Perspectives
Perspectives is a quarterly digital publication that covers an array of topics, including valuation, taxation, litigation, transactions, financing, bankruptcy, and strategic planning. Like its award-winning predecessor, Insights, each edition of Perspectives is authored by Willamette Management Associates analysts, with occasional contributions from prominent attorneys and other professionals. Perspectives offers insights and analyses from our analysts to help readers stay informed on complex issues in the areas of valuation, forensic analysis, and financial advisory services.
Editors for this issue: Scott R. Miller and Lisa H. Tran
How Volatile Interest Rates Affect the Cost of Capital and Company Valuations
Elizabeth Jones and Lisa H. Tran
Spiraling inflation over the last several years prompted the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates significantly. Higher interest rates can influence business valuations by increasing the inputs used to develop a company’s cost of capital, particularly the risk-free rate and the company’s cost of debt capital, resulting in a higher discount rate and a lower business value indication.
Succession Planning in 2026: Employee Stock Ownership Plans and the New Estate Tax Landscape
Market conditions have created an environment that is not conducive to optimal exits of portfolio companies. This new era of “illiquid for longer” has prompted sponsors to pursue alternative pathways to liquidity, but with a temporary solution for liquidity comes new litigation risks. These risks can be mitigated by a financial opinion from an independent valuation expert.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Effect on the Value of S Corporations and Pass-Through Entities
Recent tax legislation, specifically the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) and the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), directly affected the valuation of S corporations. Temporary provisions under the TCJA that required a weighted S corporation equity adjustment multiple method have been replaced by permanent provisions under the OBBBA.
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Previous Issues
October 2025 Perspectives
Editor for the issue: Gregory D. Smith
- Business Valuation Implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Illiquid for Longer: Private Equity Funds and Financial Opinions
- Was the Jury Reasonably Certain in Huntsman?
July 2025 Perspectives
Editor for the issue: Jackson L. Crispin
- Tax Court Allows Tax-Affecting for the Discounted Cash Flow Method in Pierce v. Commissioner
- Conflict Transactions and the Evolution of the Fairness Opinion Landscape
- The Application of the Relief from Royalty Method for Intellectual Property Valuation
April 2025 Perspectives
Editors for the issue: Timothy J. Meinhart and Nathan P. Novak
- Nuances with Respect to Valuing a Controlling Ownership Interest
- Proposed Regulation Changes to Circular 230
- Estate Planning and Buy-Sell Agreements After the Connelly Decision
January 2025 Perspectives
Editor for this issue: Scott R. Miller
- The Potential Application of Artificial Intelligence in Business Valuation
- Providing support and Rationale for the Estimation of Company-Specific Risk Premium
- Comparison of the Business Valuation Development Standards Among Organizations
October 2024 Perspectives
Editor for this issue: Jesse J. Gillett
- Key Considerations in the Valuation of Carried Interest from a Tax Perspective
- Digging in the Dirt: Performing Forensic Analysis of Financial Records for Valuation Purposes
- Jointly Retained Valuation Engagements: A Road Map for Trust and Cooperation
July 2024 Perspectives
Editor for this issue: Brent A. McDade
- Speculative, Viral, and Volatile: Valuation Considerations for Cryptocurrency Assets
- Company Stock Repurchases at Fair Market Value May Deliver Value Accretion for Remaining Shareholders
- Qualified Appraisals and Charitable Contribution Deductions: The Lessons of Hoensheid
April 2024 Perspectives
Editors for this issue: Nathan P. Novak and Timothy J. Meinhart
- Control Considerations in the Valuation of a 50 percent Ownership Interest
- The Expatriation Tax: How to Present Assets to the IRS When You Say Goodbye to the United States
- The Valuation of Controlling Ownership Interests in the Context of Gift Tax Planning
January 2024 Perspectives
Editors for this issue: Justin M. Nielsen and Lisa H. Tran
- The Applicability of Discounts for Lack of Marketability on Controlling Ownership Interests
- Higher Interest Rates and Tax Exemptions May Maximize Benefits in Gift and Estate Tax Planning
- Key Person Considerations When Valuing Private Companies in a Gift and Estate Tax Context
October 2023 Perspectives
Editor for this issue: Weston C. Kirk
- Preferred Equity in a Rising Interest Rate Environment
- Considerations for Valuing the Stadium Seat Licenses of Sports Teams for Estate Tax Purposes
- Convertible Bonds as a Component of a Company’s Capital Structure
July 2023 Perspectives
Editor for this issue: Timothy J. Meinhart
- Understanding the Implications of Cecil v. Commissioner
- How to Properly Use Asset Transactions in the Guideline Merged and Acquired Company Method
- Getting the Most out of Every Engagement
April 2023 Perspectives
Editors for this issue: Charles A. Wilhoite and Scott R. Miller
- Incorporating ESG Performance in Equity Valuations
- Key Considerations Regarding the Valuation of “Small” Businesses
- The Tax Benefits and Challenges of Allocating Total Business Goodwill to Personal Goodwill in a Transaction
