January 17, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 2 comments
Updated and republished from last year, because it’s such a timely topic. There’s not much I’d add, except this: Even if you’re not ready for a formal mentoring situation, think about one thing you can do this month to help someone who is just starting out. January is National #MentoringMonth here in the U.S., and, as […]
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Confirming what you know and finding what you don't
Comprehensive report: Investigator’s friend or foe?
June 6, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources, Search tools / 0 comments
One of the most popular resources in an investigator’s toolbox is the comprehensive report. Vendors like TLO, Tracers, LexisNexis, and others compile records on your subject from their database into one report. One search, and you have it all. It’s a busy investigator’s dream. Or is it? Unlike many other investigators, I don’t use comprehensive […]
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Online court searching – What I’ve learned
May 16, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Information about information / 4 comments
When I first started in business, my research focused on market trends, the competitive landscape, and buyer preferences. I had little need for public records searching, especially online court documents, and chose to refer that kind of work to the experts. Fast forward several years and, after transitioning from market intelligence to background investigations and […]
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After the search – What’s next?
April 25, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Information skills, Reports / 2 comments
As a professional investigator, I specialize in research, so most people assume I spend my days asking questions and running online searches. They picture me completing the search and sending results to my clients. Found it. Now I’m done. Move on to the next search. But, as you’ve heard me say, there’s more to research […]
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Top post: Five things you can’t find online and what to do about it
April 11, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Information skills / 0 comments
This post was originally published in March 2021 As someone who specializes in gathering and analyzing online information, I’ll be the first to admit that you can’t find everything on the web. When you’re digging deep for hard-to-find answers to client questions, relying on just online research may leave gaps, which – in our business […]
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Getting up to speed in a new industry – A 3-step approach
March 28, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Information skills, Tips/Techniques / 2 comments
Investigations involve working with clients from a variety of industries, and that means learning about the environment in which they operate. It’s the only way to get to the heart of client concerns. For example, when I started working with my hedge fund clients years ago, all I knew about alternative investments was the Madoff […]
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Best marketing advice I’ve ever received
March 14, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Investigative business / 2 comments
Since starting my business, I’ve had the honor of mentoring with some of the top people in the business, including Amelia Kassel, Mary Ellen Bates, and Kim Dority. They all gave me the same advice: Speak to many, instead of just one. As solopreneurs, they said, we don’t have time to meet each prospective client […]
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Top post: Six myths about asset investigations
February 28, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Asset investigations / 0 comments
The following was originally posted in May 2019. Every one of these still holds true. When I talk with clients about conducting an asset search, whether it’s for due diligence purposes, litigation, or identifying fraud, I frequently come across several misconceptions about how these types of investigations work. Over time, I’ve noticed that these myths […]
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Getting up to speed in a new industry – 5 top challenges
February 14, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Tips/Techniques / 1 comment
As business professionals, we often need to know the ins and outs of a new industry. Maybe you have a new client or a new job. Perhaps it’s a valuation case or a merger. Or maybe you just need to understand what’s going on now and in the future within your own rapidly-changing business environment. […]
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Using News and Social Media for Finding Financial Assets – 5 Top Tips
January 31, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Asset investigations / 4 comments
As a private investigator, I search social media and online news for our clients on a daily basis, and I find it especially useful for asset investigations. Not everything will show up in public records, and news and social media research helps fill in the gaps. Here are just a few examples of what we’ve […]
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Top post: Why I’m a mentor
January 17, 2022 / by Marcy Phelps / Odds & Ends / 2 comments
Updated and republished from last year, because it’s such a timely topic. There’s not much I’d add, except this: Even if you’re not ready for a formal mentoring situation, think about one thing you can do this month to help someone who is just starting out. January is National #MentoringMonth here in the U.S., and, as […]
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