Category Archives: Business Valuation

April Meeting: Michael Jackson Estate Valuation

The April Chapter Meeting, rescheduled from March because of weather, will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Jay E. Fishman, FASA, Managing Director and founder of Financial Research Associates, who will discuss the intriguing “Michael Jackson Estate Valuation.”

JayEFishman Awards & Appointments
Jay Fishman took his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Temple, an M.B.A. from LaSalle, and soon after founded Financial Research Associates, where he specializes in the valuations of business enterprises and their intangible assets. His awards — among them our Chapter’s Sinclair Award, and the Appraisal Foundation’s Chairman’s Public Service Award — and his leadership roles, including Editor of ASA’s Business Valuation Review and Chair of it’s Government Relations Committee, membership on the Appraisal Foundations Appraisal Standards and Appraisal Practice Boards, to mention a few, are the tip of an iceberg of a lifetime of accomplishment and service.

Articles, Books & Courses
Jay is a prolific author, having written, often in collaboration, more than two dozen articles, many chapters, and half a dozen books, the most recent being The Business Valuation Bench Book with William Morrison (2017) and A Consensus View Q&A Guide to Financial Valuation with James Hitchner and Shannon Pratt (2016). Much in demand as a speaker and panelist, he has talked about business valuation from coast to coast and around the world, including in Indonesia, Spain, Hungary and most recently in Italy. Jay has also developed and taught courses on business valuation for the IRS, the AICPA, the Hong Kong Society of Accountants, and on behalf of the World Bank in St. Petersburg, Russia. He also taught courses in Moscow, Russia, and for the Slovenian Institute of Auditors in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Expert Witness Testimony
Mr. Fishman has been court-appointed to value closely held enterprises in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other states, and has qualified as an expert witness and provided testimony in Federal District Court, United States Tax Court and in more than a dozen state courts.

It was an expert witness called by the estate that Mr. Fishman came to testify last February in the case of the Estate of Michael J. Jackson et al. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue in U.S. Tax Court in Los Angeles. It was there that he famously said “I call it like being in a nuclear winter.”

ASA Credit
Jay’s talk about evaluating the publicity rights in the Michael Jackson case is sure to be interesting and informative. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Payment
Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, April 12, to Chapter President Sheila Gorman by mail to 10 Presidential Blvd, Bala Cynwyd PA 19004, email, or phone (484-270-1240).

SAVE THE DATE: 2018 Business Valuation Seminar

SAVE THE DATE
The Philadelphia Chapter of the ASA will hold its 13th Annual Spring Business Valuation Seminar program on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the Doubletree Hotel in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The program will include a variety of topics presented by key thought leaders.

PROGRAM
The presenters and topics will be announced shortly.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
The Seminar qualifies for eight (8) credit hours for ASA purposes. ASA National is a NASBA sponsor and has advised the Philadelphia Chapter that the PA Board of Accountancy and other state boards will honor CEs from our program for CPAs. In addition to NASBA, the ASA is a sponsor to other organizations, and any questions regarding CEs can be directed to Sheila K. Gorman, ASA.

INFORMATION
Sheila K. Gorman, ASA at sgorman@finresearch.com or (484)-270-1240
Frank L. Merenda, ASA at fmerenda@eacvaluations.com or (610)-687-5855

January Breakfast Meeting: Financial Planning in a Turbulent World

The January Breakfast Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 8:00 am at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The guest speaker will be Elijah Dornstreich, a Vice President and Financial Advisor in Bernstein Global Wealth Management’s Philadelphia office. Mr. Dornstreich will talk about “All The Right Moves: Financial Planning in a Turbulent World.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in sociology, Elijah Dornstreich came to Bernstein from Capital Business Partners, which specializes in funding solutions for small-business and retail clients. At Bernstein, Mr. Dornstreich advises individuals and institutions regarding a wide range of financial planning and investment matters, ranging from tax, retirement, and wealth planning, to planning for the sale of a small business, stock and options planning, and pension solutions.

Active in professional and civic affairs, he is a member of the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Bucks County Estate Planning Councils. He serves on the Boards of the AJC: Global Jewish Advocacy, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and Home Front Hearts, a nonprofit serving military families.

Mr. Dornstreich will discuss the factors contributing to the continuing stock market rally — and what could derail it — with a view toward investment and retirement planning. He will show how a rational and systematic approach to retirement planning built on the “right moves” can lead to success, even in adverse markets.

