A Business Valuation Expert’s Perspective Drawing from a presentation at the 2025 NACVA BVFL Super Conference by Glenn Block and Greg Clark, this article explores key elements of effective engagement letters, common pitfalls, and practical examples to guide valuation experts in crafting robust agreements. In the ever-evolving landscape of business valuation and forensic accounting, engagement letters serve as a cornerstone of professional practice. As highlighted in the 2025 NACVA presentation by Glenn Block and Greg Clark, these documents are not mere formalities. Rather, they are strategic tools that can protect practitioners, clarify expectations, and ensure compliance with professional standards. Drawing…
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There are riches in niches! That’s because you cannot be everything to everybody. Sounds reasonable. But what is missing is the advice that will help you identify your practice niche that everyone says is the secret sauce to making more money. There are riches in niches! That’s because you cannot be everything to everybody. Sounds reasonable. But what is missing is the advice that will help you identify your practice niche that everyone says is the secret sauce to making more money. I’ve written previously that my niche was tax purpose valuations for manufacturing and distribution companies. (I practiced what…
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Confessions of the Pricing Man, How Price Affects Everything Financial experts often struggle with setting fees for their own services and expertise. It is easy to see how someone could have trouble with decisions involving hourly billing versus fixed fees, premium pricing, bundling, discounting, and adjusting for scope creep. The author in this article shares insight from Hermann Simon on the above considerations. Financial experts often struggle with setting fees for their own services and expertise. It is easy to see how someone could have trouble with decisions involving hourly billing versus fixed fees, premium pricing, bundling, discounting, and adjusting…
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Get New Work at Fees I Can Live With When it comes to getting new work, one of the required steps is writing what amounts to a combined proposal/engagement letter. It’s more of a proposal if you’re assuming what the prospect wants; it’s more of an engagement letter if you spend time finding out what the prospect needs. But semantics aside, preparing these letters is a lot of work. Given that, what is your proposal win percentage? Are you content with your fees on the proposals you win? If your answer is “no” or “not always,” this article may help.…
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No matter what your fees are, there’s always the worry that you’re either too expensive and giving up work, or too cheap and leaving money on the table. Ingrid Case explains how these four questions can help you determine whether to give yourself a cut—or a raise. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Should I…Raise my Fees?