Well over half say they would back Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s plan to tax those with more than $50 million in assets, a survey finds. To read the full article in CNBC, click: Millionaires Support Proposed Tax on Large Wealth: Tax Strategy Scan.
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Privately Held Promissory Notes How should a privately held promissory note be valued? In this article Bruce Johnson answers this question. Bruce notes that the key issues to consider when valuing a privately held promissory note are the interest rate, amortization term, collateral, payment history, covenants and marketability of the note being valued. Once this information is assessed, an appraiser can conclude whether the subject note’s interest rate is below or above the market rate for a comparable investment with the same level of risk. The author advocates the use of rates from Business Development Companies because they are more…
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an Effective Elevator Pitch Professionals in the accounting, valuation, and finance sectors frequently struggle with a deceptively simple task: describing in a few words what their firm does and how it stands apart from the competition. If you, the reader, have experienced this difficulty, you can make it easier on yourself by having a thoughtful and concise elevator pitch ready to deploy when the opportunity arises. The ideal elevator pitch explains in clear, straightforward language what your firm does and how it is positioned in the marketplace. In this article, I will share some proven tips on how to write…
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Strong management goes beyond ethical behavior, efficiency, and carrying out company strategy—even though each of those is important. Managers are a key reason that employees show up to work engaged or not. Managers can live their values, set clear expectations on schedules, engage in two-way communication, and more. To read the full article in Journal of Accountancy, click: Memo to Managers: Practice What You Preach.
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Firms are spending plenty on tech but are skimping when it comes to training their people to recognize an incoming attack. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: The Cybersecurity Defense Advisors Forget.
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The world looked very different in 1943, when the psychologist Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” model was first published. The world was just in the early stages of realizing the potential of computing power, which codebreakers would use to help bring an end to the world war. Fast forward to 2019, and we stand on the brink of another seismic shift: the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Amid a picture of further disruption and change, how can this model of human motivation help us understand the needs people have in today’s digital economy? To read the full article in World Economic Forum,…
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Technology (Part V of V) Over the past decade, there has been a rapid adoption of technological innovations in the U.S., which has fundamentally changed the healthcare delivery system, improving the quality of patient care, as well as the efficiency of healthcare processes and practices. Research indicates that implementation of healthcare information technology (HIT) may lead to improved efficiency and quality management, especially in rural areas. This article, the last in the five-part rural healthcare series, will discuss the various technological advancements that may assist rural health clinics (RHCs) in providing more tailored and advanced care to a greater number…
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Applicable to Real Estate Holding Companies (Part II of II) In this second of a two-part series published in QuickRead August 01, 2019, the author discusses valuation discounts applicable to real estate holding companies and the incremental adjustments in the valuation of partial, non-controlling interests. After discussing the application of a minority discount or discount for lack of control (DLOC) in the last issue of Real Estate Perspectives, I will now turn to discussing the next incremental adjustment in the valuation of partial, non-controlling interests in entities holding real estate as their primary and most valuable asset. In this article,…
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In the most recent developer release of Apple’s iOS 13 there is a feature called FaceTime Attention Correction that creates the impression that a user is staring directly at their device’s camera. It is not entirely clear how this effect is achieved, but it is possible that Apple is applying real-time video techniques to distort images so that eye-contact between callers on video is improved. To read the full article in Forbes, click: Are Deepfakes Invading the Office?
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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 organic farm and a real estate business. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: ‘We Were Just Conned,’ Client Says of Advisor’s Alleged $8M Ponzi Scheme.
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Many of the world’s biggest companies, from Silicon Valley tech firms to large European banks, are bracing for the prospect that climate change could substantially affect their bottom lines within the next five years, according to a new analysis of corporate disclosures. To read the full article in The New York Times, click: Companies See Climate Change Hitting Their Bottom Lines in the Next Five Years.
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Regulatory Issues (Part IV of V) As discussed in the first installment of this five-part series, rural health clinics (RHCs) are statutorily-created entities, established via the Rural Health Clinic Service Act of 1977. These providers face a range of federal and state legal and regulatory constraints, which affect their formation, operation, and transactions. This installment will discuss two important regulatory issues affecting RHCs: licensure requirements, and fraud and abuse law compliance. As discussed in the first installment of this five-part series, rural health clinics (RHCs) are statutorily-created entities, established via the Rural Health Clinic Service Act of 1977.[i] These providers…
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How to Avoid Romance of the Deal through Cold-Hearted Diligence This paper attempts to address these issues while presenting summary critical considerations that can and do mitigate the likelihood of unintended consequences and deals that fail to deliver. Specifically, it will speak to how advisors and buyers can verify and substantiate the most critical and yet intangible value drivers in a deal. Recently, private equity has been in the news again. Roughly one month ago, Elizabeth Warren announced new proposed legislation—the Wall Street Looting Act—intended to curb “useless speculation,” encourage “economic patriotism,” while targeting “vampires” intent on “bleeding companies dry”.…
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Under a FINRA proposal, firms with histories of misconduct would be required to set aside funds for anticipated arbitration awards. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: New Rules for Firms that Hire Problematic Brokers.
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Credentialed authorities are comically bad at predicting the future. But reliable forecasting is possible. To read the full article in The Atlantic, click: The Peculiar Blindness of Experts.
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Reading fiction has been said to increase people’s empathy and compassion. But does the research really bear that out? To read the full article in BBC, click: Does Reading Fiction Make Us Better People?
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Reimbursement Environment (Part III of V) The U.S. government is the largest payor of medical costs, through Medicare and Medicaid, and has a strong influence on healthcare reimbursement. In 2017, Medicare and Medicaid accounted for an estimated $705.9 billion and $581.9 billion in healthcare spending, respectively. The prevalence of these public payors in the healthcare marketplace often results in their acting as a price setter and being used as a benchmark for private reimbursement rates. This is particularly true for RHCs, which tend to serve a disproportionately large Medicare population. This third installment in the five-part series on RHCs will…
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An Appraiser in Court This is a review of Henry J. Wise’s, MAI, CBA, BVAL, CRE (Retired) recently released book, It’s Only an Opinion: An Appraiser in Court. In this book, comprised of 23 chapters, Mr. Wise is not only humorous but also insightful. He shares several nuggets from his 35-years of experience testifying in court on real estate controversies. He offers valuable information to business appraisers, real estate attorneys, and real property appraisers. This is a review of Henry J. Wise’s, MAI, CBA, BVAL, CRE (Retired), recently released book, It’s Only an Opinion: An Appraiser in Court. In this…
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The expertise of older professionals is needed now more than ever. In its 2018 study, The Global Talent Crunch, Korn Ferry forecasts a worldwide shortage of 10.7 million workers by 2030 in the financial and business services sector alone. What’s more, technology is evolving at such a rapid clip, along with corporate development, that young leaders with less experience often focus on day-to-day operations—but not the big picture. To read the full article in Financial Management, click: Taking a Late-Career Leap.
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Digital tools and technologies are now relentlessly and remorselessly transforming how performance management works. Customized and continuous data-driven feedback is becoming a new normal for enterprises worldwide. This feedback appears both qualitatively and quantitatively superior to its performance review precursors and should lead to better outcomes. But does AI-flavored feedback require a human touch to measurably improve its impact? To read the full article in MIT Sloan Review, click: Does AI-Flavored Feedback Require a Human Touch?