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Investigator at The Bearman Firm • Specializing in locating individuals and uncovering critical information to solve complex cases. • Conduct comprehensive investigative research and background searches. • Expert in open source intelligence, evidence gathering and information analysis. • Unique ability to discern relevant information. • Implement exclusive methods for uncovering complex and difficult to find people and information. • Identity resolution, which involves connecting a user's digital interactions across various devices, channels, and touchpoints into a unified customer profile. I can accurately link different data points to provide a comprehensive view of an individual's online behavior.

Hey there, I'm Benjamin, a freelancer based in Nashville, Tennessee. A data analyst, I have extensive experience in real estate market and comps analysis, the senior housing industry, financial reporting review, and portfolio/project management. In addition to contracting through Upwork, I've worked in corporate roles for companies including Dogtopia, Brookdale Senior Living, and MTAG Services. My background includes work in asset management, senior housing, real estate divestitures, and property tax liens. I earned degrees in Finance from both Indiana University and the College of Charleston. Please don't hesitate to contact me for further details on my background and experience, or for advice concerning a project. I look forward to working with you!

I love entrepreneurs and working in entrepreneurial environments. I've written over 50 business plans, created pitch decks and developed financial models for ventures across multiple industries which have helped raise over $100 million in funding. Through this experience, I have gained a strong understanding of what investors look for when making a decision and the types of questions that must be addressed in order to secure funding. My experience is not limited to consulting. I've helped start 14 companies, one of which was a finalist in the TechCrunch disrupt competition, four have exited. I hold an MBA in finance from Thunderbird School of Global Management -- ranked #1 in the world for Global Business. And I have used my experience to help others as a Professor of Entrepreneurship to Master's-degree candidates. I also volunteer my time as a mentor to startup entrepreneurs at two accelerator programs. I have been a published author since 2001. This includes having collaborated on three books on entrepreneurship, one of which sells over 1 million copies and another that President Bill Clinton wrote the forward to. I enjoy working for clients that want to have a major impact on the world. ABOUT MY WORK My work has been profiled in The Washington Post and Investor's Business Daily. Additionally, my client work has been the subject of an episode on The Simpson's and featured in a song by a Platinum-award winning country music artist. Clients that I have advised include the following industries: Alcohol, Cannabis, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Retail, AR/VR, mobile, gaming, construction, agriculture, social networking, data security, consumer food products, entertainment and enterprise resource planning.

A poor valuation doesn’t just cost you thousands—it can cost you millions $$$, along with wasted time and stress. I help searchers, private equity groups, and business owners value private small to midsize businesses for investment, partner buyouts, tax, and litigation purposes. Unlike many finance freelancers on Upwork, I’ve personally invested in, operated, bought & sold, made and lost money on private acquisitions and investments. That real-world risk taught me the stakes of an inaccurate valuation. For the past 15 years, I’ve analyzed thousands of startups and small- and mid-sized businesses and have become certified across multiple SME appraisal and finance bodies. I am certified by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) and the International Society of Business Appraisers (ISBA). I follow a structured process that documents every step, explains conclusions, and ensures credibility. Services Include: 🤝 Partner Buyouts - deliver certified, accurate and defensible valuations when an owner is considering selling to a business partner or related party. 📑 Business Acquisition Investment Review & LBO Analysis – get value of a private business you are considering acquiring or investing in. 🧾 Tax & Estate Valuation – independent certified business valuations for estate and gift tax reporting as required by the IRS. ⚖️ Litigation Valuation – lost profits and economic damage reports based on court-tested techniques that deliver accurate estimates of SME private business value. 🚀 Startup & Venture Capital Valuation – get an accurate and defensible pre-money value for your startup or investment. 📈 Strategic Planning – provides owners, leadership teams, and investors with a clear view of business value to guide growth strategies. 🚚 Equipment Valuation – Certified desktop appraisals for machinery, vehicles, and other equipment assets. 🧮 Quality of Earnings - assess the quality of reported EBITDA adjustments and discretionary earnings of the business 💵 Proof of Cash – our best defender against fraud and manipulation of financial statements 🔄 Working Capital – create accurate estimates for operating working capital needs and target PEG for negotiations. 💼 Acquisition CFO – support from post-acquisition accounting integration and cash flow forecasting. Why Work With Me: ✔️ Authoritative knowledge: thousands of businesses analyzed ✔️ Certified across multiple Institutes (CVA®, BCA®, CMEA®, FMVA®, and more) ✔️ Proven structured process that documents every step for credibility ✔️ Deliver fast turnaround (24–48 hours) when deadlines are tight ✔️ Top Rated on Upwork with 100% job satisfaction rating What Upwork Clients Say: 💬 “Josh is exceptional at what he does and provided the exact skills I needed for a potential business acquisition. Accountants might be able to review financials, but Josh knows exactly what to look for. 💬 "Josh is hands down one of the best consultants I’ve worked with on up work. He is perhaps the most professional person I’ve worked with, as well as the most talented business valuation expert I’ve ever worked with." 💬"Working with Josh has been one of the best decisions we've made. We're happy to recommend him to anyone looking to understand the value of their company." About Me: I’m Josh and 15 years ago when I got out of the military I wanted to buy a business. When I got the numbers from the business I wanted to buy, despite having a degree in finance, I could not come up with how they put the numbers together. I outsourced the analysis to different financial professionals but got conflicting information on the business’s value. The pressure mounted as I was about to put up a significant amount of my net worth, and I could not sleep. From that moment, I vowed to never be put in this position again and have been on a quest to know how these companies are valued. This past decade I’ve analyzed thousands of these businesses along with gaining multiple business appraisal institute certifications. To go along with my degrees and certifications, I have read over 400 books on private business valuation and transaction analysis. My credentials include: ✸ Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)® ✸ Business Certified Appraiser (BCA)® ✸ Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser (CMEA)® ✸ Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® ✸ Professional Bookkeeper (PB)® ✸ QuickBooks Specialist (QS)® ✸ Profit and Growth Expert (PGE)® ✸ Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTA)® ✸ Accredited Small Business Consultant (ASBC)® ✸ M.S. in Applied Economics (MSAE) – Johns Hopkins University ✸ M.S. in Finance (MSF) – George Washington University ✸ B.B.A. in Finance—Radford University ✸ Certificate in Forecasting in Organizations—Johns Hopkins University ✸ Certificate in Real Estate Finance and Investment—New York University I’m new to Upwork and offering introductory pricing to build client relationships here. I offer a free consultation, so send me a message.

