio to access basic mortgage financing.

Experiencing similar obstacles as a retiree? Schedule a call to discuss alternative qualification methods.

How Did Robert Discover Asset-Based Lending?

After his second rejection, Robert mentioned his frustration to his financial advisor, who had worked with other high-net-worth retirees facing similar challenges. The advisor suggested looking into asset-based loan programs that qualify borrowers based on their investment portfolio rather than traditional income documentation.

Initially skeptical after two rejections, Robert scheduled a consultation with a loan advisor specializing in asset-based mortgages for retirees and high-net-worth individuals. He expected complex requirements or unfavorable terms given his non-traditional income situation.

The conversation immediately addressed his concerns. The advisor explained how asset-based lending evaluates borrowers’ liquid assets—stocks, bonds, mutual funds, retirement accounts—rather than W-2 income or tax returns. The lender would review his investment portfolio statements, calculate a conservative percentage of those assets as qualifying income, and approve the mortgage based on his overall financial capacity to pay.

“That conversation made perfect sense from a risk perspective,” Robert said. “The advisor explained that from the lender’s viewpoint, someone with $2.8 million in liquid assets represents less risk than someone with a $120,000 salary and minimal savings. If I ever couldn’t make a payment—which is unlikely given my assets—I have abundant resources to draw from. Traditional lending just couldn’t see past their rigid income documentation requirements.”

The advisor also explained that asset-based loans work particularly well for retirees, business owners who’ve sold their companies, high-net-worth professionals stepping back from practice, and anyone with substantial investment portfolios but limited traditional income. Robert’s situation was exactly what these programs were designed to address.

Robert learned he wouldn’t need to liquidate investments, move his portfolio to a specific bank, or change his retirement income strategy. The lender simply needed to verify his assets existed and were liquid—a straightforward documentation process that recognized his true financial capacity.

What Documentation Was Required for This Asset-Based Loan Approval?

Robert worked with his loan advisor to assemble the required documentation for an asset-based loan application. Unlike traditional mortgages requiring W-2s, pay stubs, and tax returns, this program focused on verifying his liquid assets and overall financial position.

Documentation provided:

• Three months of investment account statements showing $2.8 million in liquid assets
• Portfolio breakdown: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cash equivalents
• 762 credit score with perfect payment history on previous mortgage
• Substantial funds available for down payment from liquid assets
• Social Security and pension income documentation (supplementary)
• Letter from financial advisor confirming portfolio management and liquidity
• No debt obligations other than the new mortgage
• Purchase contract for $875,000 waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale

The approval process:

1. Initial consultation (Day 1) – Discussed asset-based qualification and retirement home purchase goals
2. Document submission (Day 3) – Uploaded investment statements and financial documentation
3. Asset verification (Days 4-7) – Lender verified portfolio value and liquidity
4. Credit review (Days 8-9) – Confirmed credit score and payment history
5. Property appraisal ordered (Day 10) – Third-party appraiser scheduled home inspection
6. Conditional approval (Day 12) – Approved pending appraisal and title work
7. Appraisal completed (Day 18) – Home appraised at $880,000 (above purchase price)
8. Final underwriting review (Days 19-24) – Verified all conditions satisfied
9. Clear to close (Day 26) – Final approval issued with closing instructions
10. Closing (Day 33) – Funded purchase and closed on retirement home

The lender calculated Robert’s qualifying income by applying a conservative percentage to his liquid asset portfolio. With $2.8 million in verified liquid assets, the calculation demonstrated more than sufficient capacity to support the mortgage payment—far exceeding what traditional income-based underwriting had concluded.

“The process was remarkably efficient and respectful of my financial sophistication,” Robert said. “The loan advisor and underwriter understood investment portfolios, asset allocation, and retirement income strategies. They didn’t need everything explained—they simply verified my assets, confirmed liquidity, and approved the loan based on my obvious capacity to pay. It felt like working with professionals who understood wealth management, not just paycheck-to-paycheck lending.”

The entire process took 33 days from initial application to closing, which fit perfectly within Robert’s purchase contract timeline. He appreciated that the lender recognized his decades of financial discipline and wealth-building rather than penalizing him for being retired.

Ready to purchase with your investment portfolio? Submit a purchase inquiry to discuss your scenario.

What Were the Final Results of This Asset-Based Loan?

Robert closed on his waterfront retirement home exactly 33 days after submitting his initial application. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Fort Lauderdale’s prestigious Las Olas Isles neighborhood provided the retirement lifestyle he and his wife had envisioned—waterfront living, boat dock, close to grandchildren, and perfect Florida weather.

Final loan details:

• Loan amount: $655,000
• Purchase price: $875,000
• Property appraised value: $880,000
• Competitive market pricing for asset-based lending – Try this Asset Based Loan calculator to explore scenarios
• Various repayment period options available – Discuss with your loan advisor
• Application to closing: 33 days
• Property type: 3BR/3BA waterfront home with boat dock, Las Olas Isles, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Investment portfolio preserved: $2.8 million remains invested and growing

Traditional income-based lending vs. asset-based loan qualification:

• Traditional lender qualification: REJECTED – insufficient documented income despite $2.8M in assets
• Asset-based loan qualification: APPROVED – qualified based on investment portfolio
• Wealth preservation: Avoided liquidating $875K in investments and triggering capital gains taxes
• Retirement income strategy: PRESERVED ✓
• Retirement home goal: ACHIEVED ✓

The home appraised $5,000 above the purchase price, confirming Robert’s assessment of the property’s value. By financing rather than paying cash, Robert kept his investment portfolio intact and working for his retirement. His portfolio continued generating returns while he enjoyed his new home—a smart wealth management decision that preserved his retirement income strategy and legacy planning.

