Issues and Caveats (Part V of V) This final of a five-article series discusses the application of the unit valuation principle. This installment describes many of the application issues and caveats related to the use of the unit principle to value the unit of taxable property. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III […] The post The Unit Valuation Principle for Property Tax Purposes appeared first on QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
What Valuation Analysts Can Do on Day One Use the new =COPILOT() formula and super charge your productivity in Excel. The Problem with Excel (and Why This Matters Now) If you work in business valuation or consulting, Excel is still your daily driver. We use it for everything; normalizing financial statements, running DCF models, cleaning […] The post Excel’s New =COPILOT() Formula appeared first on QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Valuation Procedures This fourth of a five-article series discusses the application of the unit valuation principle. This installment summarizes the generally accepted unit valuation procedures. But first, this discussion describes the generally accepted summation valuation approaches and methods as a comparison to the unit valuation approaches and methods. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. […] The post The Unit Valuation Principle for Property Tax Purposes appeared first on QuickRead |...| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
This article is designed as a primer for valuation professionals, giving you the foundational knowledge of wine industry terms and business structures you need to navigate this highly specialized field. By building this knowledge, you will be better prepared to ask the right questions, interpret key details, and deliver valuations that truly reflect the complexities and risks behind a wine business.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Excel and Position Yourself as the Expert There is an important difference between a service provider and an expert. In this article, Rod Burkert discusses why the differentiation is important and how to position yourself to be an expert. When it comes to the work you do, are you a service provider or an expert? […] The post Are You a Service Provider or an Expert? appeared first on QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Comparing Today’s Most Popular AI Chatbots Compare the results of the top AI chatbot models. In the past few years, AI chatbots have gone from a niche experiment to everyday tools powering work, creativity, and conversation. But with so many options—ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and more—how do you know which one is right for you? […] The post Battle of the Bots appeared first on QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
When to Apply This second of a five-article installment discusses the application of the unit valuation principle. Guidance is provided for when to apply the unit of valuation principle. Read Part I here. Introduction This discussion is the second installment of a five-part series related to unit principle valuations prepared for property tax compliance, administration, […] The post The Unit of Valuation Principle for Property Tax Purposes appeared first on QuickRead | News for the Financia...| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
U.S. courts have established multiple factors and guidelines to assess reasonableness in compensation. This article reviews the factors and statutory criteria used to assess the reasonableness of compensation.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In the world of valuation, particularly at the intersection of professional judgement and AI, this 21st article of the Unimpeachable Neutrality Series begs the question now facing us: what kind of AI guardrails should exist? And how do we keep them from becoming runaway lanes, or worse, launchpads, into unintended consequences?| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
This article provides a hypothetical case study that walks readers through the process of a financial investigation in which the data extraction, analysis, and forensic reconciliation are integrated seamlessly by accounting and data experts who understand both sides of an investigation.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The level of sophistication used by fraudsters continues to increase. Fraudsters are using voice recognition and voice swapping, as well as other generative AI tools that continue to evolve. It is critical to constantly reassess internal controls and understand how AI is used and misused. In this article, the author shares some of the schemes used and issues a challenge to entities as well as to accounting and fraud examiners.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
What is the purpose of marketing? While credentials are helpful, the profession needs to reevaluate the strategies used. In this article, Rod Burkert reminds us of what the profession may consider to market the services effectively.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
CMS found that overall healthcare spending growth has decreased slightly but is still elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels and is expected to continue to moderately grow. This article examines the factors underlying the forecasts.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Forensic accounting plays a crucial role in modernizing climate risk insurance models. As climate change intensifies extreme weather events, insurers are struggling to accurately price risk, detect fraudulent claims, and maintain financial stability. This article explores how fraud, forensic accounting, and innovative risk management practices intersect with these challenges, while examining alternatives to traditional property insurance and the global implications of climate change.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In an attempt to continue tracking the latest actions of the federal government’s legislative and executive branches affecting the healthcare industry since the last article was released in March, this article summarizes recent events in Washington and the impact of these changes on providers and patients.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
What impact, if any, will the imposition of tariffs have on the valuation of assets? How will the imposition of tariffs impact modeling? In this article, the author shares his thoughts on the various factors and industries that valuation professionals must weigh to prepare a valuation.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
AI agents are computer programs designed to act like intelligent assistants; they can understand instructions, make decisions, and complete tasks on your behalf. Think of them as digital helpers that use data, reasoning, and even language skills to solve problems, answer questions, or automate repetitive work. In short, AI agents can handle jobs you would normally do yourself, but faster, more consistently, and at any time of day.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The importance of strong internal controls cannot be overstated. They form the foundation for financial integrity, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and, ultimately, long-term business success. This article explores how strong internal controls not only safeguard against fraud but also serve as a catalyst for business growth and sustainability.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The authors share personal stories regarding the challenges they have faced in cases that involve people with diagnosed and undiagnosed narcissists disorders. Men and women with this disorder are especially challenging and the authors share what they have learned to mitigate the damage a person with this disorder may have in a case.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
