For those of us who spent much of our careers in the old professional services marketplace, it’s all too easy to think of our firm websites as an afterthought–something you have to have in today’s world, but not a priority. A growing body of research demonstrates, however, that this couldn’t be further from the truth. This article looks at recent research on the matter and suggests that a website may well b ...

An In-Depth Series on Healthcare Valuation, Part 2 of 4 This article focuses on utilizing an income approach to value outpatient enterprises, while subsequent articles in this topic series will address the use of a market approach and an asset/cost approach to value outpatient enterprises. ...

Calculating appropriate goodwill can create significant savings to a taxpayer.  Lucas M. Parris, senior member of Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, describes the existence of personal goodwill apart from corporate goodwill. To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: An Overview of Personal Goodwill. This article is republished f ...

Are you aware of the warning signals when analyzing acquisition targets?  Alex Cook, president of Voyant Advisors LLC, discusses five issues to look out for when analyzing a company’s financial reporting. To find out more on the CFO article, click: Accounting Issues Mask a Seller’s True Value. ...

Moving from Facts to Opinion? ASC 820 under US GAAP and IFRS 13 issued by IASB provide a principal based framework for fair value measurement. Though fair value measurement guidance in US GAAP and IFRS are substantially in the same line, some minor differences exist. This article discusses the IFRS 13 and challenges in its implementation. ...

An In-Depth Series on Healthcare Valuation This first installment will discuss Fair Market Value, the most prevalent standard of value in the healthcare industry, and why this is the required standard of value for most healthcare transactions. This article will also discuss the premise of value, which further defines the circumstances of the transaction, and how to determine which methods may be applicable ...

Refining and Selecting the Appropriate DLOM The discount for lack of marketability (DLOM) is the result of illiquidity. It represents the inability to sell quickly when an investor decides to sell an asset. It is the economic cost of failing to realize gains or to avoid losses during the time period that the investor or closely held business owner is trying to sell the asset or securities. In this article, ...

Price Stability vs. Market Share Bennet Kpentey, an Accra, Ghana management and financial consultant with a focus on the oil, gas, and energy sector, shares his views on the strategies of maintaining and increasing crude oil production and how the volatile energy prices will affect growth in emerging economies and other industries. ...

Will Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon continue to competitively price match, even if it’s not necessarily in the downward direction?  Barb Darrow, a senior writer at Fortune, discusses cloud pricing and how the changes may affect your company. To find out more on the Fortune article, click: Surprise!  The cost of cloud is about to rise. ...

Calculating a prospective return takes into account many factors.  Travis W. Harms, Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, discusses what impact a “hefty” purchase price could mean for returns. To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: Yes, Virginia, the Cost of Capital Really is Low. This article is republished from Mercer Capital' ...

Five Remaining Leading Misconceptions (Part II of II) The following discussion summarizes and responds to common misconceptions many analysts have with regard to the valuation of healthcare entity property and/or services transfers. These analyst misconceptions typically involve a misunderstanding of one or more of the relevant regulatory provisions. These analyst misconceptions typically relate to an erron ...

The Opportunity for Value Growth Services How can one differentiate oneself? Scale production or services? Whether you’re an M&A advisor, a business valuator, a CPA, a transition planner, or a turnaround consultant, you would probably be very successful if you could consistently execute this simple growth strategy. For most people, the challenges of differentiating and scaling often seem to prevent succ ...

How can your firm present different pricing options to customers, decide which pricing model is the best to use, and overcome pricing objections?  Chris Baysden, for the Journal of Accountancy®, sits down with Ron Baker for this sixth in a series of Q&A sessions. To find out more on the Journal of Accountancy article, click: How to present your prices to customers. ...

The SEC has proposed new rules and requirements for certain types of incentive-based executive compensation.  Lucas M. Parris, Senior Member of Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, explains the rules and how they would apply. To read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: New Rules Aim to Claw Back Incentive-Based Pay.  This article is ...

“The IRS issued final regulations on determining partners’ distributive shares of partnership items when a partner’s interest varies during the partnership’s tax year.”  Sally P. Schreiber, a senior editor for the Journal of Accountancy®, explains the exceptions and methods the proposed regulation influences. To find out more on The Tax Adviser® article, click: Regulations Determine Partnership Distributive ...

Guidance on How to Calculate the Built-in Capital Gains Tax?! Estate of Richmond is well known among experienced valuation professionals for at least two reasons. First, the U.S. Tax Court was critical of the experts’ lack of credentials and the fact that the estate submitted an unsigned, marked-up report with the 706. Second, the U.S. Tax Court did not allow a 100 percent BICG tax reduction. Rather, the Co ...

And How to Become One We all know their names. They’re the industry stars that headline conferences and write the definitive books in their fields. Sometimes their names are known beyond their industries and they bring acclaim to their firms. We call these individuals Visible ExpertsSM, and it has become increasingly evident that they are changing the way professional services are purchased and understood. ...

Five of the 10 Leading Misconceptions (Part I of II) The following discussion summarizes and responds to common misconceptions that many analysts have with regard to the valuation of healthcare entity property and/or services transfers. These analyst misconceptions typically involve a misunderstanding of one or more of the relevant regulatory provisions. These analyst misconceptions typically relate to an e ...

What is the predicted earnings and revenue outlook?  Mark Fahey, CNBC Data Journalist, interviews some chief financial officers for their thoughts and insight and what we should prepare for. Find out more on the CNBC article, click: CFOs: This year is going to be bad. ...

The SEC has proposed new rules and amendments that are more stringent and would alter requirements.  Mary Grace McQuiston, Senior Financial Analyst with Mercer Capital, offers insights and explores some of the ramifications these changes could bring. Read more about the results of this report in the Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting article, Rules for the Modern Investment Manager.  This article is repub ...