VI study plan
VI · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Valuation Approaches and Methods
Compare the three valuation approaches and list when each is most defensible
Compute value under the income approach using discounted cash flow and direct capitalization
Apply the market approach using comparable transactions and guideline public companies
Explain when the cost approach is appropriate and how depreciation is applied
Your checkpoint
One-page decision matrix mapping each approach to appropriate fact patterns, with worked numeric examples for each
Valuation Approaches and Methods
Derive discount rates with build-up and modified CAPM methods
Select and justify capitalization and discount rates for a given fact pattern
Adjust comparable multiples for size, growth, and control differences
Identify common errors in terminal value and mid-year convention assumptions
Your checkpoint
Completed 10-question rate-derivation worksheet with written justifications for each selected rate
Valuation of Businesses and Intangible Assets
Distinguish levels of value and apply control and marketability discounts
Select the appropriate earnings or cash flow measure for a business valuation
Apply the excess earnings method to value an intangible asset
Contrast the relief-from-royalty and with-and-without methods
Your checkpoint
Full written business valuation outline for a hypothetical company including approach selection, rate derivation, and discount justification
Valuation Principles and Professional Standards & Valuation of Businesses and Intangible Assets
Apply the valuation standards governing scope of work, report content, and independence
Draft engagement terms that define intended use, standard of value, and premise of value
Identify common professional standards violations in sample scenarios
Your checkpoint
Mock engagement letter plus a standards-compliance checklist applied to your Week 3 valuation outline
Financial Reporting and Accounting Concepts
Map financial statement line items to the valuation inputs they inform
Normalize owner compensation and nonrecurring items to derive maintainable earnings
Adjust for LIFO reserves, off-balance-sheet items, and nonoperating assets
Reconcile book equity to a valuation-based equity conclusion
Your checkpoint
Normalized income statement and balance sheet for a sample company with a reconciliation memo
Financial Reporting and Accounting Concepts & Valuation of Tangible and Financial Assets
Apply fair value measurement concepts to tangible and financial assets
Value machinery and equipment using cost, market, and income approaches
Value a minority equity interest using the market approach and discounts
Explain how impairment testing interacts with valuation conclusions
Your checkpoint
Two completed asset valuations (one tangible, one financial) with approach rationale and sensitivity table
Valuation Principles and Professional Standards & Valuation Approaches and Methods & Valuation of Businesses and Intangible Assets
Integrate standards requirements into a full valuation report
Reconcile conclusions across multiple approaches into a single value range
Defend selected assumptions against plausible alternative fact patterns
Time yourself on mixed-domain practice questions under exam conditions
Your checkpoint
Timed 60-question mixed practice set with a scored error log by domain
Valuation Principles and Professional Standards & Financial Reporting and Accounting Concepts & Valuation Approaches and Methods & Valuation of Businesses and Intangible Assets & Valuation of Tangible and Financial Assets
Re-drill every missed item from the error log until answered correctly twice
Summarize each domain's core formulas and decision rules onto one page
Complete a full-length timed mock exam
Identify and close remaining weak areas by domain weight
Your checkpoint
Full-length mock exam score report plus a one-page formula and rules sheet per domain
Milestones
Week 2: Can derive a discount rate and justify it in writing without notes
Week 4: Can produce a standards-compliant engagement scope and report outline from a blank page
Week 6: Can normalize financials and value one tangible and one financial asset end to end
Week 8: Scores at or above 75% on the full-length timed mock, with no domain below 65%