Finance Weekly Updates

Looking for a Tax Haven: Try Delaware, USA

Coming out ahead of both Switzerland and Luxembourg, the American state of Delaware was ranked first as the most opaque tax haven by the Tax Justice Network. The TJN is an organization whose mandate is to promote transparency in international finance.

Although Switzerland received the highest score for secrecy, here called opacity, along with several other countries such as Malaysia and small Caribbean countries like Barbados, when calculated together with the country’s importance as a place of cross-border financial activity, Delaware outranked these other countries.
The outcome of the ranking is as follows:

USA (Delaware)
Luxembourg
Switzerland
Cayman Islands
United Kingdom
Ireland
Bermuda
Singapore
Belgium
Hong Kong

Exclusive Relais & Chateaux Hotel Listings

Only 480 of the finest hotels and restaurants in the world have received entry into the exclusive association, Relais & Chateaux. Established in France in 1954, this association accepts outstanding properties with unique character and style. To stay in a hotel that is part of the Relais & Chateaux collection is to enjoy life just a bit more.

Hotel Blantyre – Hotel Blantyre, situated halfway between Boston and New York City in an elegant country Tudor-style house, offers a fantastic getaway. Enjoy a visit to the Normal Rockwell museum, a hot air balloon ride, horseback riding and more. Return to the Blantyre for their spa treatment and for a cooking class by the Grand Chef Christopher Brooks.

Planter Inn – For a trip down South, you simply must stop at the Planters Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. Overlooking the Old City Market, this hotel is surrounded by colonial houses and is in the heart of the Charleston historic district. Enjoy four poster beds, period-style furnishings and luxury accommodations. Dine at the Peninsula Grill for an award-winning culinary experience.

The Jefferson Hotel – The newly renovated 99 room Jefferson Hotel is the first Washington D.C. property to win entry into the Relais & Chateaux luxury hotel collection. Newly renovated by Ogden CAP Properties, LLC, with Principal and Co-Founder Connie Milstein, this exquisite hotel enhances any stay in the Washington D.C. area.

Profiting During a Recession

While the current recession certainly has an impact on most businesses, there are actually ways that some businesses can benefit from the current difficulties. As Dr. Mike Walden, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University, says:

” When you have recession, people are going to change some of their spending habits. For example, typically we see during a recession people buy fewer new cars. That means they’re keeping their existing cars longer, and that probably means they’re going to need more repairs on those existing cars. Also look at construction. Construction often shifts during a recession from building new homes to people staying in their homes and perhaps remodeling. So remodeling may go up.”

College towns may find the economic downturns helping them as well. As VSU Associate Professor of Economics Cindy Tori points out, “If you have a business that can tap into that student population it’s going to help you position yourself for that recovery.”

The Business of Magazine Subscriptions

Magazine subscriptions are big business. There are many companies on the market today that offer fantastic rates on your favorite magazines. The question then becomes – where should you get your magazine subscription? Is there even a better way to read your favorite magazines?

First, the cheapest way to read some of your favorite publications is to do so online. Most magazines today have websites where they feature some of their articles each month. You can browse through parts of O Magazine, for instance, at their online site. This is not, however, going to provide you with all of the information that you love in your magazines. It only offers a sampling. It’s also not the coziest way to enjoy reading, as sitting in front of the computer doesn’t lend itself to cuddling in bed or reading on the couch.

The library is another option. Certainly, you’ll be able to find some magazines at the library and can check them out for free. The problem with this approach is that the best and most popular magazines have usually been taken before you get there, and you’ll have to continually return to the library to get the magazines for the following month.

Another option is to get a subscription with the magazine company. If you know which magazine you want, you can fill out the form inside the magazine or call the number provided and sign up for a subscription. Another option is to use a discount magazines subscription company like National Magazine Exchange or Magazine Deals Now. The benefit of these companies is that you can often switch magazines mid-year if you decide that you’re tired of cooking magazines and want to read about animals instead. These registries offer flexibility while providing great rates.

Aetna: Medication Therapy management

Aetna announced that members who enroll in its 2010 Medicare plans will have access to enhanced services called medication therapy management (MTM) aimed at helping them safely and effectively take medications prescribed by their physician.  MTM, which will be delivered by Mirixa Corporation, brings together pharmacists, patients, physicians and other health care professionals to help patients with their medications.