Guidant Financial Group Blog: Guidant - Guidant Financial Group, Inc.

Franchisors Benefit from Veteran Tax Credits

Friday

A report in the IFA FranBlog this week indicates that the Vow to Hire Heroes Act is helping ignite new hiring strategies in the franchising world.

Because the tax credits associated with this Act expire in December of 2012, the time to act is now.

Learn ways to recruit veterans and visit the first-ever VetFran Pavilion at the IFA Convention in Orlando, Feb. 11 - 14.

Guidant Financial Featured in Entrepreneur

Tuesday

The projected top sources of small business financing for 2012 appear today in Entrepreneur, and Guidant Financial, along with client Linda Jamerson of Chicago, are featured prominently.

Read the full article here.

Labels: 2012 , 401(k) Small Business Financing , entrepreneur , Entrepreneur Magazine , Guidant , guidant clients , retirement funds , Small Business , startup

Positive Outlook for Franchising in 2012

Friday

After a rough year for franchising in 2011, many are hopeful about the coming year.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a probable factor for the decline was "a lack of access to credit." In the article, Steve Caldeira, president of the IFA, stated that "We may have underestimated the potential significant downward impact."

The article continues predicting "U.S. franchise establishments to increase in 2012, by 1.9%."

The increase is expected because of "improvements made over the past year in small-business lending, as well as signs that the overall U.S. economy is on the mend, such as the lowering of the national unemployment rate."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

Labels: 401(k) Small Business , Franchise , franchise financing , Guidant , lending , Small Business Credit

Guidant CEO featured on MO.com

Wednesday

David Nilssen shared his expertise on Mo.com today in his article about investing a 401(k) into a new business or franchise.

He detailed his 10 Things to Know Before You Touch Your Funds, which includes advice about understanding the risks involved with such an investment and creating a solid business plan.

To read his full list, click here.

Labels: 401(k) rollover , 401(k) Small Business Investing , Guidant , Guidant Financial , Investing , MO.com , Small Business

A Dose of Holiday Cheer on Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

Friday

Happiest of Holidays from the Team at Guidant

Labels: 2011 , employee morale , employees , Guidant , Guidant Financial , holiday , party , Ugly Christmas Sweater

15-Minute Fire Drill Webinar: Avoiding Common Credit Mistakes

Wednesday

If you missed our free webinar hosted by David Nilssen last Friday, on the topic Avoiding Common Credit Mistakes, you can now access it here.

Be sure to watch this blog, our Facebook page and Twitter account for announcements of upcoming webinars.

Labels: 2011 , business credit , David Nilssen , Financing , Franchise , funding , Guidant , Small Business , webinar

Entrepreneurial Boom Predicted for 2012

Friday

As we approach a new year, many people are looking forward and are predicting a hopeful future for small business.

Laurie Kulikowski, a reporter for The Street, predicts that circumstances in 2012 will encourage people to start their own businesses.

Kulikowski writes that a "trend likely to ring true in the new year: an entrepreneurialism boom. Unemployment is still high, and the bump from seasonal jobs will soon be gone. Additionally, military troops are coming home, and some will have trouble finding jobs."

The article quotes Jennefer Witter of The Boreland Group saying that "With returning veterans who are leaving the military to those who are laid off, many will decided to take their professional lives in their own hands and create businesses that will provide long-term security, income and, most important, their own say in their professional lives."

Read the full article on NuWire Investor here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

Labels: create jobs , entrepreneur , Guidant , new year , Small Business , veterans

David Nilssen Represents Guidant at White House

Tuesday

Greg Tanner (Aaron's), Steve Calderia (IFA)
and David Nilssen, Outside the White House

Yesterday, Guidant CEO & Co-Founder David Nilssen was honored to represent our company at The White House during the signing of the VOW to Hire Veterans bill.

