Entries by Joe Orlando

Lessons Learned After Connelly Reflections from the October 2025 BVResources Webinar

In January 2025, our firm published a blog on the impact of the Connelly v. United States case and how the court’s ruling has influenced business valuations. In October 2025, I had the opportunity to present at a Business Valuation Resources (BVR) webinar titled “Lessons Learned After Connelly: Valuation, Insurance, and Planning in Practice.” The […]

The Art of Waiting: Patience, Policy, and the Market in 2025

In the current business and financial landscape, characterized by the rapid pace of information, transactions, and decisions, there is a certain discomfort and even annoyance associated with waiting. Where delay often signals indecision, risk, or a missed opportunity, waiting feels unnatural. Yet, in 2025, the financial markets and those participating in them are collectively doing […]

THE IMPORTANCE OF BUY-SELL AGREEMENTS IN BUSINESS CONTINUITY

For business owners, a well-structured buy-sell agreement is essential for ensuring a seamless transition of ownership in the event of death, disability, or retirement. These agreements define who has the right to purchase ownership interests and at what price, mitigating potential disputes among partners, heirs, and buyers. Valuation: A Critical Component A properly structured buy-sell […]

What Does ChatGPT Think?

This October, I will celebrate my 12th year as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the American Society of Appraisers (also ASA). ASA members meet every year for an International Conference to discuss current topics and to share knowledge and best practices. I attended the most recent Conference in Portland, OR. A presentation […]

Exploring Donor-Advised Funds for Privately Held Business Owners’ Philanthropy

For business owners of privately held companies seeking a seamless and impactful way to contribute to charitable causes, Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) have emerged as a philanthropic and tax-efficient solution. These vehicles offer a flexible and tax-efficient way to manage charitable donations, allowing donors to make contributions to a fund and then recommend grants to their […]

Are You an Expert at What You Do?

So what is an expert and, more importantly, are you one? The term “expert” has many definitions. For anyone who has written a wedding toast or sat through a valedictorian’s speech you know how the next sentence starts…Webster defines an Expert as “one with a special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject.” […]

A Difference of Opinions: Closely-Held vs. Venture-Backed Companies- Part 1 of 2

In my transition from leading a valuation practice at an accounting firm to an M&A advisory firm, quickly realized significant differences between valuing venture-backed technology startups to valuing owner-operated small to middle-market businesses with between $2 million to $50 million in revenue. Over the last four years, I’ve concluded that there is a distinct and […]