Colleague Spotlight: Dan Daitchman, Managing Director

When describing his field, Dan provides a clear explanation: publicly traded companies have a readily available stock price to define their value, but determining the worth of a private company requires hiring an expert like him.

Dan was inspired to focus on valuation because it's one of the few finance fields where a high percentage of academic learning is directly applied in practice. He notes that this practical application of finance theory is what makes the valuation field unique.

A common misunderstanding about the valuation field is that the methodology varies greatly depending on the purpose (M&A, tax, financial reporting, etc.). Dan stresses that this is often overstated, noting that nearly every valuation performed is based on a discounted cash flow in some form or manner. The true distinction, he explains, is mastering the nuances required for credible work in each unique scenario, which is what separates the top professionals.

Dan is most passionate about tackling the challenge of showing evidence of a market for illiquid assets like intellectual property, particularly in financially distressed scenarios.

He has already made significant contributions to the field, having compiled extensive research on below-market transactions that result in negative goodwill (where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole), which was published in Business Valuation Review.

Dan ensures he stays at the forefront of his domain by serving as an at-large member of the Business Valuation Committee of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA). He regularly collaborates with other top minds in the space to discuss and address late-breaking developments.

This dedication to education extends outside his firm. He notes a huge industry development: the ASA's business valuation case study challenge for college students has rapidly expanded, now including over 25 university teams, signaling massive interest from young professionals.

Looking ahead, Dan aims for GA Group to be recognized as thought leaders in addition to consistently exceptional professional service providers. He looks forward to presenting on buy-sell agreements and shareholder buybacks to the Chicago Bar Association's Business Divorce Committee in January 2026 and spearheading a newly established networking event series featuring rotating speaker topics.

Dan's professional perspective is deeply influenced by his commitment to giving back. Since 2008, he has regularly volunteered with Junior Achievement, explaining business concepts to high school students. He says this experience helps him simplify complex topics so that anyone can understand them, a skill he finds equally effective when communicating with clients.

What clients find most valuable about his approach is his commitment to putting himself in their shoes:

• He anticipates the full range of outcomes stemming from a valuation.

• He actively seeks to help clients beyond just providing the valuation.

• He prepares for discussions by anticipating clients' questions and concerns, which allows him to better present and share results.

Dan's unique blend of deep technical expertise and genuine client focus ensures that when you work with him, you're not just getting a number—you're getting a thoughtful, supported, and meaningful solution.