Of the experience, Nilssen reflects, "It was a great honor to attend and witness President Obama signing the bipartisan bill. The room was filled with democrats, republicans, veterans and those of us who serve the public sector. For a moment, everyone was able to get along and agree that we must help our veterans.

Michelle Obama started by sharing her gratitude to work on this with her 'favorite person' – Jill Biden. The President took that comment in good humor. After her introductory remarks, the President spoke. I was impressed by his presence. His call for American entrepreneurs was to 'hire a veteran.' Love him or hate him, he is right.

Vice-President Joe Biden stuck around after the ceremony and spoke with me, Steve Calderia (the President of the International Franchise Association) and Greg Tanner of Aaron’s franchise. The Vice President was very grateful to the IFA for its support of our vets and agreed that franchising could be a wonderful option for our soldiers.

I believe that our country will rally behind our servicemen and women, and fight for them so that they too can live their American Dream. I hope America proves me right."

View a photo of Nilssen at the signing on komonews.com.

Labels: 2011 , bill signing , employees , Guidant , Guidant Financial , hire , IFA , Joining Forces , veterans , VetFran , VOW to Hire Veterans Bill , White House

Support Small Business Saturday

Monday

The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday will take place this weekend on Nov. 26.

It's a day designated as an alternative to the Black Friday rush in support of small businesses during this holiday season of shopping.

As a company that has helped start nearly 7,000 small businesses, Guidant encourages you to complete some of your holiday shopping on this day.

It's a great gesture toward small business, and a great boost to our economy.

Labels: 2011 , economy , Guidant , Guidant Financial , shopping , Small Business , small business saturday

Guidant Featured in Bellevue Patch

Our press conference on Friday earned some local attention from the Bellevue Patch, which featured an article about our commitment to helping veterans.

The report details our pledge to help start 500 veteran-owned businesses by 2014 and provide scholarships (one per month) to veterans for one year.

Read the full write-up here.

Labels: 2011 , Guidant , Guidant Financial , veterans

Friends and Family Open House

Friday

Last night our employees hosted their friends and family for a lovely evening of food, drink and fun. The menu featured items from Guidant clients and prizes were made up of products from Guidant client businesses.

A good time was had by all!

Labels: 2011 , employee morale , Guidant , guidant clients , open house , staff

Job Growth in October

The Labor Department reported Friday an increase of jobs on payroll and a dip in unemployment for the month of October.

"Companies added 80,000 jobs in October," CNNMoney reports, ". . . American employers reported slower hiring in September -- but other signs, including a lower unemployment rate, are showing the job market may actually be stronger than previously thought."

Read the full article here.

Although by many, the numbers were not seen as much of an improvement. The Street states that the report disappointed forecasters "who expected 95,000 to be added." The jobs added were also "not significant given that many adults remain on the sidelines, too discouraged to look for work."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

Labels: create jobs , economy , Guidant , Unemployed , unemployment

Washington Secretary of State Honors Guidant

Thursday

Guidant Cofounder Jeremy Ames received the honorable mention certificate for the Corporations for Communities award on Nov. 2 from Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

The prestigious civics awards recognize companies in Washington state that are dedicated to giving back to their community. Guidant was proud to be honored.

Labels: 2011 , awards , community , Guidant , Guidant Financial , honors , jeremy ames , philanthropy , Washington Secretary of State

European Plan Affects U.S. Stocks

Friday

The meeting of European leaders in Brussels for the development of a bailout plan resulted in a large fluctuation in U.S. Stocks.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the plan "brokered a broad package of measures to retool their bailout fund, recapitalize the Continent's banks and reduce Greece's debt load."

Read the full article here.

Stocks rallied soon after the plan was introduced Thursday, but Friday, skepticism about the plan seized control as stocks fell.

