Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Basic Ways to Prevent Ski Injuries


An experienced financial professional, Jeffrey Bracchitta has focused his career largely in banking and has spent more than a decade handling debt and situational financings for one of the largest banks in the world. In his free time, Jeffrey Bracchitta enjoys skiing and has hit the slopes at numerous locations around the United States while observing safe ski practices.

Regular skiers are at risk of suffering a variety of injuries, from knee and shoulder injuries to head and finger injuries. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent such injuries from occurring. Properly preparing for a ski session is one way. Preparation includes maintaining an adequate fitness level, warming up, and being aware of the various ski safety rules. Staying fit ensures that muscles are strong enough to handle the sport’s physical requirements and flexible enough to withstand minor mishaps while on the slopes. Warming up is also important because it prepares the muscles for activity. Meanwhile, adhering to safety rules prevents unnecessary collisions.

Beyond basic preparation, skiers can prevent injuries by using the appropriate equipment. Wearing several layers of water-resistant clothes that are light and warm regulates the body’s temperature while boots, bindings, and skis that fit properly prevents accidents. For beginners, it’s important to start out easy, because pushing the body too far too quickly increases the risk of injury significantly. Similarly, pushing the body to do one more run for the day when it’s already tired, or ignoring hydration and rest breaks, commonly results in injury.

Friday, March 11, 2016

What to Know About High-Yield Bonds


A financial professional with more than a decade of experience, Jeffrey Bracchitta possesses expertise in mergers and acquisitions. Jeffrey Bracchitta also honed his skills in high-yield bonds as a banker.

Unlike investment bonds (also known as municipal or corporate bonds), which have a low risk of default, high-yield bonds pay a higher yield due to increased risk. A majority of investors use mutual funds or exchange-traded funds to diversify their investment in high-yield bonds, thus reducing risk.

Individuals interested in placing funds into high-risk bonds must consider the amount of return he or she expects to earn as well as liquidity. In addition, he or she should evaluate personal risk tolerance and the ability to accept changes in interest rates due to a volatile market. For example, a recession can increase the potential for default, which may leave an investor with little or no yield. However, if an investor correctly predicts a slow and steady increase in rates for a particular high-yield bond, the investment can be a rewarding.