Brightbridge Wealth Management: About Brightbridge

Brightbridge Wealth Management: About Brightbridge: http://www.brightbridgewm.com/about.php Brightbridge is a world-wide private equity firm with the resources and expertise to source, evalu...

About Brightbridge

http://www.brightbridgewm.com/about.php

Brightbridge is a world-wide private equity firm with the resources and expertise to source, evaluate, and manage private investments globally in both developed and developing markets and across many industrial and commercial sectors.

Brightbridge is manager of -- or principal advisor to -- private equity funds covering Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Islamic countries that span the globe from North Africa through the Middle East and into Asia. These funds represent aggregate capital commitments of nearly $6.0 billion and several are the largest of their kind in their particular region.

Brightbridge's initial focus and one of its continuing core strengths has been investments in "infrastructure" in emerging market economies. Over time, however, Brightbridge has expanded this focus, allowing us to accumulate investment experience in a wide range of sectors from heavy industry, mining, oil and gas to basic materials and even restaurants.

Brightbridge's broad global experience and the large size of its funds has allowed it to become a prime choice as an investment partner for regional companies and local entrepreneurs. Brightbridge is also a pioneer in structuring innovative partnerships with international corporate strategic investors. Brightbridge has partnered with leading international corporations, including Vivendi, Marubeni, and AES in the power sector, AT&T, Orange, and Bell Canada in the telecommunications sector, and Pilkington in the glass industry.

Our Vision

Working to find a comprehensive solution to meet all your financial requirements Brightbridge Wealth Management is an independent financial services company . Our reputation as a dynamic and responsive company is built upon innovative, transparent and reliable financial services.

Our clients' profiles differ from person to person, though all have a common desire to accumulate, preserve and transfer their wealth. Brightbridge Wealth Managements' team provides innovative and tax efficient investment solutions, utilising both onshore and offshore variations, enabling us to meet this shared goal.

Having determined an individual's unique requirements, we then build a comprehensive financial plan, using a cross disciplinary approach to maximise investment performance within an acceptable level of risk. What sets us apart is the ability to accurately identify financial goals and then independently source tailor made solutions. At Brightbridge, our highly skilled team of professionals will work with you to find the most appropriate investment plan to help realise your goals.

Brightbridge Wealth Management: Financial Planning Process

Brightbridge Wealth Management: Financial Planning Process: http://www.brightbridgewm.com/financial-planning.php As financial advisors and investment consultants, we believe in the following fundam...

Financial Planning Process

http://www.brightbridgewm.com/financial-planning.php

As financial advisors and investment consultants, we believe in the following fundamental principals with regard to designing an investment portfolio and making specific recommendations. The purpose of a client's investment portfolio is to fund current and/or future financial objectives. The design of the portfolio must take into account the client's financial objectives, tolerance for risk, needs for current income or liquidity, and special considerations such as income and estate taxes. The appropriate allocation of investment assets for your goals and risk tolerance is the most important component in developing an investment portfolio. We believe that having a diversified, well-balanced portfolio, following long-term buy-and-hold strategies, and having patience, increases the likelihood that one will achieve their long-term financial objectives.

Diversification, dollar cost averaging, comprehensive portfolio reviews and analysis are beneficial methods of managing assets. Dollar-cost averaging has some advantages in a declining market--or, more precisely, in a market whose general direction may be downward but still has ups and downs. An investor who bought the Dow in 1929 and held it until 1939 would have seen a -46% return; but an investor dollar-cost averaging would have been able to take advantage, for example, of all the months in 1932-1934 in which the Dow closed at less than 100. In these months, that investor would have gotten a lot more for his money. This effect adds up to a nominal return of 5% during the period for the dollar-cost average method, which compared favorably to bond interest rates over the same period.

We believe that low cost mutual funds that consistently perform above average against their peers are wise choices. We also recognize the importance of culling a portfolio from time to time. How do you create this personal financial plan? What makes Brightbridge different is our commitment to working jointly with clients to produce a comprehensive, custom financial plan, enabling them to make wiser financial choices. First we focus on your goals, objectives, priorities and values.

For instance, the reduction of current and future income taxes may be an immediate goal, funding a quality education for your children and/or grandchildren may be an intermediate goal, and enjoying a secure financial future in your retirement years is likely to be one of your most important long-term goals. Another goal in life for some people is creating wealth and/or leaving a legacy for your chosen beneficiaries or charities. You may already be on the road to meeting these objectives and simply need a new strategy, professional insight, or to fine-tune your plan. You may just be starting out, or you may be somewhere in between.