CNNMoney reported Friday that "investors are taking a step back, in the sense that they're getting down to the details that were in the plan yesterday."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list

Labels: debt crisis , european , Guidant , stock market , stocks

Guidant Founders Attend EO Alchemy

Monday

Magic Johnson with David Nilssen

Last week, Guidant Cofounders David Nilssen and Jeremy Ames attended what was dubbed "The most exciting event in entrepreneurship," EO Alchemy 2011 in Los Angeles, Calif.

During the meetup, they heard from such notable speakers as star athlete Magic Johnson and Twitter founder Biz Stone.

Johnson was Nilssen's childhood idol, so he was thrilled to be able to ask him a question during the presentation.

He asked what Johnson considers to be his greatest failure.

Johnson replied that successfully overcoming the "dumb jock" persona was tough, but ultimately making sure that what the customer wants vs. what he personally likes was something he had to learn to put into practice.

A great reminder for anyone who owns a business and offers services or products to consumers.

Labels: 2011 , Biz Stone , David Nilssen , entrepreneur , EO Alchemy , Guidant , jeremy ames , Magic Johnson , Small Business

Stocks Rally on European Hopes

Friday

U.S. stocks rallied on Friday, a possible reflection in investors' hopes that the upcoming European Union summit will result in a plan for the European debt crisis.

The Wall Street Journal reports Michael Farr, president of portfolio-management firm Farr, Miller & Washington saying that, "Every whiff of promise that comes out of Europe leads to another 100 points to the upside . . . But everything that looks like gridlock knocks 100 points off."

Read the full article here.

Labels: european , Guidant , Investing , Recession , stock market , stocks

Guidant Recognized by Washington Secretary of State

Thursday

2011 Corporations for Communities Award Winner

Guidant is proud to have earned Honorable Mention in the 2011 Corporations for Communities competition, awarded by Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

The prestigious civics awards recognize companies in Washington state that are dedicated to giving back to their community. Winners of the award this year included Sterling Savings Bank and Korsmo Construction.

The winners, along with those recognized with honorable mention, will attend a ceremony Nov. 2 in Olympia to receive their honors.

To read the full press release, click here.

Labels: 2011 , awards , community , Guidant , Guidant Financial , Small Business , Washington Secretary of State

Congratulations to our iDirect iPad winner!

Tuesday

We recently conducted a survey of our iDirect clients and within the survey was a contest to win an iPad.

We're pleased to announce that we've selected our winner from a random drawing and the lucky recipient of the prize is Michael O. from Fond du Lac, Wis.

Congratulations to Michael, and thanks to all who completed our survey!

Labels: 2011 , drawing , Guidant , guidant clients , Guidant Financial , iDirect , iPad , Self Directed IRA , survey

Increased Sales of Small Businesses

Friday

According to an article from NuWire.com, a recent report indicates an increase in the selling of small businesses.

The data, compiled by BizBuySell.com, reported that "Cheaper prices for businesses fueled a 3.5 percent increase in completed transactions of businesses for sale from July through September, 2011 compared to last year."

Mike Handelsman, the Group General Manager of BizBuySell.com and BizQuest.com, believes that as ". . . valuations decline, buyers are able to purchase larger businesses than in previous quarters for the same purchase price."

"We're glad to see the year-over-year upward trend that we've been reporting in the business-for-sale market continue into Q3."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

Labels: 401(k) Small Business , Guidant , Nuwire Investor , Small Business

September Jobs Report

Despite economic uncertainty, the Labor Department reported a rise in payrolls during the month of September.

CNN Money reports, "Employers added 103,000 jobs in the month ... And July and August were both revised higher, showing an additional gain of 99,000 jobs over the summer."

However, the increase still reflects a weak economy. CNN Money explains that "the economy has recovered only 2.1 million of the 8.6 million jobs lost since the recession began."

Read the full report here.

The Wall Street Journal reported some economists believing this growth is "Not weak enough to call it a recession, not strong enough to qualify as a healthy recovery/expansion."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

Labels: business , create jobs , economy , entrepreneur , Guidant , Small Business

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