Financial intelligence for litigation, recovery, and high-stakes business decisions.
Financial asset investigations are not simply database searches. They require a disciplined understanding of records, entities, ownership structures, financial behavior, jurisdictional differences, and the business reasons assets may be concealed, transferred, encumbered, or misrepresented.
Frizell Group helps clients test financial claims, locate assets, assess recovery potential, identify hidden or undisclosed interests, and develop intelligence that supports negotiations, legal strategy, enforcement decisions, and business risk assessment.
Susan K. Strong, CFE
Financial asset investigations are managed by Susie Strong, a Certified Fraud Examiner and former Senior Vice President in commercial lending with more than 25 years of domestic and international banking experience.
Banking fluency changes the quality of the investigation.
In complex financial matters, knowing where to look is only part of the work. The greater advantage is understanding what the records mean, what may be missing, which financial structures matter, and how sophisticated borrowers, debtors, vendors, or counterparties may attempt to obscure the true picture.
Susie’s background includes senior commercial lending roles with British, Canadian, and Japanese financial institutions, as well as experience involving syndicated lending, credit derivatives, SBA guaranteed lending, and total return swaps. That experience helps Frizell Group evaluate financial representations with the perspective of someone who understands how money, credit, collateral, and ownership structures actually work.
Financial asset investigations for the stakeholders who need reliable answers.
Different clients come to us with different questions. The common need is financial clarity before decisions are made or leverage is lost.
Financial Services Firms
- Verify borrower representations before loan workout or settlement terms are accepted.
- Support debt collection by locating assets before or after judgment.
- Identify undisclosed assets in bankruptcy, insolvency, or restructuring matters.
- Investigate suspected fraudulent financial representations by borrowers or guarantors.
Corporations
- Assess the true financial health of joint venture partners, acquisition targets, or counterparties.
- Investigate employee, vendor, or procurement fraud involving financial misrepresentation.
- Trace funds diverted through kickbacks, shell entities, or related-party arrangements.
- Support recovery efforts following embezzlement, theft, or financial misconduct.
Law Firms & Legal Teams
- Determine financial merit before filing suit or investing heavily in litigation.
- Locate assets to support enforcement of an existing judgment.
- Research opposing parties’ true financial position for settlement strategy.
- Support complex financial litigation, bankruptcy, estate, divorce, or partnership disputes.
We combine banking judgment, research discipline, and field capability.
Financial asset investigations require more than searching a name. The work often involves identifying relevant entities, tracing ownership and control, understanding collateral and debt relationships, reviewing public and proprietary records, and recognizing when the online record is incomplete.
Common financial asset investigation scenarios.
These matters are often high-stakes because the financial picture influences negotiations, litigation strategy, collection decisions, and recovery options.
Loan workout fraud
Testing whether a borrower’s claimed financial distress is accurate or whether assets are being concealed to secure more favorable settlement terms.
Judgment enforcement support
Locating real property, business interests, vehicles, financial indicators, and other assets to support collection strategy.
Pre-litigation asset assessment
Helping counsel determine whether a potential defendant appears collectible before substantial litigation resources are committed.
M&A and joint venture intelligence
Verifying financial representations, identifying hidden liabilities, and assessing counterparties before major business commitments.
Embezzlement and fraud recovery
Tracing where diverted money may have gone and whether assets, relationships, or transfers may support recovery efforts.
Bankruptcy and insolvency investigation
Assisting creditors, trustees, or counsel in identifying undisclosed assets, fraudulent transfers, or preferential payments.
A focused process built around the client’s objective.
Every matter is designed around the question that needs to be answered: collectability, recovery, verification, negotiation leverage, litigation merit, or risk exposure.
Initial Consultation
We identify what is known, what is suspected, what documents exist, and what outcome the client needs.
Investigation Design
We select the sources, jurisdictions, record types, and research sequence most likely to produce meaningful results.
Research & Field Work
We conduct proprietary research, public-record analysis, asset tracing, and field investigation where appropriate.
Report & Consultation
Findings are documented clearly, then explained in practical terms tied to the client’s legal or business objective.
For a matter involving litigation or a broader business decision, see Legal Support Investigations and Strategic Advisory.
When the borrower said there was nothing left.
A financial services client asked Frizell Group to review a borrower’s claimed financial position during a workout negotiation. The borrower sought a reduced settlement and release of liability based on the claim that few assets remained.
For financial institutions, law firms, and corporate clients, this is often the value of the work: not merely locating records, but developing leverage, clarity, and decision support when the financial picture is incomplete or misleading.
See More Client ResultsFinancial findings that support action.
Standard deliverables include a written findings report, an Executive Summary, and a results debrief explaining the assets identified, supporting information, and limitations. These findings help clients assess recovery options, borrower representations, negotiations, and further legal or business action. Reporting format and handling are confirmed at the outset.
Asset Visibility
Identification of property, business interests, financial indicators, related entities, liens, judgments, and other useful records.
Financial Representation Testing
Independent evaluation of whether a subject’s claimed financial condition appears consistent with available records and indicators.
Recovery and Collection Support
Information that helps counsel or leadership evaluate enforcement options, settlement leverage, and recovery pathways.
Risk and Exposure Insight
Clarification of potential losses, ownership structures, related-party concerns, and business risks tied to financial conduct.
Litigation Decision Support
Practical intelligence that helps attorneys and clients assess collectability, settlement strategy, and litigation value.
Clear Reporting
Documented findings presented in a direct, organized format that supports counsel, executives, and financial decision-makers.
Common questions before starting.
These questions help clients understand when a financial asset investigation is useful and what realistic expectations should look like.
When should we consider a financial asset investigation?
When a financial claim, borrower representation, collectability issue, judgment, fraud concern, or transaction risk needs independent verification before a decision is made.
Can you guarantee assets will be found?
No. Some assets may not exist, may be unreachable, or may not be identifiable through lawful investigative methods. We will give clients a realistic assessment before recommending unnecessary work.
Do you work with legal counsel?
Yes. Financial asset investigations often support litigation strategy, collection efforts, settlement negotiations, fraud recovery, bankruptcy matters, and pre-suit decision-making.
Led by Specialized Financial Expertise
Financial Asset Investigations at Frizell Group are directed by Susan K. Strong, CFE, Managing Director of Financial Asset Investigations. Her background as a former Senior Vice President in commercial lending provides financial fluency that directly informs how these investigations are scoped, interpreted, and explained to clients.
A realistic assessment is part of the value.
Not every hidden asset can be found, and not every identified asset can be recovered. Sophisticated clients deserve candid analysis about what the available records, jurisdictions, timelines, and investigative avenues can reasonably support.
Frizell Group’s role is to develop actionable financial intelligence — including what is known, what is indicated, what remains uncertain, and where additional effort may or may not be justified.
Need to know whether the assets are real, hidden, or recoverable?
Contact Frizell Group for a confidential assessment of your financial asset investigation needs. We will help you determine the right path forward.