ASA Philadelphia Members: Free
This educational and informative Breakfast Meeting is FREE for ASA Philadelphia Members but requires Registration. Please register early for this Meeting which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA re-accreditation.

Guests: $25
The Breakfast Meeting is $25 for Guests. Family members, colleagues, and associates are welcome! To Pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35.

Please Register or Pay by January 12. Send checks to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.

November Meeting: International Business Valuation

The November Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Pipeline Philly, 30 South 15th Street, 15th Floor, Philadelphia (267-702-2800). The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be John Barton, President of Brandywine Valuation Consultants, LLC (BVC) in Lyndell, PA. Mr. Barton will discuss advanced “Topics in International Business Valuation.”

MR. BARTON. An MBA graduate of La Salle University, John also did his undergraduate work at La Salle and took a Masters from Fordham University. The past Chairman of the ASA Business Valuation Committee, he is a CPA, who left Murray Devine & Co as a Vice President to establish BVC in 2008. John has been involved in the valuation of over 700 business entities, from small sole proprietorships to multinational corporations, and has taught business valuation courses throughout the United States and Europe for the ASA, IIBV, RICS, and the Big 4 accounting firms.

HIS TALK. Mr. Barton’s presentation will focus on recent developments in international BV education, as well as the profession’s growth in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and the status of professional designations overseas. He will explain why a knowledge of international business valuation is indispensable, even for practitioners appraising small to medium-size U.S. firms.

ASA CREDIT. Ms. Barton’s presentation is sure to be of interdisciplinary interest. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

FREE BEER & WINE. Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests and includes a mouth-watering array of heavy appetizers and complimentary beer and wine. The menu features Southern fried chicken fingers; grilled flatbreads; hummus served with fresh pita, grilled zucchini, red onion, and crumbled feta; goat cheese tort (caramelized onion, whipped goat cheese and cream cheese, served with crackers); and apple walnut salad. And, yes, free beer and wine!

PAYMENT. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal please go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, November 10, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

REGISTER NOW: 2018 Business Valuation Seminar

The Philadelphia Chapter of the ASA will hold its 13th Annual Spring Business Valuation Seminar program on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the Doubletree Hotel in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The program will include a variety of topics presented by key thought leaders.

֍ How to Rig a Valuation and DLOM: New Research and Tools – James Hitchner, CPA/ABV/CFF, ASA
֍ Update in Estimating Cost of Capital – Roger Grabowski, FASA
֍ Impacts of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Business Valuation – Mitchell Gerstein, CPA, MST, PFS & Laura Anastasio, ASA, CEIV
֍ Best Practices in Inventory Valuation – Charles Sapnas, CFA, ASA & Anthony Pumphrey, CFA, ASA
֍ What Appraisers Must Know About Taxes On Damage Awards – Martin Abo, CPA/ABV/CVA/CFF

Fees. Early Bird fees, which apply when registration forms and payments are submitted by March 30, are $335 for ASA Members, $370 for all others. After March 30, registration is $365 for ASA Members, $400 for all others. The fee includes lunch, and morning and afternoon refreshments.

To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35 and mail to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello, 8 Terrace Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Please note that seating capacity is limited.

Credit. The program qualifies for eight (8) hours of Continuing Education Credit (CEC) for ASA members and for members of other professional organizations which recognize NASBA credit.

Brochure. A seminar brochure, including comprehensive information, biographies of the presenters, a registration form, refund and cancellation policies is available for download in PDF format.

Questions. For all other questions, including CEC eligibility for your organization, please contact the seminar organizers, Sheila Gorman at sgorman@finresearch.com or (484)-270-1240 or Frank Merenda at fmerenda@eacvaluations.com or (610)-687-5855.

March Meeting: Patent Opinions and Prosecution

The March Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Patrick M. Brady III, a Registered Patent Attorney at SnyderLAW LLC in Wayne PA (and former Lead Mechanical Engineer at Lockheed Martin). Mr. Brady will talk about “Patent Opinions and Prosecution” (and maybe “Rocket Science”).

