US Gasoline Demand Hits All Time High in July

Bellevue, Wash. – August 1, 2007 – In July the Energy Information Agency showed a gain of 1.3 percent in the US demand for gasoline from a year ago, the highest recorded for any four-week period. In addition, according to the Energy Information Agency, prices of oil have exceeded $77 per barrel, an 11-month high. This combination of high demand and high prices has financial experts concerned about inflation. In his report to Congress, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke voiced worry over the potential rise in costs.

As many remember in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the last major rise in inflation caused financial assets like stocks and bonds to stagger. Fortunately, hard assets, such as real estate and gold, helped save some investors from a financial pounding.

“Diversifying your investments is never a bad idea,” says David Nilssen, president and CEO of Guidant Financial Group, a leading retirement account facilitation company. “The proverbial ‘putting all your eggs in one basket’ is something that you should consider avoiding in your financial investments – especially with today’s concerns about inflation.”

With caution in mind, more people are investing outside the stock market into areas usually considered less volatile. To facilitate this broader diversification of investment monies, many are turning to “self-directed IRAs.” These specially structured retirement accounts provide investors with the ability to direct IRA and/or 401(k) funds into more nontraditional – yet historically more secure – investments, like tax liens, residential and commercial real estate, hard-money loans, etc. Some self-directed accounts provide clients with checkbook control, meaning investors have instant access to their retirement money. This allows on-the-spot purchases and provides the flexibility to take advantage of market trends as they happen.

“I have been able to diversify my retirement much more than I ever expected,” says Tim Olsen, a current client of Guidant’s. “Guidant provides such a unique product that allows you to take an active role in your retirement future … I have made more money in a couple weeks than my previous 401(k) made in an entire year.”


About Guidant Financial Group

Guidant Financial Group is the premier provider of self-directed IRAs and business-funding solutions through IRAs and 401(k)s. Guidant's services allow investors the freedom to make investments in real estate, franchises, businesses, tax liens and more by accessing their retirement accounts without penalty before retirement age. For more information on Self-directed IRAs or Business Financing please visit www.guidantfinancial.com.


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