When in Doubt, Be of Service

 For weeks, my dad had one question. And despite his repeated inquiries, I didn’t have an answer.

“Do you have a golf cart guy?”

“Sorry, Dad, I don’t. I have a guy for a lot of other things. You need a plumber? A mechanic? Maybe a CPA? I’ve got a great CPA for you.”

Of course, none of those were what he was looking for.

He was relentless in his search for “a golf cart guy.”

It all stemmed from a gift my dad has: he needs to be of service to others.

He wanted a golf cart for my daughter’s high school graduation party so he could pick up guests and bring them to the edge of the driveway. That way, they wouldn’t have to walk up a hill past 50 other cars on their way to the party.

I loved the idea, but my mind was focused on the 400 other things still on my to-do list.

Walking tacos for 300 people.

Enough pop, water, and refreshments.

Tent setup. Tables. Chairs. Garbage cans.

The photo slideshow.

The weather (more on my "hope list" than "to-do list," but it worked out perfectly).

All the little details that feel much bigger when people start showing up in your front yard.

Then, on Friday afternoon, I got home from (another) Costco run, and there it was.

A golf cart in my backyard.

I had no idea where it came from or how it got there.

But I knew exactly who was responsible.

My dad, Mark Bina.

He wasn’t about to let his son’s frantic mind deny his vision. He saw a way to help people, and he found a way to make it happen.

That’s my dad.

And that’s one of the most important lessons he has taught me: When in doubt, be of service.

Service usually looks smaller than we think

A life of service doesn’t always look dramatic. It doesn’t always come with a title, a microphone, a nonprofit, or a grand gesture.

Sometimes service looks like noticing that older guests might appreciate a ride from their car. Sometimes it looks like making a phone call, holding a door, making an introduction, or asking one more question.

Service to others can be solving a problem no one else saw because everyone else was too busy managing the obvious things.

Service starts with awareness. It asks:

“What would make this easier for someone else?”

“What does this person need right now?”

“What friction can I remove?”

“What burden can I carry for a few minutes so someone else doesn’t have to?”

That golf cart wasn’t really about transportation. It was about hospitality. It was about dignity. It was about making people feel thought of before they even arrived. And that is the part that stuck with me.

Service builds trust

Trust is not built in one grand moment. It is built through repeated evidence. You said you would help, and you helped. You said you would show up, and you showed up. You noticed something that mattered to me, and you acted on it.

That is why service has such a powerful effect on relationships. It creates proof.

The kind of proof that says, “You can count on me.”

When someone consistently leads with service, people stop wondering about their intentions. They already know.

That matters in families. It matters in friendships. It matters in communities. And it absolutely matters in business.

Because at the core of every meaningful relationship is a simple question: “Can I trust this person?”

Service answers that question without needing to announce itself.

Service teaches the people watching

One of the most underrated aspects of a life of service is what it teaches the people nearby.

My Dad wasn’t giving a lecture that day. He wasn’t sitting my kids down and saying, “Let me explain the importance of serving others.” He just did it. And that is usually how the best lessons are taught.

People watch what we prioritize. They watch how we treat others when we are busy. They watch whether we look for ways to help or wait until we are asked. They watch whether we make life easier for others or quietly make everything about ourselves.

That day, my Dad gave my family another example of what service looks like in real life. Not as a theory or a quote on a wall. Service as a golf cart in the backyard.

Service creates community

The more I think about it, the more I believe community is built by people who are willing to be useful. Not impressive, but useful.

It's the person who checks in. The person who brings the extra cooler. The person who knows a guy and makes the warm introduction. The person who sees a gap and steps into it. The person who says, “I can help with that.”

When people serve one another, connection gets stronger. Rapport deepens and trust compounds. And people begin to believe something very important in life: “I’m not doing this alone.”

That belief changes everything. It changes families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. And, in my opinion, it changes the way we think about success.

