WHEN TO HIRE A FINANCIAL PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR:

First and foremost, make sure the private investigator you retain is a licensed private investigator in the state where he/she resides.

Secondly, the title of a “financial investigator” is a total misnomer and a self-appointed crown. No city, county, state or PI licensing agency will certify that title.

Third, there are certain education and professional experience that you can use as a guide such as:

1.) A degree in finance, economics and accounting
2.) Advanced degrees such as a Master’s in Forensic Accounting
3.) Professional experience
4.) Working for government or regulatory agencies like the FBI, DEA, IRS, SECRET SERVICE or THE SEC
5.) A CFE or Certified Fraud Examiner is an excellent certification

Fourth, you are best served with an investigator that has actually “followed and detected” monies at the highest level of financial investigations. Find an agency with former federal agents who have complete hundreds of white-collar crime and narcotic cases in the U.S. and internationally.

Here is list of cases you would definitely consider having an investigator conduct asset searches:

1.) Family law and divorce cases
2.) Background checks: business partners; investment firms; investment advisors
3.) Mergers and acquisitions
4.) Scams
5.) Tracing Debtors
6.) Ponzi schemes
7.) Insurance fraud

Financial Asset Search Before Entering a Joint Venture

A PI can help you find out if your soon-to-be business partner has skeletons in their closets. These could be personal problems with the potential to impact their image, finances or contribution to the joint venture. It could be money problems – you certainly don’t want to invest with someone who is laundering money for the mafia. Whatever the case, Martin PI is well able to bring everything to light. We have deep access to premier databases and public records and our team of investigators is experienced in field work- interviewing, spying, and trailing subjects to build evidence. Finally, our forensic accountants will help you make financial sense of the data.

CAN A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR FIND BANK ACCOUNTS?

Yes, but only under the auspices of The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), The Privacy Act and The Fair Credit Reporting Act.

CAN A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY SOMEONE HAS?

Yes, but only under the auspices of The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), The Privacy Act and The Fair Credit Reporting Act.

WHY ARE ASSET SEARCHES AND FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS IMPORTANT?

People often lie and become very deceptive when it involves money. In those matters where you must be assured of financial integrity, financial investigation are paramount. Here are just a few examples:
1.) Legal disputes
2.) Divorce
3.) Corporate litigation
4.) Business dissolution
5.) Complying with anti-money laundering
6.) Identity theft
7.) Extortion
8.) Stolen funds

WHAT METHODS ARE USED IN ASSET SEARCHES?

Never hire someone who just uses the internet. The date is not thorough, complete and, most importantly, not court-ready and inadmissible.
There are a few investigative agencies in the U.S. that have their own in-house computer system like Martin Investigative Services. This technology is far superior to public records searches and provide data and information that is used in forensic accounting.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO INVESTIGATORS FACE IN ASSET SEARCHES?

1.) Government, tax records and financial institution that are off-limit because the client and their investigator has no permissible use to access.
2.) Overseas assets
3.) Trusts
4.) Shell companies
5.) The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
6.) The Privacy Act
7.) The Fair Credit Reporting Act
8.) Cryptocurrencies
9.) Bitcoin
10.) Limitations because of time and cost

HOW LONG DOES AN ASSET SEARCH TAKE?

1.) Basic Asset Search: 1-3 days
2.) Bank and stock searches: 5-8 days

CAN I CONDUCT MY OWN ASSET SEARCH?

One can certainly check online and public records. Some call attorneys but this is an area that 99% have no expertise. Also, any data you collect will almost always be inadmissible in a court of law.
The best analogy: conducting you own asset searches is like fishing in a puddle of water. Hiring a professional is like fishing in the ocean.

Asset Search and Online Financial Investigation Services

Are You in Need of a Comprehensive Asset Search?

Receive an Asset Search by Private Investigators

Get an in-depth, thorough asset investigation completed today! MartinPI has been active in Private Investigation, and we have built a one-of-a-kind asset search database at an affordable price. When it comes to private investigation, asset search is always an important type of investigation. We receive calls from lawyers, private citizens, collections, and more to assist them in finding out where someone may be hiding assets.

Types of Asset Searches Available:

• Trust Funds
• Business Assets
• Bank Accounts
• Brokerage Accounts
• Retirement Accounts
• Real Estate
• Cars, Boats, Airplanes, and more!

