Since we first announced the 2009 Equity University Networking Conference, people have asked what they can expect from this premier event.

If we were to choose one word to describe what you’ll experience in Orlando it would have to be “Real.”

Real-world – Too many “training seminars” these days are just a weekend-long lecture/sales pitch.  Equity University is focused on preparing the Networking Conference attendees for real world successes.  You are attending this event to become a master investor and make connections that will change your future for the better.

Real people – From the attendees to the panelists to the investment experts, you will spend three full days connecting with real people who have real world experiences and successes. Equity Trust clients with a proven track record will be featured on the main stage and in numerous interactive sessions. We have made every effort to facilitate building lasting relationships with other investors.  As a networking opportunity, this conference truly is invaluable.

Real success – The driving force behind the conference is to bring together investors from all over the nation to learn from past successes and ensure future success through education and networking.  Investors have long asked for an ultimate place to learn about new investing strategies and make the connections that can guarantee their ongoing success.

This will not be anything like any conference you’ve attended previously.  It will be a truly interactive educational experience.

Edwin Kelly, Director of Equity University, has put together a short video to give you a sneak peak at the vision for the 2009 Networking Conference.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on this premier education and networking event, be sure to register today and take advantage of special Early Bird pricing and discounted lodging at the Peabody Hotel (while it lasts).

July 8th, 2009 | No Comments »

It’s no secret that corporate America has been hit hard by the recent economic downturn.  Major corporations have been forced to make cuts across the board.  Executive salaries have been slashed, layoffs are becoming more and more common, and no one seems to be hiring.

Now another challenge has been handed down to those already struggling to secure their financial future.

According to a study released by CFO Research Services, a full 25 percent of U.S. employers have eliminated or plan to cut matching contributions to their 401(k) plans. It’s obvious why they are doing this.  They need to cut costs somewhere, and this is an easy way to do it.

What does the reduction in 401(k) contribution matches mean to you?

Traditionally, a 401(k) with your employer that provided matching contributions, more common than not, was a no-brainer when it came to saving for retirement.

Take the familiar Safe Harbor plan model used by many employers.  With this type of 401(k) the employer is required to match 100% of an employee’s contribution up to 3% of their salary. Where else can you get a guaranteed 100% profit on your retirement savings?

With so many employers ending their matching contributions it’s not such an easy decision.  Depending on your level of contribution, you might be better off contributing to your own IRA and freeing yourself from the restrictions that are often imposed by employer sponsored 401(k) plans.

A Traditional or Roth IRA allows you to contribute up to $5,000 ($6,000 if you are over age 50) every year towards your retirement.

According to the Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America, the average worker contributes about 5 percent of their salary to their 401(k). With the 2008 per capita income in the U.S. of $39,751, this works out to an average 401(k) contribution of about $2,200. Take away a matching contribution the 401(k) loses much of its appeal.

And since you are the one deciding who holds the funds for your personal IRA, you have complete control over the investment choices available to you.

Imagine taking that $5,000 per year and investing in something that you actually know something about.  You are not limited to the limited choices of a select mutual funds from your provider.

You can utilize a truly self-directed IRA to invest your money in the vehicle of your choice.  Whether it’s real estate, oil and gas, foreign currency or live stock, it’s your choice.  The investment opportunities are nearly endless.

If you’d like to see how contributing to your own self-directed can help ensure your financial future, call one of our Retirement Plan Specialists.  We’ll help you put the pieces of the puzzle together.

July 2nd, 2009 | No Comments »

We’re not even in July yet and we’ve already had an overwhelming response to the 2009 Equity University Networking Conference. Investors across the nation are getting ready for THE premier self-directed investing conference this year. So far we have nearly 200 investors registered!

Everyone who has registered up to now has been able to take advantage of two fantastic money saving deals.

Our Pre-Early Bird pricing can save you up to $300 off the Standard price. But this is only available until tomorrow. Starting July 1, 2009, the Pre-Early Bird special disappears.

