For many types of businesses, you can find a rule of thumb for valuing it. Rules of thumb are quick, easy to understand and use, and inexpensive. However, because they’re generally based on industry averages, they fail to capture the specific characteristics of a business that drive its value. Rules of thumb may offer a Read More…

If you are facing a divorce or legal separation, remember that in addition to the difficult personal issues involved with the process, you need to understand the tax issues. Planning is very important when deciding whether payments qualify as alimony or child support for tax purposes. Both are payments made to a spouse or former Read More…

Occupational fraud occurs when someone uses his or her job for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of an employer’s resources or assets. Such activity can skew financial results and lead to erroneous value conclusions – unless a valuator adjusts the financial statements for fraud. Fraud affects companies of all sizes, in all Read More…

Federal courts have loosened the restrictions on the discoverability of draft reports. But don’t be lulled into complacency. Many exceptions exist, so it’s prudent to remain cautious when exchanging documents with expert witnesses. In 1993, Congress revised Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (FRCP) 26 to allow discovery of all communications between attorneys and testifying expert Read More…

When a married couple parts ways and one or both spouses own an interest in a business, it’s critical that they retain valuation experts – or perhaps a joint expert – to value not only the business interests, but also other marital assets. Without such information, the monied spouse may end up losing too much Read More…