How do you price your business valuation engagement? What about a litigation support engagement? In this article, Rod Burkert discusses how to value your professional engagements.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In a much-anticipated clarification, the U.S. Copyright Office has officially ruled that works involving artificial intelligence (AI) can be eligible for copyright protection, but only when a human hand plays a meaningful role in shaping the final result. In short, AI can assist, but it cannot claim authorship.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Daubert motions are commonly raised to exclude experts. In this article, the author underscores the importance of questioning a client’s representations and documenting the basis for damages calculations. The failure to do so exposes the expert to challenges on the basis that the opinion is flawed because it is based on speculation and questionable assumptions.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In this article, the author uses a case study to explore how forensic accountants used analytics to identify discrepancies in financial records and support financial investigations.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In this article, the author discusses the conversation she had with ChatGPT regarding Bitcoin and Ponzi schemes.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Your primary source for news and information in the areas of business valuation, appraisal, financial forensics, healthcare consulting, and other related areas.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Finding good clients can be a challenge. Even with good clients, maintaining the relationship and improving it takes a few easy steps. In this article, the author shares steps a firm can take to improve the relationships and minimize the chance of losing the client.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In this article, the author provides three versions of a data retention policy that appears compliant with GDPR or NIST.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Rod Burkert has been spreading the gospel about BVFLS practice development since 2013. In this article, he discusses a framework that he has developed and can be used to close the gap between the practice you have and the practice you want.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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 have a similar underlying claim(s).| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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 funds or determining investor losses.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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 the assumptions underlying such calculations affect the valuation results when employing different valuation methodologies.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
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.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In the first month of 2025, hospital revenue and expenses both increased, balancing each other out and resulting in continued steady financial performance for hospitals, according to Kaufman Hall’s January 2025 National Hospital Flash Report. This article reviews the report and the current state of hospital operations.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
One of the common pitfalls in applying the income approach is committing forecasting errors. To understand the impact of this error, this article discusses the importance of the income approach in business valuations and areas that require careful evaluation.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Just like I predicted in my last post, the AI chatbot race is heating up, with models leapfrogging each other constantly! This time, Google's new Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental made a splash, and based on my own quick test, it is impressively capable.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 presented an opportunity by significantly raising lifetime gift and estate tax exclusions, but this window is closing soon. With the exclusions set to expire at the end of 2025, there is an urgency to plan your gifts sooner than later.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The Forensic and Valuation Services division of the AICPA and CIMA issued a Practice Aid in 2020 on Measuring Damages Involving Individuals. This Practice Aid supersedes AICPA Forensic and Valuation Services Practice Aid 98-2, Calculation of Damages from Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Employment Discrimination. This NACVA QuickRead article provides a summary of the updated Practice Aid.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
During his two months in office, President Trump’s administration has called for significant changes at a fast and furious pace, with several healthcare agencies and programs across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) targeted. To keep up with the latest actions of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, this article summarizes recent events in Washington and the impact of these changes (both imminent and impending) on providers and patients.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Serving as a Trustee of a Trust is difficult. In the case presented, a trust beneficiary alleged that the trustee—his aunt—breached her fiduciary duty. The trust beneficiary retained an expert in connection to this claim and this did not go well for either the beneficiary or damages expert. The article summarizes the case, provides a road map and an admonition to experts in these types of cases regarding what is needed, and the perils of using AI.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Only with careful oversight and the application of seasoned professional judgment can AI deliver results that are not only accurate but also defensible and unimpeachably neutral. This article in the Unimpeachable Neutrality Series explores the indispensable role of professional judgment, particularly as it intertwines with the capabilities of AI.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
What frustrates you about our industry? Do you think your prospects, clients, and referral sources might feel the same way? What if you took a stand? What if you stood out by promising something different than the standard operating procedures your competitors follow?| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
There are various methods used to value intangible assets. The relief from royalty method is based on the premise that there are royalty savings if the acquiror acquires the asset instead of licensing it. The value of the asset is calculated as the present value of after-tax royalty savings over the economic life of the asset. This article delves into the available methods used to value brands.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
This article is the latest installment of QuickRead articles on ESOP regulations. Specifically, it focuses on the request, and status thereof, for the Department of Labor to clarify “adequate consideration” for the valuation of entities held in ESOPs.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