Service to others knows that winning is contagious. It's a mental soundtrack that says: "When I help others win, I win too." Not always immediately and not always financially. But winning through deeper relationships, stronger trust, greater purpose, and the contentment that comes from knowing I contributed something useful.

My Dad, for nearly 5 decades, has said it to me this way: “Give others what they need first, and you’ll get what you want.” The older I get, the more I understand what he means.

That is not a manipulation strategy. It is a life strategy.

Lead with service.

Lead with generosity.

Lead with curiosity.

Lead with usefulness.

The rest tends to work itself out.

How this Shapes the Work I Do Today

This is also how I try to approach my role as a reverse mortgage loan consultant.

Not as someone trying to convince people that a reverse mortgage is right for them.

Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not.

But my first responsibility is not to sell someone a loan. My first responsibility is to be of service. And it's the reason I chose this career and the reason I am committed to it for the long haul.

Being of service means helping people understand what is possible.

It means helping homeowners age 62+ and their families ask better questions.

Questions like:

Could this improve monthly cash flow?

Could this help someone stay in their home longer?

Could this create a financial buffer during retirement?

Could this reduce pressure on adult children?

Could this help fund long-term care, home modifications, or other needs later in life?

Could this give a surviving spouse more options?

Could this turn home equity from something passive into something useful?

Those are important questions, because for many families, they are not just financial questions. They are quality-of-life questions. They are family-focused questions. They are questions of independence and dignity. They are legacy questions.

Curiosity is Part of Service

One of the best ways to serve someone is to stay curious long enough to understand what they actually need. Not what I assume they need. Not what a spreadsheet or a product brochure says they need. But what they genuinely need.

That requires slowing down, listening, and being present.

It commands asking better questions.

And it necessitates being willing to say, “This may not be the right fit.”

Because real service is not about steering every conversation toward the same answer. Real service is about helping people find the right answer.

Sometimes the right answer is a reverse mortgage loan. Sometimes the right answer is a different financial strategy. Sometimes the right answer is to talk with their financial advisor, estate attorney, CPA, or adult children before making any decision.

That, to me, is still service. In fact, that may be the most important kind.

The Goal is Clarity

There is a lot of noise around reverse mortgages. Some of it is outdated. Some of it is misunderstood. Some of it is based on old stories, bad assumptions, or a lack of good information.

So, when I meet with a homeowner, family member, or financial professional, I see my job as helping create clarity.

What is true?

What is not true?

What are the risks?

What are the responsibilities?

What are the potential advantages?

What would need to happen for this to be a smart, responsible, and useful tool?

That is where trust is built. Not by pretending every situation is simple, but by being willing to walk people through the complexity with patience and honesty. Because families do not need more pressure. Lord knows we all have enough pressure. They need clarity. They need options. They need someone willing to sit with them, answer their questions, and help them think through the possibilities.

Back to the Golf Cart

I keep coming back to that golf cart. My Dad saw something that would make the day better for other people. He did not overcomplicate it, did not ask for credit, and did not make a speech. He just found a way to be useful.

That is the kind of service I admire. And it is the kind I want to keep practicing. For my family. For my community. For my co-workers and my work as a professional. And for the conversations I have with people who are trying to make thoughtful decisions about retirement, home equity, care, independence, and legacy.

Because at the end of the day, service is not about having all the answers. It is about caring enough to ask the right questions. It is about noticing what others need. It is about helping people move from confusion to clarity.

And sometimes, it is about finding the golf cart.

When in doubt, be of service.

How Can I Be of Service?

If you or someone you care about is trying to make sense of retirement, home equity, long-term care planning, cash flow, or how a reverse mortgage truly works, I would be happy to be a resource.

No pressure. No assumptions. No sales pitch dressed up as education. Just a conversation built around your questions, your goals, and what might be possible.

Sometimes the answer is a reverse mortgage. Sometimes it is not.

Either way, my goal is the same: to help bring clarity, provide useful information, and be of service in whatever way I can.

If you will allow me to be of service, please reach out. I would be honored to help you find the best path for you and your family.