Investors who register early can also save big on accommodation costs. We have secured 250 rooms at the conference hotel (The Peabody, Orlando) at a special rate of $109 per night. Normally these rooms go for $300!

With almost 200 people already registered though, there aren’t many rooms left.

You don’t want to be left out in the cold on this exciting networking and education opportunity.

Make sure you register before July 1, 2009 and you could save yourself nearly $1,000!

Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect at the conference, October 2-4, 2009 in Orlando.

June 29th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

We’ve known and talked about the changes coming to Roth IRAs in 2010 for some time now. Starting January 1, 2010, there will be no income limit place on individuals wishing to convert a Traditional IRA or 401(k) to Roth.

For the most part, this major change has gone under the radar of most of the major financial news publications.

A Wall Street Journal article brings to the surface the most important details about the impending changes to the tax code. They’ve laid out the advantages and disadvantages of converting to a Roth in 2010 and a few things you can do to prepare.

If you are one of many Americans who have been shut out of a Roth IRA in the past due to your income, this tax change should be of great interest to you.

To keep up on all the developments regarding this opportunity, be sure to check out Equity Trust’s online 2010 Roth conversion resource center.  You’ll find information about the change itself, how it affects you and how to prepare.  We’ve even included a recording of our interview with a senior IRS official discussing the changes being made. Check back often to ensure you don’t miss anything.

June 26th, 2009 | No Comments »

At Equity Trust we are committed to providing you with the best possible self directed IRA education.

As a part of this continuing effort, we are pleased to announce the first round of free educational videos designed to give you the basics of self-directed IRA investing.  In these initial videos, you’ll hear from Edwin Kelly, Director of Education for Equity Trust, and Rich Desich, a Vice President at Equity Trust.

They’ll break it down for you and give you the need-to-know information about making a self-directed IRA work for you.

Watch all the available episodes here, or check out a couple ways to stay up-to-date below.

If you like what you see, be sure to stay up to date with the latest and greatest videos as soon as they are released:

Bookmark the convenient YouTube playlist and check back often to be sure you don’t miss anything.

Subscribe to the video series with iTunes and have the newest episodes ready any time, any place.

June 23rd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Two more lucky winners have been chosen to attend the Equity University 2009 Networking Conference.

Out of all of the attendees who had registered before June 2, 2009, Guy Cook of Baltimore, Maryland was chosen to have his tuition fees reimbursed.

If you didn’t win this time around, don’t worry.  There are still 3 chances for you to win. All you have to do is register for the Networking Conference by July 1, 2009.

We have also chosen a winner in our Client Survey Contest. Robert Sipp from Roversford, Pennsylvania will receive 2 tickets so that he and a guest can attend the conference for free.

If you’d like to join the lucky few who will be attending the 2009 Network Conference on our dime, here’s what you have to do:

1) You have to register for the conference by July 1st – All paid registrations are automatically entered for the drawing.

2) One lucky winner is selected – One winner is selected from all the paid attendees to the conference on Thursday July 2nd.

3) The winner doesn’t have to pay anything for conference fees! The lucky winner has their conference registration fees paid for by Equity University.*

*All paid registrations are entered automatically. Guest registrations are NOT qualified to win. Winners receive a reimbursement of all conference fees paid. Airfare, accommodations, food, and any expenses beyond conference fees are not included for the winner. You can only win once.

June 19th, 2009 | No Comments »

We just returned from the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) National Conference.  During our time in Washington D.C. we had a chance to talk at length with financial advisors and CPAs from across the country.  We gathered some outstanding insight from the attendees and had some great discussions on how Equity Trust can help advisors expand their business opportunities.

One comment that we heard several times throughout the conference was “my clients are looking for something new, but may not be in a position yet or do not have significant IRA or plan balances.”

The fact is, investors do not need “significant” or “sizeable” retirement account balances to get started with self-directed investing.   It’s a common misconception that this type of investing is reserved for the wealthy elite.

