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What is a Financial Neutral and Why Might You Need One

David Anderson is principal of David Anderson & Associates, a Philadelphia forensic accounting firm that provides a full range of fraud investigation, fraud deterrence, litigation support, and expert witness testimony services in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.

You may have heard the term “Financial Neutral” used regarding litigation or alternate dispute resolution. This blog discusses Financial Neutrals and the services they provide.

A Financial Neutral is an independent financial expert who works with both parties in either litigation or an alternate dispute resolution. A Financial Neutral can either be appointed by the court or by an arbitrator, or can be jointly engaged by the parties involved in either mediation or collaborative dispute resolution.

I have been engaged as a Financial Neutral in mediation and collaborative dispute resolution to perform such services as:

  • Business valuation;
  • Analysis of a couple’s assets and debts for equitable distribution in a divorce;
  • Analysis of each spouse’s income for support purposes in a divorce.

Additionally, I have been court-appointed to investigate suspected fraud and to calculate economic damages due to such fraud.

Other potential Financial Neutral appointments include the following services:

  • Analysis of contract and other business disputes, including calculation of financial damages;
  • Analysis of trustee’s or executor’s accounting, and investigation of any improprieties identified;
  • Analysis of investment returns – both past and projected;
  • Appraisal of real estate, artwork, vehicles, and other assets (this usually involves an expert with specific training and experience in appraising assets).

Because a Financial Neutral is independent, the parties not only save the cost of having to engage competing financial experts, but also have confidence in the transparency of the Financial Neutral’s work. Additionally, particularly in mediation and collaborative dispute resolution, the Financial Neutral can explain his/her analysis in detail to the parties involved.

If you could use the services of a Financial Neutral, a Certified Fraud Examiner, or any other forensic accounting services in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, please contact the Philadelphia forensic accounting firm of David Anderson & Associates by calling David Anderson at 267-207-3597 or emailing him at david@davidandersonassociates.com.

About David Anderson & Associates

David Anderson & Associates is a Philadelphia forensic accounting firm that provides a full range of forensic accounting services in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.  The experienced professionals at David Anderson & Associates provide forensic accounting, business valuation, fraud investigation, fraud deterrence, litigation support, economic damage analysis, business consulting and outsourced CFO services.  Company principal David Anderson has more than 30 years of experience in financial and operational leadership positions and is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Certified Valuation Analyst.