Next, we collect detailed personal financial information and make a thorough analysis of this information: current financial situation, employee benefits, children's educational funding, retirement situation, pension and retirement plans, living estate, insurance and investment portfolios to produce a written financial plan with specific recommendations to achieve your goals. Then, we share the results with the client, who determines if the recommendations are sensible and reasonable. Once comfortable and satisfied with the final recommendations, clients take action or direct us to take the steps necessary to attain their objectives. Finally, to achieve the intended results, you must implement and monitor your plan. Your financial plan is a living document, reviewed periodically for progress and adjusted appropriately. Whatever your unique situation may be, everyone needs a periodic assessment of where they are on the road to meeting their financial goals. As a Fee-Based certified financial planner, we work with people based on their preferences and needs. Some may want a second opinion or help on a specific situation. Others would like more comprehensive, coordinated financial advice.

Brightbridge Wealth Management Financial and Investment Advice, Current headlines

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Zurich, Switzerland, by night along the Limmat River. (Rubiano Soto / Zurich Tourism)

If your travels take you to Zurich, Switzerland, you’ll save money with an $823 round-trip fare, which includes taxes and fees, from LAX on United or Swiss International.
You must buy your tickets seven days in advance and stay over at least one Saturday night for a visit that’s no longer than three months. The fare is available for travel Sundays-Thursdays between Oct. 30 and March 26, and you must return Mondays-Thursdays by May 15. The fare, as always, is subject to availability.

Brightbridge Wealth Management Stock Market Prices, Asset management and Mutual Funds

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(Reuters) – Logitech, the world’s largest computer mouse maker, issued its second profit warning in eight weeks, slashing its forecast for full-year profit and sales after a review by its acting chief executive, sending its shares down 12 percent.

Logitech, which also makers speakers, webcams and keyboards, said on Thursday it expected operating income of about $90 million for its 2011/12 year to end-March, compared with a previous target to meet or beat last year’s $143 million.

Citing the current weak economic environment in mature markets and the company’s product offering, Logitech cut its sales forecast to $2.4 billion from $2.5 billion, having cut it from $2.6 billion in July when announcing CEO Gerald Quindlen had resigned after weak first-quarter trading.

Chairman Guerrino De Luca was named acting CEO at the time.

The company said on Thursday gross margin in its fiscal third and fourth quarters should be well above the full-year average.

Logitech shares, which had lost more than half their value this year, were down 12 percent at 0932 GMT.

“The management completely underestimated market and technology shifts toward stand-alone mobile computing systems not requiring any peripheral interface components or simple gadgets,” said Sarasin analyst Oskar Schenker.

“Logitech’s actual product range is (old-fashioned) … not unique and sells only by price.”

NO MORE BAD NEWS?

De Luca told Reuters the new targets were a result of a review he had undertaken since taking over and reflected collapsing consumer confidence in Europe and the United States and the fact the company had been too optimistic in the past.

“I promise, this is the last of the bad news,” he said in a telephone interview, adding the third quarter should show an improvement. “Our product portfolio is not as strong as it should be, in the face of a tight economic situation,” he said. “Apple shows what you can do in bad economy.”

Logitech, which also produces speakers, webcams and keyboards, is suffering from sluggish demand like Europe’s biggest consumer electronics producer Philips.

Logitech launched its set-top box for Google’s new Web TV service last year along with other peripheral products like a keyboard controller and a video calling device.

After failing to entice consumers, despite lowering the price to $249, the company said it would slash the price to $99 to try to drive sales. “On Google-TV we are neutral. If it becomes a success, great. If not, than it should not impact Logitech,” De Luca said.

Vontobel analyst Foeth said he expected De Luca to boost spending on sales and marketing. “Logitech forecast a recovery for Q and Q$ telling us that the trough will be reached in the current quarter.”

Brightbridge Wealth Management Technology, Sports and Financial World News

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GO SWITZERLAND : Already renowned for its chocolate, the Swiss city is fast building a reputation as a culinary capital, with a panoply of intercultural eating houses offering Thai, Indian, French, American and local cuisine, writes MARIE-CLAIRE DIGBY

FOR MOST PEOPLE, chocolate bars are primarily either milk, dark or white, but for Rudolf Zehnder, general manager of the Ambassador hotel in Zurich, there are seasonal variations. “I have an autumn chocolate, but it gets too hard when I go hiking in winter; in general I like a dark, crisp chocolate in summer and milk chocolate in winter,” he says.

