In recent weeks, I’ve written about what I’ve called a Personal Step Challenge that began on December 15, 2019. My goal is to get 10,000 steps per day at a minimum, and also 5.0 miles at a minimum. I added the five mile part because at 10,000 steps I’m a tad short that. The broader […]
Walking 10,000 steps per day is good for our physical and mental health. If you don’t believe me, Google “10,000 steps a day” and read around a bit. This post chronicles my personal challenge over the last 80 days and discusses a few of the lessons I have learned from it.
Valuation may look at the past as a guide, but it is based on expectations. When boiled down to its essence, the value of any business is based on expectations about three critical factors. Learn what they are and why they are so important in this short Valuation Video.
60 days in a row. That’s where I stand on my goal of reaching 10,000+ steps each day and 5 miles or more as recorded on my handy Fitbit Versa 2, my fancy pedometer of choice. Interestingly, I did not set out with any goal for consecutive days in mind when I started this string on […]
If you even occasionally sign a Form 8283 for a donor/client who has made a gift of closely held business interests, it is probably a good idea to know what you are signing. This post provides an overview of the “rules” of the charitable gifting game from an appraiser’s perspective.
This Valuation Video recounts two recent disputes over gift/estate tax appraisals with the Internal Revenue Service. In one case, Mercer prepared the original appraisal, which was challenged. In the second matter, Mercer was called to prepare an appraisal for Tax Court because of the unavailability of the original appraiser. You won’t read about either of them anywhere else because they settled quietly and favorably for the taxpayers.
There is a great deal of discussion about the benefits of walking 10,000 steps per day. This post focuses on my recent experience of reaching that level of movement for 50 consecutive days. It discusses a few lessons learned from the process, and talks about what to do if life gets in your way of that specific objective. It is still critical for all of us to MOVE!
In this post, I discuss a very important breakfast I had some time ago with a client and friend of many years who is second generation chairman, CEO, and lead family member of a very successful, third-generation family business. That breakfast served as a turning point for him and his business and the family.
I have used a Fitbit or other step-tracking device regularly for more than eight years. I can say, without a doubt, that this regular use has had a significant impact on my health, my weight, and my outlook towards life. In this post, I talk about nine ways that using a Fitbit can help improve the quality of our lives.
I have long used the term of “words on the pages” of buy-sell agreements to relate to those usually too few words that describe the valuation processes called for by the agreements. A typical agreement will devote 150-200 words to attempt to describe a multiple appraiser valuation process. It is not possible to do so. There are too many things that have to be described or defined. In this video, I talk about the defining elements of any buy-sell agreement valuation process and the need for clarity in the “words on the pages” to assure reasonable processes when agreements are triggered. I also state that I have a new book in the process of finishing that will provide draft “words on the pages” that have a good chance of working. Attorneys, business appraisers, and other advisers to business owners will want this book!
