[QUOTE=percy;
ps.It is not The Crusty kids' money.It is their parents.[/QUOTE]
I have to agree. It is better to use your equity than to see out your retirement in poverty.
However, you also have to consider that it doesn't neccessarily have to be Mr & Mrs Crusty eating away the equity in their forever home.
This model is also suggested to property investors with a portfolio of properties. Take the increase in equity out on one house a year to fund retirement. Assuming properties double in value every 7 years it should self fund. If the market crashes catastrophically you might want a plan B. And shares in the banking industry might not be it? Not that I am predicting that kind of global market failure.