They take their chocolate very seriously here in this most picture-perfect of Swiss cities, which lies on the river Limmat as it flows into Lake Zurich, with the majestic Uetliberg mountain as a backdrop.

The first ever 100 per cent Swiss chocolate was produced at Zurich Zoo last year, using beans grown in the zoo’s Madagascar rain forest exhibit. The plants took six years to bear fruit and the harvest was tiny.

Just 150 premier cru Madagascar pralines were made, and they sold for CHF200 (€165) each, with the profits supporting the preservation of the Indian Ocean island’s Masoala National Park.

On another scale altogether, the giant Lindt chocolate factory perfumes the air in a most delicious way from its lakeside location at Kilchberg, a few miles outside the city, while in town, you’re never more than a few paces from some superlative chocolate.

You can sip a molten hot chocolate while listening to classical favourites being played on the grand piano in the gloriously decadent red velvet salon of Conditorei Schober, the city’s oldest coffee house. Or treat yourself to a Luxemburgerli, Zurich’s answer to the French macaron, at Confiserie Café Sprüngli, on the city’s main shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse.

These tiny meringues, smaller than the French macaron, glow like jewels in the chocolate-scented boutique, and some – the champagne variety – are even painted with gold lustre. They got their name, according to local lore, because the modest, puritanical Zurichers couldn’t bring themselves to call them by the original name, “baiser de mousse” or foam kiss, so they asked instead for the cakes made by the Luxembourg confectioner. This was Camille Studer, who brought the recipe to Zurich when employed by Richard Sprüngli.

BUT EVEN ZURICHERS cannot live on chocolate alone, and it comes as quite a surprise to find that this most conservative Swiss city has a vast panoply of intercultural eating houses, from meat- and cream-rich traditional menus in the city’s ornate Guild houses, to Asian buffets and French brasseries, Spanish tapas and – bet you weren’t anticipating this one – a Chinese takeaway served in an ornate temple garden gifted to Zurich by its twin city of Kunming in south west China in thanks for technical assistance in setting up the city’s drinking water supply.

Chinagarten is one of 11 catering outlets run by Kramer Gastronomie that also includes Thai, Indian, French, American, and traditional Swiss restaurants. Which is why I’m not altogether surprised to find myself sipping delicious mango juice flavoured with cardamom and cooking Indian food early on a Sunday morning in Europe’s oldest vegetarian restaurant . . . and yes, I’m still in Zurich.

Hiltl is a Zurich institution, occupying a prime corner site just steps from the dizzying parade of luxury brand boutiques on the Hauptbahnhof. It has been open since 1898, and Rolf Hiltl is the fourth generation of his family to run the business, which includes a 440-seat restaurant, catering company, and coffee bar and lounge that morphs into a nightclub several nights a week, when the departing stragglers bump into chefs coming in for the early shift.

It’s all very hip and cool, with lots of concrete, wood, glass and steel, and the restaurant’s live Twitter feed is projected on one wall. The nerve centre is a giant buffet table groaning with all manner of dishes, so varied that you’re never tempted to ask, “Where’s the beef?” There’s a camera trained on the buffet, so kitchen staff can keep an eye on what needs replacing.

Once you’ve made your selection your plate is weighed and you’re charged for what you’ve taken. It’s a clever concept, and you can try it out a little nearer to home at the London outpost of Tibits, a spin-off of Hiltl, with branches across Switzerland as well as in Heddon Street, near Regent Street in W1.

But before we can sample Switzerland’s most celebrated vegetarian food, we must assemble in the company’s bright and airy Cooking Atelier, where chef Anna Schlatter demonstrates patience levels worthy of beatification as she takes us through a hands-on session during which we make samosas with ginger raita, karahi paneer with chapatis, and for dessert, a curd cheese, saffron and garam masala concoction called Shrikhand.

It is all incredibly tasty, and quick to put together. By the time we’re finishing lunch, we’re sharing the cooking studio with brunch guests, obediently arriving for their very Swiss-like reservation times. Table for four, 12.55pm, reads the sign on an adjacent table.

