And the Cockroach Theory The recent bankruptcies of First Brands, a large auto parts supplier, and Tricolor, a car dealership chain, have renewed concerns about lending practices more than two years after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. That earlier failure was driven by rising interest rates that reduced the value of its bond holdings and caused panic across the banking sector. Appraisers may regard these as isolated instances rather than evidence of a broader financial crisis. Either way, the author proposes that business valuation professionals should consider these issues when completing current business valuation engagements. Introduction MSN[1] recently quoted…
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Engaging a Prospective Attorney for Referrals In this article, the author shares what “pick-up line” works best for him to get attorneys to refer work. I have a “pick-up line” that works almost every time with new referral sources, particularly attorneys. Want to hear what it is? Before I tell you, let’s first talk about what referral sources, like attorneys, are up against so you can see why this pick-up line works. The Resistance You Must Overcome You’ve heard about the know, like, and trust thing, right? That people do business with people they know, like, and trust. Look at…
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In Anticipation of Going to Market Valuations performed for mergers and acquisitions are different than most of the traditional valuation work. The author of this article shares the standard of value used in these engagements, the due diligence conducted, and merits of preparing a calculation report in anticipation of going to market. Valuations performed for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are different than most of the traditional valuation work we handle on a day-to-day basis. One of the biggest differences is the standard of value used. Typically, the valuation professional will use investment value rather than fair market value. NACVA’s definition…
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How AI is Reshaping Litigation for Better and Worse AI remains a flawed practice companion. In addition to the possibility of hallucinated case citations and incorrect legal analysis, the use of AI introduces data privacy concerns and risks misadvising individuals due to overly generalized AI conclusions. In this article, the author addresses the following: Does the use of AI in litigation represent true artificial intelligence, or is it artificial interference preventing a just outcome? Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the modern-day legal landscape, offering tools for research, drafting, fact development, document review, expert services, jury selection, and even predicting…
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Here is a practical use for AI in your consulting practice. If you ever need to create training for a new employee or intern, you will find this method very useful. It will save you hours of time and make you look like a well-organized firm. We will use Perplexity in this demo, but you could use your favorite AI chatbot to do the same thing. Watch this video to see how to create professional video training on any topic in a few short minutes. Colin Brown is the CTO of Syncnet.com and helps consultants implement AI into their practice.…
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Examining Available Sale Options and Steps to Maximize the Financial Outcome (Part II of II) Effective exit planning is essential for business owners to maximize financial outcomes when selling or transferring their business. This second part of the comprehensive guide explores the strategic options available, the timing required for preparation, and key value drivers to enhance sale success. Read Part I here. Effective exit planning is essential for business owners to maximize financial outcomes when selling or transferring their business. This comprehensive guide explores the strategic options available, the timing required for preparation, and key value drivers to enhance sale…
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What Might an Investigation Look Like The First Brands Chapter 11 filing, the questions raised regarding its use of off-balance sheet financing and its new leadership, is setting the stage for an investigation. In this article, the author shares what may ensue at this early stage of the controversy. Introduction Automotive News[1] reported that, on October 13, 2025, First Brands reported its founder, Patrick James, had stepped down as CEO and will be succeeded by Chief Restructuring Officer, Charles Moore, on an interim basis, as the auto parts maker advances its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. On the same day, the…