The Evolution of Digital Forensics and Growth of the Industry The rapid growth of technology has resulted in the computer age, which has given rise to cybercrimes. Savvy criminals today use devices such as tablets, computers, smartphones, and cloud storage in the planning and commission of cybercrimes, whether to wreak havoc in the system of an organization or in the commission of a crime of self-enrichment. According to McAfee, global losses from cybercrime in 2019 exceeded $1 trillion, which was a 50% increase over 2018. These major challenges have been met by cyber sleuths, who are trained in the collection…
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A Data Analytics Approach The valuation of minerals and renewables falls outside the usual guidelines of real property appraisal, where real property broadly defined includes land, everything permanently attached to it, at, above, and below the earth’s surface and all the interests, benefits, and rights inherent in the ownership collectively referred to as “the bundle of sticks”. This is because most appraisers commonly value land, houses, ranches, surface structures, and businesses. Sub surface real property appraisals is more specialized where appraisers usually value royalty income based on production from reservoirs beneath the surface. This article provides an overview of the…
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How Does it Work? Everyone seems to be talking about cryptocurrency these days, but many are unsure how to define it and fewer still, know exactly how it works. Cryptocurrency is a digital construct without physical substance; the only evidence of its existence is the digital record or ledger indicating balances held (like a balance sheet) and transactions that have occurred (like an income statement). What follows is a basic primer on how cryptocurrency works and how it differs from physical currencies. Everyone seems to be talking about cryptocurrency these days, but many are unsure how to define it and…
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Communicating Value “Comparing apples to oranges” refers to contrasting two or more items that are similar, but that have important differences. While apples and oranges are both fruits, they have different flavors, colors, textures, etc. In a business valuation, comparing enterprise value to equity value is like comparing apples to oranges. Both measure the value of a business, but the results can differ significantly, depending on the cash and debt balances on a company’s books as of the valuation date. Not understanding the different types of value utilized in a valuation or transaction analysis may lead to disagreements on the…
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Diversify the Revenue Sources Valuation consultants usually have training and experience with the process of normalizing owner compensation. They may also have access to compensation comparability data, which is a collection of actual amounts paid by other employers which can be sorted. Therefore, valuation specialists may already have what they need to begin adding compensation consulting services to their practices. Valuation consultants usually have training and experience with the process of normalizing owner compensation. They may also have access to compensation comparability data, which is a collection of actual amounts paid by other employers which can be sorted. Therefore, valuation…
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Risks in a Post Pandemic Environment The pandemic placed many individuals into an environment where they had to rely on technology to conduct daily life and the financial transactions associated with it. This was a major change; especially for a generation that was accustomed to handling their banking and financial transactions face to face. Forcing a generation to begin to conduct banking and purchasing online while utilizing sensitive information has increased the risk of fraud as it relates to “elder” individuals. This article discusses some of the trends emerging leading to elder abuse. The pandemic placed many individuals into an…
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Analysis of Deal Stats Pre- and Post-COVID-19 This article will review PE activity generally, and in the healthcare industry, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discuss what is expected for the remainder of 2021, as the economy evolves in response to a post-pandemic America. The involvement of private equity (PE) in the healthcare industry in the first quarter of 2021 disappointed investors after the number of deals closed was only half the number of deals in the same quarter of 2020.[1] Just over a year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting the U.S. full force, the volume of transactions increased…
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You Should Feel the Same Way There is a great expression that is used as advertising in our industry: the business we value most is yours. (It is like: The customer is always right.) It is a great slogan and one the author quoted in his LinkedIn profile! And then, as the author states, he wised up and discovered that the business he valued most was his own. In this article, he explains why the reader should also feel the same way. There’s a great expression used as advertising in our industry: The business we value most is yours. (It…