This article will discuss some of the unique factors relating to assessing lost profits for self-employed operated businesses. As examples, two extremes will be discussed. These extremes provide virtual bookends when assessing a claim of lost profits by a self-employed person. The first addresses a self-employed person who reports his/her income through a Schedule C, Sole Proprietor. The second addresses self-employed individuals that own and operate a subchapter S corporation and file an 112...| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Resolving a shareholder dispute often requires determining the value of a shareholder’s interest in the business. This article provides a framework for the business valuation expert to discuss this issue with attorneys and clients. Headings organize the questions and issues.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Today, I am excited to share something special. I have been working with NACVA to curate the best tools, resources, and prompts to help you integrate AI into your practice. It is a free, searchable database called AI Data University, and it is designed to save you time by giving you instant access to the best AI resources; no need to sift through mounds of data. You can find it here: https://aidatauniversity.com.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In this article, the author looks back at predictions made in the 2014 Pew Research. Reflecting on this study, it becomes self-evident that we understand what the problems are, and, perhaps, we even have good ideas of how to tackle these problems. Therefore, the issue is not necessarily “finding a solution” but rather, having the will and desire to implement a solution.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
What can parties in a litigation case do when the experts come to differing opinions of value? The authors share ways that parties and counsel can reconcile the differences or at least reduce the value gap.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
There is a lot of disruption going on in the BVFLS industry and you should give niching a fair shot if you have more of a generalist-type practice. In this article, Rod Bukert shares his views on how to overcome the fears of specialization.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Mediation aims for parties to mutually resolve their dispute. Unlike litigation and arbitration, there is no trier of fact that determines the conclusion of a dispute. Instead, the mediator, a neutral third party, tries to help all parties meet at an amicable middle ground, which can be done through creative means of communication, collaboration and problem solving. The author shares his experience serving as a financial mediator.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
AI is pervasive and promises to fundamentally transform business operations, education, and daily life. However, functional insights bridging the gap between AI and our industry have been lacking. The authors share their views on the ethical and professional standards implicated from the use of AI in forensics and valuation engagements.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its finalized Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year (CY) 2025. The finalized fee schedule cut payments to physicians, and Congress declined to step in and mitigate the cuts in its last-minute legislation to fund the federal government for another three months. This article discusses the provisions contained in the MPFS final rule and the failed “doc fix” legislation.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
In a recent engagement, the author was asked to prepare a lost business analysis for an operating business. In this article, the author discusses when a lost profits vis-à-vis a lost business analysis is best suited.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
This article discusses the recent case of Mancini v. UBS AG, a case where UBS liquidated Plaintiff’s collateral following an event of default. The issue before the court was whether UBS AG acted arbitrarily when it liquidated Plaintiff’s account based on an earlier valuation date, rather than based on a higher and more recent account value.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
While the influencer industry has created numerous opportunities for creators and brands alike, it also presents significant risks. This article aims to explore the challenges faced in this industry and offer insights into how to examine and assess these risks when performing a valuation analysis or assisting with litigation matters involving someone in the influencer industry.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Investigators need better ways to sift through vast quantities of data to find the information at the heart of the matter. This article examines a more efficient approach to complex investigations with Generative AI. The information in this article is intended to assist in determining the effectiveness of using GenAI in fraud and other complex investigations.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Writing is an effective way to convey expertise and also a marketing devise. In this article, Rod Burkert shares who he writes for and answers the big unanswered question: how he decides what to write about.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
For purposes of valuing an ESOP, the question of what is “adequate consideration” has vexed the author and other BV practitioners. In this article, the author shares an update on the DOL’s response to earlier inquiries. Her two previous articles published in QuickRead detailed the earlier efforts to clarify what constituted “adequate consideration” for the valuation of entities held in ESOPs. On October 25, 2024, the OMB received a proposal on the topic from the DOL intended to clar...| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The introduction of AI tools has empowered companies to streamline complex tasks, enhance accuracy, and offer real-time insights. One such company, IBISWorld, a leader in industry research, has taken a significant step forward with the introduction of its AI tool, "Phil." This article explores the impact it will have on professionals working in business valuation, forensic accounting, and business consulting fields.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
Often, business owners will inadvertently present a biased account of their company’s success. Is there a similarity between the bias of business owner’s and crime scene victims? In this article, the author answers this question.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
A frequent question that newly minted and experienced valuation practitioners raise, is how one gets more clients. The question that should be asked is how one gets better clients. The author shares his thoughts on why the latter is the better question and source of focus.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
As AI proliferates, business valuation and forensic accountants will need to distinguish between human-authored and AI assisted/generated content. Significantly, AI generated content, as of the date of writing, is not accurate. In this article, the author examines what the above will mean to forensic accountants and business valuation analysts.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
The recent U.S. Supreme Court case, United States v. Connelly, provides business valuation practitioners opportunities to a cautionary tale and also an opportunity to assist business owners structure or restructure their buy-sell agreements. The authors summarize the case and offer tips to assist business owners transition a business using life insurance.| QuickRead | News for the Financial Consulting Professional
