U.S. Chamber of Commerce Names Guidant Financial Group the Top Small Business in the Northwest

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has selected Guidant Financial Group of Bellevue, WA, the winner of the Small Business of the Year Award for the Northwest Region of the United States. In addition, the Chamber chose Guidant Financial Group, a Financial Services company offering self-directed IRA's and business financing solutions through retirement funds, as one of the 60 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners across the nation.

The Northwest region includes all small businesses from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Guidant is now competing against six other Regional Finalists for the U.S. Chamber's Small Business of the Year Award. The winner of that award will be announced May 24, 2007, during the Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce annually recognizes the top small businesses in the country with Blue Ribbon Awards for demonstrating excellence in several categories including: financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business planning. Blue Ribbon Award winners are then evaluated again, and seven regional finalists are chosen to compete for the top honor of being the 2007 National Small Business of the Year.

"The Blue Ribbon Small Business award enables us to recognize the hard work and tireless efforts of America's small businesses" says Tom Donohue, Chamber president and CEO. "Guidant Financial Group is a shining example of how a business can make a difference in its community."

Guidant Financial Group is a three-year-old company with 60 employees. It continues to receive increasing recognition as the nation's leading provider of financing and investment opportunities through an individual's IRA. More specifically, their Audeo^™ program allows entrepreneurs to utilize their IRA or 401(:k) funds to finance a business or Franchise without taking a distribution, incurring additional taxes or paying a penalty. Guidant's Auriga^™ program allows investors personal control of their retirement funds enabling them to diversify outside of the stock market and into more secure and potentially lucrative investments such as real estate.

"Given all the talented small businesses in our region, it is a particular honor and achievement for Guidant to be selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for these awards," says David Nilssen, CEO of Guidant Financial Group. "Recognition from such a prestigious and highly regarded business organization is a monumental accomplishment for Guidant. Our company's success is attributed to our truly remarkable staff. We find great fulfillment in watching them grow and develop. We genuinely care about our employees, and that is reflected in our employee incentives, benefits package, 401(:k) matching program and support of continued education."

About Guidant

Guidant Financial Group, Inc. is the nation's leading retirement account facilitator. Using customized and conforming structures, Guidant helps investors use their retirement funds (i.e. - IRA or 401k) to purchase non-traditional investments such as a business. With the help and expertise Guidant offers, investors nationwide are able, not only to control their individual investments by redirecting those funds into higher yielding assets, but also keep their investments safe from penalties and tax consequences.