🏆TOP RATED PLUS🏆 $100+ Billion in deals over 20+ years. I started my career on Wall Street in Corporate, M&A, and Securities Laws. I now provide strategic legal counsel and business consulting tailored to high-stakes business initiatives as well as critical advice to startups and companies raising capital. 💬"Joe helped me buy back my company from my former partners and navigate difficult waters where soured friendships turned ugly. He was gracious and understanding, yet also highly astute, often saving me from myself. He was conscious of our budget and mindful of necessary next steps. He was time sensitive and readily available. He saved my business." 💬"I have consulted with Joe on several occasions myself and referred to him, and he has delivered above and beyond each time. He is extremely knowledgeable in his field, transparent, and very responsive. Highly recommend Raetzer PLLC!" 🔴CORE PRACTICE AREAS: Capital Raising: Structuring and preparing Private Placement Memorandums (PPMs), SAFE Notes, Convertible Notes, Promissory Notes, Bridge Notes, Warrants, Reg A, Reg CF, Reg D, and Reg S offerings. Business Consulting: Strategic review of current business, new business/product lines and market entrance. Business Transactions: Representing buyers and sellers in domestic and cross-border M&A. Startups and Growth-Stage Businesses: Formation, structuring, scaling, and preparing businesses for investment or acquisition. Exit Planning: Legal strategy and execution for business sales and investor exits. Strategic Advisory: Advising boards of directors, C-suite executives and founders on overall business strategy and business acquisition/disposition matters. 💬"Joe is incredibly knowledgeable and has been great to work with! He helped us initially with writing and reviewing our sales agreements and has become indispensable as we navigate a tricky situation with a finance merchant. Highly recommend" 💬"Outstanding legal expertise and absolutely great to work with. Highly recommend." 🔴LEGAL EXPERTISE: Structuring and negotiating complex M&A and capital markets transactions. Drafting core transactional documents: purchase agreements, subscription agreements, operating/shareholder agreements, and corporate governance materials. Advising on securities compliance, including Reg A, Reg D, and Reg S offerings, Blue Sky compliance, and SEC filings. Fund formation and structured finance: extensive experience with CDOs, CMBS/RMBS, and Investment Company Act issues. Partnering with senior management and boards to align legal strategies with business objectives. Collaborating with international counsel and multidisciplinary teams on multijurisdictional deals. 💬"Raetzer PLLC has been incredibly helpful for my business. Super honest, trustworthy and legitimate service! I will be hiring them again for my next acquisition deal." 💬"Professional service and extremely fast turn around. I enjoyed working with Joseph who drafted high quality contracts and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top notch service!" 🔴TRACK RECORD: Former Senior Associate Attorney at international Corporate M&A powerhouse Clifford Chance and top Corporate & Structured Finance law firm Thacher Proffitt & Wood both in Manhattan (New York City), where I represented investment banks, public and private companies, private equity sponsors, startups and hedge funds on strategic transactions. Closed and supported multi-billion-dollar deals across industries and jurisdictions. Delivered practical legal solutions to drive successful outcomes for clients ranging from startups to global financial institutions. I am licensed to practice law in New York and Texas. Corporate & Securities Attorney | Strategic Deal Advisor | M&A and Capital Raising Specialist 💬"Joseph Raetzer assisted me with drafting my asset purchase agreement. He provided excellent legal support for a fraction of the cost compared to a larger law firm." 💬"Joseph and the Raetzer PLLC team were exceptional — professional, responsive, and thorough from start to finish. They provided clear guidance, moved quickly, and made what could have been a complex process seamless. Highly recommend their firm for anyone seeking reliable and efficient legal support." 💬"Raetzer PLLC worked closely with us to successfully execute the lease for our new office on Wall Street, providing valuable counsel throughout the process. Joe is punctual, meticulous, and an exceptional attorney — highly professional and a pleasure to work with." 💬"Joe always kept my best interest at heart and helped me navigate a sensitive business contract. Highly recommended. Thanks again"

Pitch decks? You got it. One pitch deck I created secured $20M for an insurance startup, another generated $29M for a food startup. I have lots of consulting experience so I promise you some beautiful decks Excel and Google Sheets help? You got it, I created my first model 22 years ago and have since created hundreds of others. Business planning? Sure thing, I'll do your market research and I'll find stuff that nobody else can anywhere on the web, or through other, more... direct, methods. I will then craft a beautiful, visual, sound business plan with real feasible financials. How about Project Management? Well, I managed some Multi-million dollar projects in F500 companies (and startups), I am a certified Scrum Master, an MBA and I know processes creation and visualization in and out. If any of this resonates with you, let's talk. For full disclosure: My minimum current fee for a project is $1,200