• tax reform
    QuickPress - Tax

    Finance Chairman Preps Congress for Tax Reform

    August 9, 2013

    According to The Hill, Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Max Baucus (D-Mont) has put the committee on notice to expect a comprehensive tax reform overhaul this fall. While not committing to a specific start date, Baucus has promised a thorough rewrite of the tax code sometime after August. Frenzied lobbying has already begun on which allowances should stay and which should go. The move to draft and debate legislation on the Finance Committee — a daunting task that could take weeks of work — is just the latest sign that Baucus is serious about passing the first overhaul of the tax…

  • QuickRead Featured - Valuation/Appraisal

    Is Depreciation a Real Expense?

    August 9, 2013

    Depreciation is not a “paper” expense. It is very real. Fully depreciating capital assets distorts the income statement and balance sheet. The depreciation recorded for tax and financial reporting purposes also tends to distort the net asset value of the asset. Depreciation is not a “paper” expense. It is very real.

  • QuickRead Featured - Valuation/Appraisal

    On the Waterfront

    August 9, 2013

    Appraising marina properties is a challenging niche with as many variables as there are bodies of water Just like appraisals on dry land, location plays a major role in developing an opinion of value for a marina property, but the criteria for an appraisal can be a little different from those of landlocked commercial enterprises. Here are a few of the questions that must be considered when valuing marina property.

  • QuickPress - Valuation/Appraisal

    Pull the Plug on Tesla’s Value?

    August 7, 2013

    The value of California-based electric automaker, Tesla Motors’ earning potential and share price are analyzed after a triple-fold increase from earlier this year.  Roben Farzad of Bloomberg Businessweek takes a closer look at attempts by Goldman Sachs to dampen optimism surrounding Tesla’s increasing profit margins.  Do the numbers really show Tesla has power to remain consistent with this kind of growth? The very next day, Andrea James of Minneapolis-based Dougherty & Co. stepped up to the mic to counter the Wall Street giant. She wrote: “We ultimately believe that Tesla is a $300 stock at the factory’s maximum capacity, which…

  • QuickPress - Valuation/Appraisal

    Will Rising Interest Rates Damage Commercial Real Estate Value?

    August 7, 2013

    In a fast and concise analysis, Bill Conerly of Forbes.com examines whether the rise in interest rates, particularly with commercial mortgages, automatically translates into a drop in commercial property value.  Conerly explains that your decision-making all depends on whether you take an internal or external view of the process.   How can this logic be wrong? Why doesn’t the table show clear real estate losses when interest rates rise? Interest rates on mortgages, bonds, and other long-term debt are not set by the whims of fairies. They are determined by two factors: inflation expectations and economic growth, which combine to…

  • Litigation Consulting - QuickRead Top Story

    Providing Effective Litigation Services (Part 4 of 4)

    August 7, 2013

    Practice techniques used to serve as an effective expert witness In this final part of Mark Shirley’s litigation services series, the focus turns to practical tips for new and experienced expert witnesses. These include what to consider before engaging, how to organize the file, the need to understand the vernacular and preparation, as well as the need to understand the discovery process. Impressions are also shared with respect to the use and advantages of visual aids, and how to conduct direct and cross-examination testimony.

  • Litigation Consulting - QuickPress

    Florida Adopts Daubert

    August 1, 2013

    On June 4, 2013, Florida Governor, Rick Scott signed HB 7015, joining the Federal Courts and other jurisdictions in adopting the Daubert test for admission of expert testimony. Just weeks ago, Florida followed the Frye Standard which allowed experts to testify if their expertise was “generally accepted” in the field in which it belongs. Many had felt that is allowed “phony science” or strange testimony from so-called “experts to be permitted. It also limited a judge’s ability to act as a gatekeeper to exclude unqualified experts. It may have taken 20 years, but since July 1st, testimony in Florida courts…

  • Practice Management - QuickRead Featured

    The Latest Word on ESOPs: What We All Need to Know

    August 1, 2013

    Has the new federal tax regime set forth the grounds to reconsider an ESOP? An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can use debt financing to buy company stock from the company’s owner(s). It’s a serious option for any business owner who wants to liquidate some or all of his or her ownership. Martin Staubus reviews how ESOPs work, as well as the benefits they provide to buyers (employees) and sellers (owners).

  • Litigation Consulting - QuickRead Top Story

    Providing Effective Litigation Services (Part 3 of 4)

    August 1, 2013

    An overview of the Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and leading pre- and post-Daubert cases In this third part of a four-part series, the focus turns to the rules of evidence and standards used to admit the testimony of expert witnesses. While a minority of jurisdictions follows the Frye standard, the majority has adopted the Daubert standard. Objective testimony is critical, which means the expert must not merely accept representations from the client.

  • Forensic Accounting - QuickPress

    Experts Estimate Dodd-Frank to Be Complete in December

    July 24, 2013

    According to Bloomberg News, financial regulators have reported that new measures on the Dodd-Frank Act should be mostly complete by the end of 2013.  The law, created in 2010, was designed to prevent a repeat of the 2008 worldwide credit crisis.  Among the new rules are tougher leverage requirements for eight of the nation’s largest banks, a risk-based capital surcharge for systemically important banks and the Volcker rule to ban proprietary trading by banks.  FDIC Chairman, Martin Gruenberg has stated that he’s seeking a Volcker rule that ensures the banks’ ability to perform underwriting “market-making” functions in less liquid markets.…

  • QuickRead Featured - Valuation/Appraisal

    Do Business Valuation Standards Apply to Non-Accredited CPAs?

    July 24, 2013

    Will the valuation report prepared by the non-accredited CPA be admitted? The author was recently involved in an Oklahoma domestic relations case where the opposing expert contended he did not have to abide by AICPA valuation standards, reporting or otherwise, since he was not a member of the organization. This article summarizes how this issue was handled by the Oklahoma judge.

  • Mergers and Acquisitions/Exit Planning - QuickRead Featured

    Using Valuation Skills to Help Prepare a Business for Sale

    July 24, 2013

    A proactive approach pays off for selling shareholders A business valuation analyst has the training, valuation skills, and experience to provide meaningful feedback to owners seeking to exit their businesses. When and how to conduct the pre-sale valuation is crucial to maximizing profit potential. This article will provide insight into using your valuation skills to help prepare a business for sale.