The charity auction season is in full swing. Over the next few months, there will thousands of galas and fundraising parties all over the country. With those events comes a demand on affluent Americans to make financial contributions to a growing number of worthy causes. If you are planning a charity event, the best way to raise the most money possible is to be sure you have items on the auction block that are proven to be winners with your affluent audience.

Many ethnic groups, such as African-Americans and Hispanics, tend to be under-represented among the Affluent (who I'll define as adults living in households with at least $100,000 in annual household income). For example, the Census Bureau's 2011 Current Population Survey shows that Hispanics are 14% of the general population, but just 9% of the Affluent population. Similarly, those describing themselves as Black or African-American are 12% of the general population, but just 7% of the Affluent population.

According to "Women's Wear Daily," Herms lost its appeal to the China Trademark Appeal Board in February. According to state media, Herms failed in its attempt to register the Chinese version of its name, Ai Ma Shi in pinyin, because a Chinese company, the Dafeng Garment Co. of Guangdong, had already done so. Apparently, Chinese speakers refer to Herms by that name and Herms argued that therefore they should be allowed to register it, but the trademark board disagreed. These two cases are bringing to light the growing intricacies of branding in the Chinese market.

Recently, Luxury Travel Magazine published a list of the top destinations for 2012. You'd expect Paris, Monte Carlo, and Dubai to top the list, but you'd be wrong. Instead, exotic destinations like Tasmania, Jordan and the Congo dominated. With so much competition from the likes of Vegas and other more obvious destinations, how did these spots become top-of-mind for affluent travelers?

Half of Affluents are now optimistic about the U.S. economy, solidifying the significant increase observed in February 2012, and marking the highest level in a year, according to our March survey. The study was conducted online March 20-28, 2012 with 1,000 Affluent individuals, defined as adults living in households with at least $100,000 in annual household income.

As the travel industry prepares for an uncertain summer season (amid airfare price hikes, decreasing demand and the growth of "staycations"), many advertisers are setting their sights on reaping the rewards of a re-energized business travel segment. Thanks to job growth, improved productivity and recent economic gains, the frequency of travel among affluent ($100K+) business travelers is starting to heat up. As a result, it's paying dividends for some leading brands.

The U.S. (and France) is a shopper's paradise for the Chinese. The Chinese prefer to buy their merchandise "at the source" because they believe by doing so they 1) can save a lot of money and 2) have greater selection.

When it comes to travel brands that cater to affluent customers, there's a case of the have and have-nots. According to a survey released last week by affluent customer think tank L2, despite evidence of formidable ROI, hospitality's digital advertising spend equates to only a third of funds allocated to non-digital channels. Companies such as The Four Seasons were at the top of the digital capabilities list. But companies such as Inter Continental were still not up to speed, according to the study.

Income inequality and wealth concentration have grown consistently since the 1980s, but today play a growing role in American discourse. Occupy Wall Street. Mitt Romney. A millionaire tax. The Buffet rule. Returning growth in some luxury markets. Goldman Sachs resignation letters. The list goes on.

In this new economy of abundant choice and access, is it enough for a luxury brand to remain true to its brand equity, or does it also need to reach a broader array of people across new media?