Many of these types of accounts are hidden deep within corporate shells, and knowing how to query the database is paramount.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS?

Find the best private investigation agency in your area and then:
1.) Go and meet with them in THEIR office, not in a bar, gin mill or coffee house. Having an office doesn’t make them a good investigator but it will give you piece of mind.
2.) If they demand cash, leave.
3.) Have a timeline of events outlining the objectives of the investigation.
4.) Specifically, ask the investigator in front of you:
a.) What is the investigative plan?
b.) How long will it take?
c.) How much will it cost?

Why Choose Martin Investigative Services

After 50 years in private investigations, asset searches, finding lost family members, and finding hidden cameras, we take our asset search database seriously, which is why we constantly have repeat clients. There is often some confusion about exactly what can be found in an asset search, and a lot of confusion as to the methodologies that can be used. Martin Investigative Services can guide you on how to find hidden assets.

Call 1-800-577-1080.

Asset Information Collected

#1 Basic Background/Asset Search

Our basic background/asset search provides comprehensive data from our own in-house computer system. This search covers all 50 states and can be completed in 24 hours or less.
Cost: $1,500.00
Substitution Option: You may substitute a corporation/LLC for a subject if you need business records.

Data Included:

• Personal Data
• Address History (20 years)
• Confirmation of SS# and Date of Birth
• National Property Search
• U.S. Consumer Public Filing Index (Bankruptcies, Judgments, Tax Liens)
• Corporate and Limited Partnership Information
• Uniform Commercial Code Information
• Civil and Criminal Index Filings
• Fictitious Business Name Index
• Professional Licensing

Total Charge: $1,545.00 ($1,500.00 for the reports + $45.00 for FedEx)

#2 Financial Institution Account Search

This search includes bank, savings, and checking accounts. It can be conducted by state or nationwide.
Pricing and Turnaround Times:
State Search: $4,800.00; Turnaround time 5 to 8 working days.

Nationwide Search: $7,500.00; Turnaround time 5 to 8 working days.

#3 Brokerage Account Search

This search includes stocks, bonds, and securities. It can be conducted by state or nationwide.

Pricing and Turnaround Times:
State Search: $4,800.00; Turnaround time 5 to 8 working days.
Nationwide Search: $7,500.00; Turnaround time 5 to 8 working days.

What Restrictions Are There on Asset Searches?

Prior to 1999, asset searches were like the wild west. There were about 220 companies that advertised conducting these searches with few restrictions. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) was a game-changer. The GLBA is also known as the Financial Modernization Act of 1999. It requires financial institutions to explain how they share and protect their customers’ private information. It also set the standard for what private investigators and others can do with respect to legally gleaning financial data.

What Data Can Be Found in an Asset Search?

The GLBA sent most private investigators and information brokers solely to the internet. Sadly, over 95% of these individuals and companies just use the internet to obtain limited information. They simply regurgitate the data to you and pretend they actually did some financial research. However, there are only three asset searches that can be legitimately conducted:

Basic Asset Search:

Contains all personal data, twenty-year address history, confirmation of SS# and date of birth, other numbers they may be falsely using, national property search, the U.S. Consumer Public Filing Index for bankruptcies, notice of defaults, judgments, tax liens, and problems with the IRS, corporate and limited partnership information, Uniform Commercial Code information, civil and criminal index filings, fictitious business name index, and professional licensing.
This search should be completed within 24-48 hours and should be court-ready. The average legitimate price for this product is around $1,500.00.

How to Start the Asset Search Investigation

Verify any increase or decrease in the net asset value for the entity or individual. Start building your case by gathering names, addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts, etc., regarding the individual or entity. It can be a great starting point for a private investigator to begin their asset search. Then finally, reach out to a reputable private investigator to start your asset investigations. Here at Martin Investigative Services, we have a former federal agent, Tom Martin, that will guide you to locate assets.

Assets Can Be Hidden In:

• Offshore Accounts
• Stocks
• Corporations that Can’t Be Touched
• Safety Deposit Boxes
• Mortgages
• Bank Accounts
• Employers
• Boats, Cars, Planes
• Family Gifts
• Transferring Assets to Family
• Gifts to Friends
• Hiding Businesses Under Illegal Name

This is the exact amalgamation of both articles without any changes. Let me know if this is what you needed!