Visiting the Colosseum

Jeffrey Bracchitta is a financial services professional with 14 years of experience in banking, where he handles debt financings for bank loans, leveraged loans, and high-yield bonds as well as situational financings for mergers and acquisitions. Jeffrey Bracchitta also enjoys traveling and has visited Rome several times, where he has seen multiple concerts at the historic Colosseum.

Rome is known for its massive collection of ancient ruins and constructions. Perhaps most famous of all is the Colosseum, a three-tiered amphitheater once used for gladiator games. It was inaugurated in 80 A.D., with gladiatorial games that lasted 100 days, and was used for entertainment in that manner until 438 A.D.

Today, the Colosseum is a popular tourist destination and it is conveniently located right outside the Colosseo metro station. An entrance ticket to the Colosseum also grants visitors access to the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and the ticket is valid for two days. As the lines at the Colosseum can be very long, it is advised to buy a ticket at the Palatine Hill, then head over to the Colosseum. Most visitors spend between 45 and 60 minutes wandering the Colosseum. For a more in-depth tour, visitors can elect to hire a tour guide or rent an audio guide.                            

Bethpage Black Course Offers a Unique Challenge to Golfers

Jeffrey Bracchitta is an experienced financial professional. Having spent the past 14 years working in banking at one of the largest banks in the world, he is familiar with such areas as leveraged loans, mergers and acquisitions, and capital expenditures. An avid golfer, Jeffrey Bracchitta loves playing golf the Bethpage Black Course in his free time.

Dating back to the 1930s, Bethpage State Park maintains several different golf courses, with the Black Course being one of its most difficult. Played only by low-handicap golfers and widely considered one of the true tests of endurance and golf skill, the Black Course hosted the 102nd U.S. Open Championship in 2002 and the 109th U.S. Open in 2009. Additionally, it was the site of the 2012 Barclays. Over the years, Black Course has been repeatedly recognized by various golf publications. It was rated the #1 best municipal course by Golfweek two seasons in a row and was part of Golf Digest’s 2005 list of top 100 American public and private courses.

Black Course consists of 18 holes and features such challenges as small greens, narrow fairways, high roughs, and bunkers. It was one of last golf courses designed by A.W. Tillinghast. Golfers looking to challenge themselves must make a reservation or to play the course; however, the course is closed on most Mondays for maintenance.

The 2016 Barclays at Bethpage State Park

 

Jeffrey Bracchitta is an avid golfer. Though he has traveled to courses on Kiawah Island and throughout other parts of the Carolinas, Jeffrey Bracchitta still enjoys playing locally at Bethpage State Park.

The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, will host the Barclays 2016 golf tournament between August 23 and August 28. The Black Course last hosted the tournament in 2012. The top 125 players in the FedExCup point race will be invited to the course, regarded by many as the finest accomplishment of internationally revered designer A.W. Tillinghast.

Jason Day won the Barclays 2015, his first FedExCup tournament win. He finished his final round with an eight-under-par score of 62. His total score for the tournament, held at the Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, was 19 strokes under par. The Barclays drew record attendance in 2015, and organizers plan to continue this trend moving forward.

For more information on the 2016 tournament, including inquiries regarding available tickets, visit barclaysgolf.com.

Top Lesser-Known Destinations in Italy

Jeffrey Bracchitta, a banking professional with over 14 years of experience at one of the world’s largest banks, enjoys traveling around the world. One of his favorite countries to visit is Italy. Jeffrey Bracchitta has visited Italy twice, spending time in several cities along the coast and in both the northern and southern areas of the country.

Many people are familiar with some of Italy’s larger cities, such as Rome and Venice. However, the country has several lesser-known locations that offer just as interesting experiences. Following are just a few of Italy’s best, little-known destinations:

- Treviso: located on the Sile River, Treviso is an ancient walled city only 30-minutes away from Venice. Despite its well-known annual wine crawl and local rugby team, the city continues to be overlooked by many tourists.

- Fiumicino: a small town along Italy’s coast, Fiumicino is most often visited by Italians in the know. It is a great place for tourists looking to practice Italian and is also popular for its warm weather, small crowds, and fishing port.

- Baiardo: reaching this small town requires a 45-minute hike from San Remo, but tourists who complete the endeavor are greeted with fresh air and gorgeous panoramic views. Baiardo is home to just a few hundred people, some of whom have never left the mountain.

- Liguria: offering a wide range of activities from truffle-hunting to soaking in thermal pools, the Liguria region is located in northwest Italy. The area features protected forests and Italian Riviera towns along with plenty of castles, campsites, and five-star resorts.

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.

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.

New York Rangers Sign Veteran Forward Daniel Paille

A financial professional with one of the world’s largest banking institutions, Jeffrey Bracchitta focuses on providing debt financing for individual and corporate clients. Outside of work, Jeffrey Bracchitta enjoys cheering on New York-area professional sports teams, including the New York Rangers.

In a recently released statement, the New York Rangers organization announced that it has signed free agent Daniel Paille to a contract agreement. An NHL veteran, the 31-year-old Paille was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2002 and has since played in 570 games over 10 seasons with the Sabres and the Boston Bruins.

Over the course of his career, Paille has chalked up 85 goals and 87 assists while boasting a plus-17 rating during his time on the ice. The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound forward was a standout in Boston, where he played for six seasons and helped his club reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Paille most recently skated in 31 games for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.