Retirement Funds Help Entrepreneur Invest in a Greener Future

Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) February 25, 2008 -- In late 2007, Miki DeZorzi, an Orangevale, Calif., stay-at-home mom of two, invested her 401(k) funds into a better future for her family and, in so doing, hopes to do her part in helping the planet's future as well.

A former sales manager for a telecom company, DeZorzi used more than $50K from her previous employer's retirement plan to purchase Electric Car Living, a golf cart and Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) business in Lincoln, Calif. "This really is the wave of the future," she says of the more energy efficient alternatives to conventional four-wheeled light-duty vehicles.

Also known as Low Speed Vehicles (LSV), these lighter-weight, eco-friendly modes of transportation are being introduced into a growing number of communities, many of which are accommodating them by widening bicycle lanes. "Many counties and states are creating Low Speed Vehicle initiatives, encouraging people to get out of their cars, off the roads and use LSVs to get around," DeZorzi says. Currently 38 states have LSV laws, and many allow LSVs and NEVs on public roads with posted speed limits below 35 miles per hour.

To read more about Miki's new business and how she used retirement funds to finance her new business, click here.

A Note on Partnerships - By Scott Hurley, Guidant senior consultant

Partnerships for real estate investors are common, but can you enter into a partnership with your IRA funds? The answer is YES; but, it must be with a partner who is not a “disqualified party” to your IRA. Whether your IRA is investing into a real estate investment group that is structured as a corporate entity, or as tenants in common with one other party, the key is to avoid disqualified parties.

So who is a disqualified party? The list includes…

1) Yourself and your spouse – You cannot co-invest IRA funds with your personal funds on any investment.

2) All family members in lineal ascent or decent from you and your spouse. This would include children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents and so on . . .

3) Anyone with a fiduciary conflict with you or your spouse. This would include people like attorneys, financial advisors, tax consultants, etc.

For more information on partnering on an investment with your IRA funds, contact Guidant today.

Guidant Financial Group Offers Free Small-Business Financing and Self-directed Investing Seminars Online

Those considering using their IRA or 401(k) funds to invest outside the stock market or purchase a small business or franchise can learn more about these retirement-account options throughout the month of February via Guidant Financial Group’s free online webinars.

Guidant Financial Group’s senior team member, Doug Smith, will speak on the benefits of these unique retirement-account structures and the many investment opportunities they can provide. Open to the public, these webinars are designed for anyone interested in learning about alternative investments for their retirement funds. Smith will explain what those considering these options should know prior to moving forward. Each webinar is conducted live and will allow participants to ask questions online in real time.

Two webinars will be offered on business financing with retirement funds on the 14th and 26th. In these two presentations, participants will learn how to:
• Decrease, and potentially eliminate, the amount of debt needed to start a business
• Use an asset to contribute more money into their retirement plan
• Use retirement funds so as to effectively increase your business success
• Save thousands of dollars on interest payments and additional fees

Funding a Business With Your IRA or 401(k)
When: February 14, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. (PST)
Registration Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/271438946

Buying a Business Without Debt!
When: February 26, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (PST)
Registration Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/421085700

Two additional webinars, focusing on self-directed investing, will be offered on the 5th and the 20th and will teach participants:
• The biggest mistakes self-directed IRA investors make
• How the credit crisis is creating additional opportunities for self-directed investors
• Ways to eliminate transactional, holding and asset-based fees by a custodian
• What opportunities today’s self-directed investors are capitalizing on

Self-Directed IRAs: Making Money in Today’s Market
When: February 5, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PST)
Registration Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/740577505

The IRA LLC: The Ultimate Wealth-Building Tool
When: February 20, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (PST)
Registration Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/966753051

All presentations are free of charge. To register for any of the webinars, visit Guidant Financial Group, or call 888.472.4455.

Top-5 Investments Made by Self-Directed Investors

Bellevue, Wash. (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- Guidant Financial Group, a leading provider of self-directed IRA and real estate IRA services, announced today the top-five investments made by self-directed IRA holders in 2007. The list was derived by analyzing investments made by more than 600 investors with checkbook control of their IRAs in 2007. Self-directed IRAs are typically used for investments outside the stock market, such as real estate, but they can also be used to purchase traditional securities.

1. Real Estate
Though this grouping encompasses a lot of different types of real estate investments, it definitely stood out as the number one choice for self-directed investors in 2007. Within this category, the most popular real estate investment was residential rental properties. As home values across the nation stalled or dropped, investors moved their funds from appreciative properties to cash-flow investments. A close second to residential rentals were commercial rentals, followed by raw land, appreciative properties and foreign real estate.

To read more about the top-5 investments for self-directed IRA holders, click here.