The Carrying Value Question: An Introduction to Intangible Asset Impairment Testing
When the Balance Sheet Becomes the Story A portfolio company loses its largest customer. Revenue falls sharply in the back half of the year, and the finance team flags the event as a potential impairment indicator. By the time the external auditors arrive, management has produced an internal memo estimating that the customer relationship asset, originally […]
Personal Goodwill in Business Transactions: Not Just a Valuation Question — A Planning Imperative
Consider a professional services firm where three client relationships — each cultivated personally by the founder over fifteen years — account for 65% of annual revenue. The contracts are month-to-month. The clients call the founder directly. No formal account management structure exists. When this business goes to market, what is a buyer actually acquiring? It is […]
Portfolio Valuation Under ASC 820: A Practical Framework for Fund Managers
Valuing Carried Interest for Trust and Estate Planning: A Strategic Overview
Few assets present as many valuation challenges in the context of estate and gift planning as carried interest. The value of carried interest is contingent on future fund performance, is governed by complex waterfall mechanics, and is usually very illiquid. These characteristics make it both difficult to value and, in some cases, difficult to defend under IRS […]
Understanding Business Valuations for Trust and Estate Purposes
Closely held business interests frequently represent the most significant and complex asset within a high-net-worth estate. Unlike publicly traded securities, their value is not readily observable — and for estate planning, gifting strategies, and generational wealth transfers, an accurate, well-documented valuation is often central to the entire planning process. For estate planning attorneys, tax advisors, family office professionals, and […]