Hiltl cooking classes run on a regular basis, often in English, with dates and details available at hiltl.ch. Like most things in Switzerland, it’s not cheap; the next English language class, on October 30th, will be a four-hour one at which a six-course menu will be prepared and the cost is CHF 200 (€165), including the class, dinner, drinks, wine and service.

But, like most things in this most elegant and sophisticated city, you really do get what you pay for.

Get there

Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) and Swiss (swiss.com) fly from Dublin to Zurich. To get to the city from the airport, the train is the quickest and cheapest option, costing CHF6.40 (€5.20) and taking about 12 minutes.

Zurich where to . . .

Stay

* Hotel Ambassador, Falkenstrase 6, 00-41-44258-9898, ambassadorhotel.ch. A comfortable 45-room hotel in a great location near the city’s opera house. The hotel restaurant, À l’Opéra, specialises in fish from sustainable sources, including Irish organic salmon. You can get to and from the airport from the adjacent Stadelhofen station in just 16 minutes. Rates start at CHF295 (€237) for a double, and there are quite a few generous sized singles, from CHF220 (€180).

* Lady’s First Design Hotel, Mainaustrasse 24, 00-41-44380-801, ladysfirst.ch. Bad grammar notwithstanding, a hotel that bills itself “for the dynamic woman and modern men” and reserves its top two floors for women only, with a spa and beauty salon, is an interesting concept. Rates from CHF290 (€237) for a double, but online specials sometimes available.

* Ibis Zurich City West, Schiffbaustrasse 11, 00-41-4427-62100, ibishotel.com. In hip and up-and-coming Zurich West, an urban regeneration zone and home to the city’s edgier night-time scene. The city is easily reached by tram, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars in the vicinity. Rates from CHF129 (€105).

Go

* Take the 30-minute train trip from the city’s main station up the mountain to Uetliberg, for dinner at Restaurant Uto Kulm (Uetliberg, 00-41-44457-6666, utokulm.ch). You’ll have to walk uphill for about 10 minutes when you get off the train, and once you catch your breath at the top, the stunning views towards the city and the lake with the Alps in the distance will have you hyperventilating again. It’s best to go up in time to enjoy the view by daylight, and as you leave after dinner, the lights of the city will be spread out before you.

* Visit the thermal baths and spa in the former Hürlimann brewery (Brandschenkestrasse 150, 00-41-44205-9650, thermalbad-zuerich.ch) and take part in the strangely named – and nobody could explain it to me – Irish/Roman spa ritual, which involves moving through mineral-rich pools of water at varying temperatures before emerging at a rooftop outdoors infinity pool looking down over the city. The spa is in the 100-year-old stone vaults of the former brewery, built right inside the mountainside. But be warned, signage is only in German, and for a spa novice such as me, it was all a little confusing, not least where the customers eating lunch and drinking Prosecco in swimwear at the bistro kept the cash to pay their bills. (They swiped their admission bracelets and were charged on exiting the spa, I later discovered.)

* Have a meal in one of the city’s often highly ornate Guild houses. Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten (Limmatquai 40, 00-41-44250-5363, zunfthaus-zimmerleuten.ch) is home to the Guild of Carpenters and has a wonderful location on the right bank of the river Limmat. The building, which showcases the craftsmen’s skilled work in its ornate cherry wood panelling, was severely damaged by a fire in 2007, but has been fully restored. This is the place to eat Zurich’s signature dish, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, or veal in a cream and mushroom sauce, served with rösti. But be warned, when you’ve polished off that first plateful, you’re only halfway there; seconds are offered and are expected to be eaten.

Get around

Trams are the best way to get around the city, and a Zurich card, costing CHF20 (€16.40) for 24 hours or double that for 72 hours, is valid for travel on all public transport, including the airport trains, as well as entry to all Zurich museums. They can be purchased at the airport.

The big cheese for chocolate

* Lindt: Mass produced, but the Swiss stuff is infinitely better than that made under licence in other parts of Europe. Try the famous Lindor balls. Widely available.

* Sprüngli: Home of the Luxemburgerli, but also the place to buy kirsch liqueurs, and make sure to try the daily truffle special. Café and shop at Bahnhofstrasse 21, and branches in many city centre locations as well as train stations and at the airport.

* Teuscher: Widely believed to make the best Champagne truffles. Three branches in the city centre.

* Frey : The best selling Swiss chocolate, with a 45 per cent market share. Available from supermarkets including Migros and Denner.