At Equity Trust, clients only need $500 to open a new account and begin diversifying their retirement portfolio. There are several common investment types that individuals can utilize to get started.  Many often require less than $3,000 of initial capital.  Clients have found promissory notes, real estate, lease options and tax liens a great place to begin growing their IRA and small business retirement account balances.

If you are a professional advisor, such as a CPA, financial planner or attorney, and would like to learn more about how self-directed investing can benefit your clients, our Professional Network may be the perfect place for you.

If you are an investor looking to get out of the market and take control of your financial future, give us a call at 1-888-382-4727 and we’ll help you put the pieces together to ensure your success.

June 12th, 2009 | No Comments »

Registrations for last months’s webinar, “Finally, All of the Pieces of the Self-Directed IRA Puzzle Put Together” exceeded all expectations.  The phone lines we packed and, unfortunately, some people missed out on the presentation.

In response to the overwhelming demand, we have scheduled an encore event for June 16, 2009 at 8 p.m. EST.

For those of you that missed the first presentation last week, Edwin Kelly will be presenting the answers to some of the most common self-directed IRA questions.

A few of the topics that Edwin will be covering are:

• How to find your deals
• Where to find a Lawyer/CPA/Financial Advisor to help you
• Where to find more capital or smaller deals to get started

Participants will also get a sneak peak at the educational opportunities that will be available at the 2009 Equity University Networking Conference that kicks of October 2, 2009.  Find out how this premier event could prove a vital piece of your investment toolbox.

There are only 250 lines available for this encore presentation and you must register by June 15, 2009. Don’t let it pass you by again.

June 7th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

This past week, the office of the New York State Comptroller released its annual audit on the state employees’ pension fund. According to their report, a whopping $44 billion ($44,000,000,000) seems to have evaporated from its coffers.

Unfortunately, this scenario is far from uncommon these days.  The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that public and private pension funds in the United States have lost roughly $1 trillion ($1,000,000,000,000) in the past year.

In the case of the New York state fund, the planned solution is to increase salary deferrals of covered workers by an astounding 48 percent.

It’s probably safe to say that communal retirement funds, such as pension funds, are quickly becoming a thing of the past.  Even employer sponsored 401k plans are beginning to see a change.  The once common employer match contribution is becoming increasingly scarcer as corporations tighten their belts.

For these reasons, private retirement solutions, such as IRAs, are quickly gaining in popularity as Americans look for ways to ensure a solid retirement.  Self-directed IRAs are one of the fastest growing segments in this expanding market.

Throughout the past year, while most of the financial industry is trying to piece things back together, self-directed IRAs have experienced continual growth.

More and more Americans are realizing that they can no longer rely on others to make the best choices for their retirement.  A self-directed IRA allows you to fully control what happens to your hard earned retirement funds.

Whether your expertise lies in real estate, private lending or even livestock, a self-directed IRA will give you the control you need to turn your expertise in to a solid financial foundation for your retirement.

June 4th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Mary Matthiesen of Lakewood Ohio Won Free Attendance to the Equity University Networking Conference…Will You Be Next?

To be a winner like Mary, register for the 2009 Networking Conference before June 2nd for a chance to get your registration fees completely paid for.

So, Here’s How You Can Attend this One-of-a-Kind Event for Free.

1) You have to register for the conference by June 2nd – All paid registrations are automatically entered for the drawing.

2) One lucky winner is selected – One winner is selected from all the paid attendees to the conference on Wednesday June 3rd.

3) The winner doesn’t have to pay anything for conference fees! The lucky winner has their conference registration fees paid for by Equity University.*

*All paid registrations are entered automatically. Guest registrations are NOT qualified to win. Winners receive a reimbursement of all conference fees paid. Airfare, accommodations, food, and any expenses beyond conference fees are not included for the winner. You can only win once.

June 1st, 2009 | No Comments »