Switching costs for capital investment are high and do-overs are expensive.  Travis Harms, Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group lead, shares this whitepaper in order to assist directors and shareholders in evaluating proposed capital projects and contributing to capital budgeting decisions that enhance value. To read the full article in Mercer Capital's Financial Reporting Blog, click: Capit ...

About the Use of Monte Carlo Simulation QuickRead’s Technical Editor, Roberto Castro, explains that Monte Carlo is another tool valuation and litigation support professionals should embrace since courts have signaled its approval. ...

A Case Study (Part I of II) Most commercial damages assignments call for the calculation of lost profits or lost business value. However, some cases, particularly those relating to lost profits, contain elements of additional economic damages. These situations require the expert to focus on multiple areas of loss while insuring each element does not contain losses claimed by another. In this two-part articl ...

Critical feedback can help you grow in your career, but only if you use it effectively.  William Treseder shares five ways to manage your emotions and make the most of this feedback. To read the full article in Harvard Business Review, click: Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career. ...

EY looks to hire 15,200 employees by July 1, and that effort includes the use of candidate-relationship software to interact even before the application is finalized.  After a hire is made, the company uses a digital learning software for onboarding. To read the full article in Fast Company, click: Hiring Lessons from the Company Adding More Than 15,000 Employees in One Year. ...

Once a petition for Chapter 11 is filed with the bankruptcy court, the company usually undertakes a strategic review of its operations, including opportunities to shed assets or even lines of businesses.  The Chapter 11 reorganization process concludes when the bankruptcy court confirms a reorganization plan which specifies a reorganization value and which reflects the agreed upon strategic direction and ca ...

Winery Value QuickRead’s Technical Editor, Roberto Castro, reviews BVR’s What It’s Worth: Winery Value ...

NACVA Present at the Congressional Hearings on the Proposed Regulations In 2015, the IRS issued proposed section 2704 regulations. The proposal would severely impact valuations of family held businesses that are the subject of gifts. On December 1, 2016, hearings were held in Congress regarding the impact of the proposed regulations. NACVA members, Peter Agrapides, Robert Grossman, and Mark Hanson testified ...

Carefully considering the user's experience helps interface designers create useful products—and can guide finance teams in data presentations.  Andrew Kenney, CGMA Magazine contributing editor, shares some tips that really deliver. To read the full article in CGMA Magazine, click: How to Deliver the Financial Data Users Need. ...

Recruiters from large firms, including the Big Four, reveal what skills and competencies they look for in new hires.  Sarah Ovaska-Few discusses these tips. To read the full article in AICPA, click: What Large Firms Expect From New Accounting Grads. ...

Over the past decade, we have been retained by several investment funds to assist them in responding to formal and informal SEC investigations regarding fair value measurement of portfolio investments.  Reflecting back on those engagements yields a couple observations and reminders for funds and fund managers as they go through the quarterly valuation process.  Travis Harms, Mercer Capital’s Financial Repor ...

Transaction Structure Considerations on Target Company Value Valuation analysts do not have to be investment bankers to value an M&A candidate, but they do need to understand taxable and non-taxable stock acquisitions. This discussion summarizes some of the tax benefits—and some of the tax complexities—associated with a taxable stock purchase deal structure. Although the analyst is not expected to be th ...

2017 Marketing Tactics Your Firm Needs to Implement Now In this article, Dr. Frederiksen provides five strategies that firms need to implement to firm up or develop their referral marketing strategy and thrive in 2017. ...

How to Make up for Lost Time with Retirement Savings People who are behind schedule on retirement savings can take several steps to make up the difference.  These include making use of catch-up contributions, selecting funds with low investment fees, and postponing required minimum distributions, if possible.  Damian Davila offers some useful tips. To read the full article in Wise Bread, click: 7 Retirement ...

Audit quality concerns raised by a spike in unsatisfactory results from firm/engagement inspections performed by the regulator and the possibility of audit firms being sued for corporate failures warrants a fresh look at professional skepticism.  Here is Brian Monegi’s take on this. To read the full article in ASA, click: Analysis: Professional Skepticism: in the Age of Fair Value Measurements. ...

Mercer Capital started writing weekly about fair value reporting in 2013.  Looking back over more than three years and 150 posts, it seemed an opportune time for them to review their posts and compile what might, for lack of a better term, be called a “Greatest Hits” collection of their favorites.  Travis Harms, lead of Mercer Capital’s Financial Reporting Valuation Group, introduces you to their new book e ...

Value and Business Challenges in the Budding Cannabis Industry QuickRead’s Technical Editor, Roberto Castro, reviews BVR’s What It’s Worth: Value and Business Challenges in the Budding Cannabis Industry. ...

A Closer Look at Unjust Enrichment Financial experts typically calculate damages remedies that focus on a plaintiff's loss that is quantified either through lost profits or lost business value. In contrast, unjust enrichment is a damages remedy that measures the defendant's benefit or gain. While the three remedies all serve to quantify damages, an expert must understand the similarities and differences amo ...

Social media presents risks and opportunities.  Demonstrating expertise and reaching new clients are among the ways social medial can be valuable for finance professionals.  Sean Stein Smith, assistant professor at Rutgers, discusses how you can utilize this tool to your benefit. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: 4 Ways Accountants Can Get More Out of Social Media. ...

The International Monetary Fund has warned that sluggish economic growth throughout the world could bolster an anti-trade backlash that has become a feature of politics in both the United States and Europe.  “We have not done a great job in the advanced countries of paying attention to those who lose from trade,” said Maurice Obstfeld, the fund’s chief economist. To read the full article in The New York Tim ...