As many of you know, many companies today are in trouble. They are facing financial challenges that may drive them into bankruptcy or out of business all together. The question is – What happens to the company employees when this happens? What happens to people who have dedicated years of their lives to these companies? What happens to the very people responsible for decades of profits?

What few people fail to realize, is that company sponsored retirement programs that are managed by a third party can become literally trapped when a company falls into bankruptcy or shuts its doors. Worse still, the employees that spent years putting aside money for their own financial security, can be left stranded and helpless to get control of their own money. Those are NOT company monies, those are personal investment funds. However, the legal process to establish and retake that control can take months and even years.  That’s right – YEARS before you can get your own retirement money back under your control.

This New York Times article by Gretchen Morgenson tells one of those very real and very sad stories. This is just another example of why no American should surrender control of their financial future to anyone, even their own employer. Self directed investing is absolutely THE way to invest. It keeps you in control of your hard earned cash. It keeps your family’s financial future where it belongs – in your own hands.

Read the full article, and realize that this is a sad possibility that too many American’s, like you, face today. Take control now!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/business/401-k-woes-when-a-company-goes-bankrupt-fair-game.html?_r=1&smid=tw-share

I just met with a group of 20 successful business owners and spent 2 hours explaining how they can teach their cutomers how to Create Passive Income in just a couple of weeks.  It was powerful and exciting to see the business owners realize they can build their businesses by not just charging their client more fees, but by educating them and then letting them apply those principles.

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has gotten lots of attention for holding as much as $100 million in his individual retirement account…  That’s right, top leaders in this country understand the powerful financial tool that Self Directed investing is.  Experienced investors like Mitt Romney (and newbies alike), have taken control of their financial futures

This article, by Laura Sanders, investigates the every day and exotic investments that are being made today with Self-Directed accounts.   It is packed full of information about how self-directing is taking center stage.  And, how every day people are just now obtaining the information that they need to invest in what they already know!

To read the complete Wall Street Journal article: visit http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204571404577253411744719228.html

Greg Herlean, CEO of Horizon Trust Company, knows that proper financial education does change the lives of his clients and the audiences he speaks to.

Greg has spent the last 10 years focused on the growth opportunities and wealth accumulation through Real Estate vehicles.  His aptitude for business has afforded him the opportunity to provide management direction, capital restructuring, investment research analysis, business projection analysis, and capital acquisition services which governed and impacted over $500 million in Real Estate transactions.  His business acumen is complimented by his ability to cultivate and grow long lasting relationships.  Greg prides himself on being a man of his word and in always holding himself to the highest delivery standards.  This ethos allowed him to assemble a broad network of investment resources, brokers, and lending institutions worldwide who eagerly anticipate the opportunity to engage with him in business ventures.

How did his career begin?  When  Greg returned to the United States from a mission to Guayaquil, Ecuador, he was introduced his first mentor by his father, during a visit his parents home in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He took immediate interest in the insurance entrepreneur, upon learning that the successful business man easily supported 6 children and was always on vacation.  He decided, right then and there, to get to know this man and find out what the secret was. Read more

Over 72 million Americans have IRA’s with $4 trillion invested. Of that $4 trillion, 4 percent of it is invested in self-directed IRA’s. Why is that? The answer is, because people need to become educated about self-directing. Ninety-six percent of IRA money holders in the U.S. are not educated on self-directing. This tells you that although advisors tell you to diversify they do not mean it, or necessarily do it.

It is time to start the education now!

In his educational presentation “IRAs and How YOU Become the Bank,” Greg covers the following topics which are critical for the financial success of the over 69 million American who are yet to become educated on this topic.

• What your financial advisor will not tell you.
• What is Self-Directed Investing?
• What types of investments are open to you right now.
• How to identify the correct Self-Directed custodian for you.
• How to identify what type of Self-Directed account will best assist you in obtaining the lifestyle that you desire.

Greg walks you through all of your options and identifies just how to leverage what you have now, to achieve the life that you desire.

Invite Greg to Speak

Date: To Be Announced Soon
Time: 11:00 AM
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time
Registration Link:

In this article it’s important to note a couple of items. First this particular person has a large portion of the funds she manages in one place. That place is not something she can control at all and does not need that risk in her life. Second she has tried to diversify herself by putting funds into several places but places she doesn’t understand. Invest in what you know! At least With a portion of your funds. You do not have to manage all of your money but if your going to step out of the box do it in places you understand.

Src: http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/24/retirement/money_makeover_risks_berne.moneymag/index.htm

Startling statistics and a must read. It’s amazing that only 11 percent of Americans think that retirement is to include leisure and travel. The rest for the most part are just hoping they can pay their bills or sustain how they live. As Americans we should not lower our expectations on how we are going to live during retirement. But we must not either expect someone else to do it for us. Majority of the pensions are gone now so it makes it more important that you know where your money is and what it’s doing for you. Plan and save and educate yourself!!! It’s essential. The stats in this article are a must read.

Src: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/13/pf/roth_ira_tax_loophole.fortune/index.htm

Retirement guide. Take control and win. The statement in the article says it all. And I quote Sitting still when we should act, and acting when we should sit still — if we can avoid those two mammoth mistakes, we enormously increase our chances of retiring successfully. Fortunately, you don’t have to be brilliant to avoid them. You just have to understand them.

Now is the time  take advantage of the opportunities

Read more

For decades, Americans had access to a strong “three-lane highway” to retirement—
a traditional pension, Social Security, and individual savings. As the first
of some 78 million Baby Boomers begin to retire in 2011, they are speeding on a
dangerous road full of potholes.  This article presents a Roadmap for Policy makers from the National Institute on Retirement Security.

To learn more about the methods which can be used to avoid these potholes and ensure a comfortable and secure retirement, read this research presented by By Brian Perlman, Ph.D. , Kelly Kenneally, and Ilana Boivie of the National Institute on Retirement Security:

http://www.nirsonline.org/storage/nirs/documents/Public%20Opinion/final_report.pdf