For Preventing Fraud and Driving Business Growth The importance of strong internal controls cannot be overstated. They form the foundation for financial integrity, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and, ultimately, long-term business success. This article explores how strong internal controls not only safeguard against fraud but also serve as a catalyst for business growth and sustainability. I ...

Utilizing Data Analytics to Investigate Ponzi Schemes This article examines how data analytics combined with other forensic accounting tools can help investigators uncover how investors in both traditional and newer types of Ponzi schemes were victimized, and how data can be compiled to locate stolen assets and create an analytical report that aids regulators and in legal proceedings focused on recovering f ...

Is There a Need to Broaden Regulation? Can humans achieve economic market efficiency without the “visible hand” or is the collateral damage of decisions an unfortunate reality in exchange for the freedom of unregulated markets. This article discusses the role of regulation in an unregulated market and potential shifts. How do you measure ability when the parameters are not clearly defined? As valuation anal ...

Currency Investment Scams Step aside e-mail compromises and romance scams. Make way for the crypto investment scam, the newest in an ever-changing sea of schemes and scams available on the World Wide Web to minimize your life savings in as little as a few weeks. This article is a refresher for traditional indicators beyond the “too good to be true” mantra and will detail the slight modifications occurring w ...

With Examples From Asset Misappropriation to Financial Statement Fraud (Part II of II) This two-part article (Read Part I here) focuses on the two significant, but different, roles forensic accountants play in quantifying employee losses and how—in the normal course of the analysis—they may find instances of fraud that require further investigation. The authors first provide detailed guidance for forensic a ...

With Examples From Asset Misappropriation to Financial Statement Fraud (Part I of II) This two-part article focuses on the two significant, but different, roles forensic accountants play in quantifying employee losses and how—in the normal course of the analysis—they may find instances of fraud that require further investigation. The authors first provide detailed guidance for forensic accountants in how to ...

Delicate Balancing (and a Backbone) Required Rarely does a week pass in white collar and investigation or SEC-regulatory outside counsel life that an auditor or government enforcement attorney does not request some form of interim or final read-out or update. These requests for information can encompass investigative process and factual findings, lists of search terms, interview outlines, or similar investi ...

Six Months In Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPAC) have been a prime focus of the SEC over the last six months. On April 12, 2021, the SEC issued “Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies” to highlight potential accounting implications and provide guidance on making the determination between classifying the warrants issue ...

in the Cryptocurrency Economy Although cryptocurrency and blockchain technology create an environment that can help combat fraud within their systems, their introduction into the global economy has opened numerous doors for nefarious activity. This article provides an overview of what is cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and the rise of threats to digital assets. Fraud used to be much simpler for the f ...

and “Voodoo” Economic Forecasts? One of the issues facing the business valuation community as well as business owners is the newly created accounting metric called “EBITDAC”, which stands for Earnings Before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization, and Coronavirus. This is a non-GAAP accounting metric used by some companies today to raise more debts from lending institutions by adjusting or recasting t ...

To Attract or Retain Key Employees To both attract and retain key employees, many private companies have added stock-based compensation grants to their portfolio of employee compensation arrangements. An important component of any private company stock-based compensation arrangement is the value of the private company stock. Therefore, private company clients expect valuation analysts to be at least general ...

About a decade ago, Harriet and Jeffrey Taniyama went in search of a financial planner "just to make sure we were headed in the right direction" with respect to retirement, Harriet Taniyama says. The one they found, a former FINRA-licensed advisor named Christopher Dougherty in San Diego, persuaded them that they not only had enough money to retire but also to invest in his own ventures, including an organi ...

Avoid Traps with a Timely Appraisal New basis-consistency requirements make defensible valuations of inherited property even more important. Informed taxpayers are aware that only the wealthiest individuals should have concerns about the federal estate and gift tax, for gifts given and decedents dying in 2018 through 2025. Thanks to the legislation known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), P.L. 115-97, the ...

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved amendments to Regulation S-K aimed at simplifying and modernizing disclosure by public companies, consultants and money managers. The amendments are required under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015. To read the full article in Pensions & Investments, click: SEC Simplifies Disclosure by Public Companies, Money Managers. ...

A self-styled “Money Doctor” who promoted his services on a Christian radio station penned a self-help guide to “share the benefits of putting Christ back in the center of our personal spending habits.” In pitches to clients, the ex-advisor allegedly promised guaranteed risk-free returns of five to eight percent per year. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Author of ‘Jesus Christ, Money ...

Riding a decade-long bull market, robo advisory firms have proved investors are willing to let complex and proprietary algorithms be at the heart of their investment advice. Assets under management at digital platforms are expected to top $1 trillion in the next few years. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Why Regulators Are Taking Aim at Robo Advisors. ...

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate banking committee, is calling for a hearing on the Securities and Exchange Commission's proposed Regulation Best Interest. He cited a letter from 11 former SEC economists raising concerns about the economic analysis that went into the regulation. To read the full article in Think Advisor, click: Senate Banking Panel Lawmaker Wants Reg BI Hearing ...

Preparing for an audit by the Securities and Exchange Commission can be a significant undertaking for a small firm. During stressful times such as this, leaders should stay confident and set a positive example for others. To read the full article in Smart Brief, click: Preparing for an Unexpected SEC Audit. ...

Bargain Purchase Transactions This article summarizes the fair value measurement guidance and financial accounting considerations in business combinations—and specifically, in bargain purchase transactions. This discussion also describes the principles of acquisition accounting as they relate to fair value measurement. And, this discussion describes many of the valuation analyst considerations regarding the ...

To Measure Trustee Breach of Fiduciary Duty Damages The but for investment portfolio is a tool that damages analysts utilize to estimate economic damages when there is an allegation of a breach of fiduciary duty with regard to the management of an investment. In its simplest form, the but for investment portfolio estimates the value of a portfolio but for the alleged breach of fiduciary duty. Case law prece ...