“The asset-based loan allowed me to be a smart steward of the wealth I’d spent 35 years building,” Robert explained. “Paying cash would have triggered over $200,000 in capital gains taxes and disrupted our retirement income plan. Instead, I’m financing at competitive terms while my portfolio continues growing. The mortgage payment is easily covered by portfolio returns, and I’m preserving significantly more wealth for our retirement years and eventually for our children and grandchildren.”

Robert views this home purchase as part of his broader legacy planning strategy. By preserving his investment portfolio rather than liquidating it for the home purchase, he’s maintaining the financial resources that will support his and his wife’s retirement for decades and eventually transfer to their heirs. The mortgage represents a small, manageable expense relative to his overall wealth, and financing made more sense than disrupting his long-term financial plan.

“This isn’t just about one home purchase—it’s about making wise decisions that preserve and protect generational wealth,” Robert said. “We worked hard for 35 years to build this financial position. Asset-based lending allowed us to enjoy the retirement we’d planned without making poor financial decisions that would have cost us hundreds of thousands in taxes and disrupted our income strategy. That’s the kind of smart stewardship I want to model for our children and grandchildren.”

Ready to get started? Get approved or schedule a call to discuss your asset-based financing options.

Exploring Other Options with Asset-Based Loans?

While Robert used an asset-based loan to purchase his retirement home, the same program works for multiple scenarios:

• Already own a home and want to refinance? See how a financial advisor used an asset-based loan refinance to lower his rate in retirement
• Need to access equity from your home? See how a retired investment banker used an asset-based loan cash-out refinance to fund private equity investments

View all case studies to find success stories matching your situation and wealth-building goals.

What Can Retirees and High-Net-Worth Individuals Learn from This Asset-Based Loan Success?

• Asset-based loans qualify borrowers based on investment portfolio value, not W-2 income or tax returns—ideal for retirees, business owners who’ve sold companies, or anyone with substantial liquid assets but limited traditional income (IRS retirement income guidance)
• Preserving investment portfolios often makes more financial sense than liquidating for home purchases—Robert avoided over $200,000 in capital gains taxes, maintained his retirement income strategy, and kept his portfolio growing for legacy planning
• Asset-based lending recognizes that wealth and income are different measures of financial capacity—someone with $2.8 million in assets represents less risk than someone with high income but minimal savings
• Strategic use of leverage preserves generational wealth and retirement resources—financing at competitive rates while maintaining invested assets creates superior long-term outcomes compared to liquidation
• Three months of investment statements typically satisfy documentation requirements—much simpler than traditional income verification with tax returns, W-2s, and employment letters
• Strong credit scores (750+) and substantial liquid assets unlock the best terms in asset-based lending—Robert’s 762 score and $2.8M portfolio positioned him for competitive pricing

Have questions about qualifying with investment assets? Schedule a call with a loan advisor today.

Alternative Loan Programs for Retirees and High-Net-Worth Borrowers

If an asset-based loan isn’t the perfect fit for your situation, consider these alternative financing options:

• Bank Statement Loan – Ideal for retirees or business owners with consistent bank deposits but significant tax write-offs reducing taxable income
• DSCR Loan – Perfect for purchasing investment properties based solely on rental income without providing personal income documentation
• HELOC – Access equity from an existing home through a flexible line of credit without refinancing your first mortgage
• Home Equity Loan – Tap into home equity with a fixed-rate second lien while preserving your existing first mortgage terms
• Reverse Mortgage – For homeowners 62+ who want to access home equity without monthly mortgage payments
• 1099 Loan – Designed for self-employed professionals with 1099 income who take significant business deductions

Explore all loan programs to find your best option.

Want to assess your complete financial picture and explore your wealth-building path? Take our discovery quiz to clarify your goals and next steps.

Helpful Asset-Based Loan Resources

Learn more about this loan program:

• Complete Asset-Based Loan Guide – Detailed requirements and qualification guidelines for portfolio-based lending
• Asset-Based Loan Calculator – Explore scenarios based on your investment portfolio

Similar success stories:

• How a financial advisor refinanced in retirement with an asset-based loan – Lowering payments with portfolio-based qualification
• Retired investment banker’s asset-based cash-out refinance – Accessing equity for private investments
• Browse all case studies by your journey stage and financial situation

External authoritative resources:

• IRS Retirement Income Guidance – Official information on retirement income and taxation
• CFPB Mortgage Resources for Retirees – Consumer protection information for older Americans
• SEC Investor Information – Securities and Exchange Commission guidance on investment accounts
• Social Security Retirement Benefits – Official Social Security Administration resources

Ready to take action?

• Apply online – Start your asset-based loan application today
• Schedule a consultation – Discuss your specific retirement and wealth management goals
• Take the discovery quiz – Deep dive into your life, wealth, and purpose goals to clarify your financial path

Need local expertise? Get introduced to trusted partners including financial advisors, estate planners, and realtors specializing in retirement transitions.