Mr. Brady earned a JD at Temple’s Beasley School of Law (2001) and before that an MSME in Structural Mechanics and Dynamics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1990). As a patent attorney, he counsels clients about intellectual property protection, including patentability opinions, due diligence, trademark prosecution, trade secrets and guidance relative to copyright filings. But he is equally comfortable talking about mechanical devices, mechanisms, composite materials, structures and electronic packaging, and he has a general understanding of software, electrical, materials and processes. And he is knowledgeable about service and employment contracts as well as corporate and partnership formation.

Mr. Brady’s presentation is sure to be of interest to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, March 10, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

January Breakfast Meeting: Labor and Employment Issues in a Trump World

The January Breakfast Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, 8:00 am at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The guest speaker will be Samuel M. First , Esq. , Labor and Employment Chair of the Jacobs Law Group PC in Philadelphia. Mr. First will talk about “Labor and Employment Issues in a Trump World.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University School of Law, Samuel First has over 20 years experience representing private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, he works in several areas including alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, commercial litigation, and corporate and transnational law.

Active in professional and civic affairs — he is Chair of the Board of the JEVS Foundation — Samuel First has written for the Pennsylvania Employment Law Deskbook and How ADR Works, Advising Potential Defendants and lectured widely on topics ranging from “Electronic Documents in Litigation” to “Winning Retaliation Lawsuits in a Post Nassar World.”

Mr. First will “focus on the impact new [Trump era] leadership at the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board, along with the Republican-controlled Congress, will have in reversing the Obama administration’s pro-employee, pro-union agenda.”

Please register early for this educational and informative breakfast meeting which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA re-accreditation.

The Breakfast is FREE for ASA Philadelphia members and $25 for guests. Family members, colleagues, and associates are welcome! To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by January 13 to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

September Meeting: Hacking Away — Cybersecurity for Businesses Today

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. The guest speaker will be Rebecca Rakoski, Esq., co-founder and managing partner at XPAN Law Group in Philadelphia, a boutique practice focused on cybersecurity and data privacy. Ms. Rakoski will discuss the various types of “hacking” incidents and how to approach and protect your business.

Rakoski Rebecca earned a JD at Widener University School of Law and before that a BS in biology from Washington College. She worked for more than a decade in a large regional firm where she specialized in complex federal and state court litigation, developing a unique expertise in cybersecurity, privacy and electronic discovery. Her presentation will discuss the
differences between the various types of “hacking” incidents, and offer guidance on how to approach and protect against cybersecurity threats. She will emphasize the risks associated with HR data and personal identifiable information (PII), and talk about optimal network infrastructure designs for firms collecting sensitive data.

Ms. Rakoski’s presentation is sure to be of value to ASA members in all disciplines. As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, where you can also take advantage of the reduced cost 5-Meeting Plan this month only. Otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 15, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

September Meeting: The Real Estate Market and Valuation Issues

The September Chapter Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Board of Directors will meet at 5:30 pm; all ASA members are welcome. The general meeting starts at 6:30. It will include the installation of the 2016-2017 Chapter Officers and presentation of the 2016 George D. Sinclair Award.

The guest speaker will be Neil F. Axler, a Director at RSM US LLP’s New York office specializing in Real Estate Valuation Services. He will talk about “The State of the Real Estate Market and Current Valuation Issues.” A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Axler’s career path included stops at Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Marshall & Stevens, and most recently at FMV Opinions.

With over 20 years of valuation consulting experience here and abroad, Mr. Axler’s current projects include valuations for financial reporting; trust and estate; federal government agencies; special servicers; tax appeals; litigation; bankruptcy and restructuring. A popular speaker, panelist and author, he has first-hand knowledge of the economic, financial and market factors that drive the development of public real estate policy.

As seating for this talk is limited, please register early for this educational and productive evening which qualifies for 2 hours credit toward ASA reaccreditation.

Dinner is $35 per person for members and guests. Members: Last chance this season to buy the 5 Meeting Plan for $110 – a $65 saving! To pay online with your major credit card or PayPal go to the ASA Philadelphia Members Page, otherwise please make checks payable to ASA Philadelphia Chapter 35. Please RSVP by Friday, September 11, to Executive Secretary Joanne Paciello by mail to 8 Terrace Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, email, phone (610-277-1366) or fax (610-277-1366).

SAVE THE DATES. This is the first meeting of the 2016-2017 season. Other meetings, all at the Doubletree, are November 16, January 18 (Breakfast) and March 15. A May dinner meeting at a special venue is also planned but not finalized.