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The success of buying or selling a company can hinge on the correct valuation. This is why it is so important to work with a firm that knows how to value a company. We’re often asked, “What are the 3 ways to value a company?” At...

Last Updated 04/10/2023 If you agree to a contingent-fee arrangement with your attorney, you may wonder whether the expense is deductible for federal income tax purposes. Unfortunately, the guidance on this controversial issue of whether or not...

Legal expenses incurred by individuals are typically not currently deductible under the federal income tax rules. Instead, they're most often treated as either personal outlays (which are nondeductible) or as part of the cost of acquiring an...

When you retire, you may consider moving to another state — say, for the weather or to be closer to loved ones. State taxes also may factor into the equation. Here's what you need to know about establishing residency for state tax purposes...

Say an IRA is inherited by multiple individual beneficiaries or by one or more individuals and one or more charities or other beneficiaries that aren't "natural persons." How do these scenarios affect the rules for required minimum distributions...

For 20 years, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) has been publishing studies every two years to raise awareness of occupational fraud, and the role strong internal controls can play in limiting these schemes. The...

The real estate market is rebounding, but a critical piece of the puzzle is missing – appraisers. Now rising demand for their services is revealing that there aren’t enough up-and-coming appraisers to take the place of those retiring...

The file-and-suspend Social Security strategy that many Americans had worked into their retirement plans has quietly gone away for future retirees in a little-known section of the Bipartisan Budget Act passed by both houses and signed into law by...

In a matrimonial proceeding, a forensic accountant can be an essential member of a valuation team working to determine an equitable settlement – particularly if a business is involved. The starting point is analysis of the business and...

If your estate potentially could be subject to federal estate tax, and you own a family farm or closely held businesses, you’ll want to know about special-use valuation. Special-use valuations could mean a tax break that allows qualifying...

Whether dealing with estates, divorces or business law, owners often face the issue of valuing their business. Valuing a business is often less than straightforward. Unlike a house or commercial rental building, in which apples can be compared to...

Federal estate tax, generally speaking, is imposed on what you own when you die. Thus, a way to reduce exposure to estate tax is to reduce your taxable estate through life-time giving. Gifts that use the annual exclusion must be gifts of present...

What goes up must come down – nowhere is that more true than in banking and real estate. Bubbles have led to busts more than once with housing prices sinking faster than rocks. Now the fallout continues, with the emphasis in this recovery on...

Many buyers and sellers of small businesses focus on two areas of business valuation – assets and income. However, there is a third method of valuation – the market approach. This method is based on the law of supply and demand, the...

When considering business value, most company owners think about their tangible assets – namely, buildings, equipment, vehicles and inventory. An assembled work force is also an intangible asset that might not immediately come to mind....

The IRS recently won a case concerning a charitable contribution deduction for two charitable remainder trusts. It came down to a decision of what distribution amount to use in calculating the values of the charitable remainder interests. Arthur...

Exchange traded funds have grown from $100 billion in 2002 to $1.7 trillion by the end of 2013. But ETFs differ from mutual funds in several ways. First, the vast majority of ETFs are not actively managed so the fees and costs of ETFs are much...

When preparing an exit strategy, many business owners focus on operations and profitability, certainly two key areas. But in many industries, external factors can pose a threat to business value that the best-run company may not be able to...

Most attorneys have one primary focus: serving their clients. Whatever their branch of law – be it criminal, civil, family or real estate – they typically choose a field that peaks their passion and interest. They keep up to date with...

Business partnerships have been compared to marriages – and never is that more apparent than when they come to an end. Without a solid agreement and valuation plan, the situation can get very messy. Lacking a concrete path forward may...