Income of Partners and Owners of Pass-through Entities (Part II of II) This is the second part of a two-part article where the author discusses the methodology for assessing the lost earning capacity of a self-employed person. This article provides an overview for analyzing the lost earning capacity of the self-employed and discusses why this category of work provides unique assessment situations. In this s ...

What's the Best Way to Manage Big Data? Companies disagree about whether chief financial officers, chief information officers or other individuals should be in charge of big data analysis, according to a report by Mu Sigma.  Forty-four percent of respondents say they use a centralized approach to big data management, but some companies use an individual or federated model.  James Bourne explains. To read th ...

Retired CPAs Share Retirement Advice The transition into retirement can be challenging for CPAs who have grown accustomed to the daily routine and demands associated with the accounting profession.  Maria L. Murphy, freelance writer, discusses seven tips from accountants who have successfully transitioned for making the most of life after work. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: ...

The consistent theme of the Appraisal Foundation’s exposure draft The Measurement and Application of Market Participant Acquisition Premiums is that acquirers do not value control for its own sake, but rather for the tangible economic benefits that can be achieved by the exercise of control.  Travis W. Harms, Mercer Capital Financial Reporting Valuation Group lead, explains the analyses and discusses his vi ...

Advise for Budding and Experienced Experts The third edition of The Comprehensive Guide to Lost Profits and Other Commercial Damages is marked departure from the prior editions. This two-volume set is replete with valuable information and insight from experienced practitioners. ...

Income of Partners and Owners of Pass-through Entities (Part I of II) This is a two-part article where the author discusses the methodology for assessing the lost earning capacity of a self-employed person. This, basically, is the same as that for a traditional wage and salary worker. Even though the methodology is the same, assessing the data for the self-employed is different. The loss calculations are no ...

Tackle the Clutter, but Keep the Good Stuff: 3 Tips for Saving Keepsakes Decluttering has never been more in vogue.  Eliminating extra stuff rewards you with clear shelves and even a clearer mind.  But before you hit delete or put it in the trash bin, Ann Marie Maloney, communications manager at AICPA, says consider these suggestions for what to keep and how to keep it so you can still enjoy it (and identif ...

New Accounting Rules Could Encourage use of Derivatives Changes to accounting rules for derivatives may prompt companies to start using reasonable derivative-based risk-management tools, said Jim Kroeker of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.  Kroeker suggested this was one possible benefit of FASB's proposal for hedge accounting, which could be issued in September. To read the full article in Bloombe ...

Don't Lose This Important Group of Clients The majority of children who inherit money don't retain their parents' advisers.  Joe Sicchitano, from SunTrust Bank, discusses how advisers and clients can take several steps to avoid this outcome, such as proactively communicating and working early to establish a relationship. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Advisers to Clients: Don’t Hide t ...

Upgrade Your Website to Develop a Measurable Market Advantage What strategies should professional service firms adopt to market their expertise? What impact do online leads have on the bottom line? Where should a firm place premium content? What can a firm do to minimize overt marketing? In this article, Dr. Lee Frederiksen of Hinge Marketing shares six strategies to improve your website, drive traffic, and ...

You’re In or You’re Out (Part VII of VII) Will your testimony be admissible? Inadmissible? This series was written to help newly minted (and experienced) experts be mindful of Daubert, or a state’s own variation of Daubert or Frye throughout the litigation process. The key points made include: remember to only accept cases that you are qualified for, ensure you have a sound methodology in which to form your ...

Heightened IRS Scrutiny A look into recent Tax Court cases brings to light several issues that are on the IRS’ “radar screen.” Past QuickRead articles have highlighted some of the cases, including Section 2036, or “bad facts” cases. Another hot-button issue for the IRS is the proper treatment of conservation easement charitable contributions. Since 2010, courts have published at least 60 opinions addressing ...

NACVA’s Silver Anniversary Conference NACVA and the CTI’s 2016 Annual Consultants’ Conference held this past June in San Diego, CA was a spectacular assembly of presenters, attendees, exhibitors, candidates, and staff. This one pulled out all the stops, featuring prestigious keynote speakers, engaging training sessions, an assortment of networking opportunities, and many more events to enjoy. It proved to b ...

What You Say and How You Say it Matters (Part VI of VII) Anticipate that opposing counsel will challenge some aspect of the report and suggest flaws notwithstanding the hard work. How you present yourself and testify is of utmost importance. In this article, the author shares her views on how to prepare and address the criticism that will be leveled at you and your report. ...

Why Valuation isn’t the Only Thing that Matters During an Exit A big mistake that some startup businesses make is doing whatever it takes to maximize their valuation when they exit, writes Michael Morgan, CFO of Tegile Systems.  A single-minded focus on valuation can backfire if the market enters a downturn, he writes. To read the full article in CFO, click: Avoid These Mistakes When Planning an Exit. ...

Wall Street Starts Responding to Robo-Adviser Challenge Big U.S. banks have taken their time figuring out how to deal with robo-advisers, but they're starting to respond.  Some Wall Street banks are rolling out online advisory services, while others are acquiring them or augmenting existing internet platforms.  Jon Marino, Wall Street reporter, explains. To read the full article in CNBC, click: Big Banks ar ...

What is the difference between a company’s total capital value and enterprise value?  The difference between these two concepts is the treatment of cash.  In the following post, Z. Christopher Mercer, founder and CEO of Mercer Capital, examines the effect of cash on the relative valuation multiples of three public companies. To read the full article in Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: Marke ...

Drop the Excuses and Start Networking You're never too busy to build trust with your colleagues or meet new contacts, writes Peter Economy.  You'll miss out on opportunities if you avoid networking events because you think you're too busy or unlikely to meet anyone important. To read the full article in Inc., click: 10 Networking Mistakes That Get in the Way of Your Success. ...

How Some States Treat Net Operating Losses in Reorganizations A number of states still require corporations undergoing a merger or reorganization to meet a continuity-of-business-enterprise test before they can carry over net operating losses, a rule that hasn't been in effect federally since the 1954 Internal Revenue Code was enacted.  Ann Holley and Caralee Hall explain. To read the full article in The Ta ...

Jeff K. Davis, managing director of Mercer Capital’s Financial Institutions Group, attended Creditflux’s private credit conference in New York a couple of days before the Brexit vote.  He explains that there was not much concern mentioned among mostly U.S. credit investors about it as a market or economic catalyst; nor was there much concern expressed about an aging credit cycle. To read the full article in ...