and My Productivity Doubled How can one materially improve productivity in just two weeks? In this article, the author describes how she allowed artificial intelligence to start managing her work schedule. What happened next surprised her: the author gained nearly two hours a day and doubled her weekly task completion rate. I am a single mom with two kids under three years old. I work full-time as a forensi ...

Inside the Expert Battle Over Kroger’s Pharmacy Discounts What does “usual and customary price” mean? How does a plaintiff challenge such a broad assertion in a class action? What will a defendant assert to discredit a plaintiff’s expert? This article discusses the Daubert motion brought forth in Kirkbride v. The Kroger Co. and provides notice to how a challenge may unfold in other class action suits that h ...

Today, I am taking a risk. A risk of exposing weaknesses in AI and applying it to the business valuation profession. So, follow along with my experiment and let’s see what happens. First of all, you should know that I have the paid version of ChatGPT ($20/month) and I used the 4o model for my test. Since I am a tech wizard and not a CVA, I started simple. Prompt #1: What kind of data do you need to calculat ...

How Business Valuations Drive Smarter Lending Decisions This article provides a case study that highlights the methodology behind SBA-compliant business valuations. The article underscores the importance of grounding the analysis in standard valuation techniques, using reliable industry benchmarks, and properly documenting adjustments. The role and value of business appraisers to the lender and parties invo ...

Utilizing Data Analytics to Investigate Ponzi Schemes This article examines how data analytics combined with other forensic accounting tools can help investigators uncover how investors in both traditional and newer types of Ponzi schemes were victimized, and how data can be compiled to locate stolen assets and create an analytical report that aids regulators and in legal proceedings focused on recovering f ...

For Business and Financial Consultants (Explained Simply) Prompt engineering is just a fancy term for “asking better questions” when using AI tools like ChatGPT. Think of it like giving clear instructions to a smart assistant. The better your instructions, the better and more useful the answer. Why It Matters for Consultants If you are a business or financial consultant, you use your brainpower to solve pro ...

Tips to Successfully Transition to the Expert Level There are several steps to making the transition from generalist to specialist. For those who have gone through this process, the primary regret is often that they did not make the transition earlier. To help anyone sitting on the fence, I am sharing some brief tips from my own experience. There are several benefits to being highly specialized. One of them ...

The Importance of Growth Assumptions in Delaware Appraisal Rulings An important input to many valuations for disputes in the Delaware Court of Chancery is a business’s terminal value; the future value of a business that reflects all the cash flows expected to occur after the period for which management or analysts typically prepare cash flow projections. In this Q&A, the article’s authors explain how th ...

Beyond Heating and Cooling From coast to coast and everywhere in between, HVAC plays a critical role in economic performance and presents compelling opportunities. This article discusses factors business valuators must consider when they are engaged to value HVAC companies. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services are not only essential, they are foundational to modern comfort and thriving ...

Self-reflection and the Engagement Process The buying process begins when a prospect or a referral source considers you for a new engagement, or when a client considers you for a repeat performance. In this article, Rod Burkert reflects on this aspect of the engagement process. The buying process begins when a prospect or a referral source considers you for a new engagement, or when a client considers you f ...