LOCATION: The Wellness Living Store 1412 – 14th Street Santa Monica, CA 90404 Telephone:310-260-0013

DATE: Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 7pm-10pm

You’ve all heard of kickstarter as a way to raise money. Instead of large individual amounts from a few investors, crowdfunding raises funds by taking in many small amounts from a larger pool of investors. When a lot of people invest small amounts, it adds up!

On April 5, 2012, President Obama signed the JOBS act into law, it included “crowdfunding” legislation, that allows for raising funds through a wider pool of small investors with fewer restrictions. The SEC has been given approximately 270 days to set forth specific rules and guidelines that enact this legislation, while also ensuring the protection of investors.

Before, crowdfunding was utilized for gifts, donations, pre-sales, etc. Now it will be legal for actual investing (with returns).

On this evening we will explore the implications of this new law for America’s living economy. Join Investment advisor Greg Wendt and Sarah Tripp Stephan, a representative from http://www.crowdfunder.com/ as we discuss what this new law means, and what kinds of changes it may bring about in our economy.

We are so lucky to have a chocolate sponsor this evening! RAWKIN RAW CHOCOLATE: Vegan, 100% raw, packed with superfoods + antioxidants, cacao, goji berries, maca, & spirulina!!! read more at rawenergyandlife.com

GREG WENDT

Greg is Co-Founder of Green Business Networking; a non-profit business community of over 3,500 business owners and professionals committed to greening the economy for Greater Los Angeles. http://www.greenbusinessnetworking.org

He is also Founder of Green Economy Think Tank – which convenes sustainability leaders in cities around the country to evolve actions and solutions for the Green Economy.www.greeneconomy.org

Greg built his expertise while working with major Wall Street firms such as Smith Barney, UBS Paine Webber and Prudential Securities. Currently Gregory is Vice President of Sustainable and Responsible Investing at EP Wealth Advisors, Inc., http://www.epwealth.com, a well-established Registered Investment Advisory firm with over $1 Billion under management as of 1/1/11.

Greg has been a veteran financial advisor and Certified Financial Planner since 1991. He advises clients who want to align their wealth through investments that reflect their priorities and concerns for a better world. His clients want to generate healthy returns while cultivating opportunities to improve life for current and future generations.

Greg frequently writes articles, speaks at conferences and is often profiled or quoted in media including appearances on “Living with Ed” on Home and Garden Television, Air America Radio, Business Ethics magazine, Daily Variety, Financial Planning Magazine and Yogi Times Magazine

Links: http://www.gregwendt.com, blog: http://www.sustainablewealth.blogspot.com, linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorywendt

Sarah Tripp Stephan 

Sarah Tripp Stephan serves as lead strategist across a wide range of education, health and wellbeing, environmental and social justice projects at Pyramid Communications where she is managing director and senior vice president. She specializes in helping private sector, government, and non-profit organizations develop strategies that attract funders, build coalitions, advance public policy and strengthen reach and impact across audiences that matter. This is often supported by integrated marketing and communications strategies to help organizations move their thinking from the abstract to the practical, changing the way people think, act, behave or vote.

Her current and past clients include AARP, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mercy Corps, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, Chalkboard Project and Oregon Health & Science University. In addition to setting strategy, Sarah leads firm-wide business development across Pyramid’s five core practice areas, regionally and nationally: Health & Wellbeing, Education, Energy & Environment, Native/Tribal Communities, and Arts & Culture.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Carleton College, where former political science professor Paul Wellstone served as her advisor prior to his election to the U.S. Senate.