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Forensic Accounting Resourcesand FAQs
Guides, answers, and articles from Sage Investigations, a licensed Texas forensic accounting and financial investigation firm (PSB #A10803) in Austin.
Guides
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10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Forensic Accountant
Expertise, certifications, industry and litigation experience, investigative skills, and testimony.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is Sage different from other agencies?
We do not try to be all things to all people. Our expertise comes from 25+ years as an IRS Special Agent working financial investigations and more than 25 years providing litigation support. We have also developed DIO, software that analyzes complex financial data and produces searchable, evidence-based reports.
Are you a CPA firm?
No. Sage Investigations, LLC is a licensed private investigation firm. We are associated with licensed CPAs. We do not perform financial audits or attestation of financial statements.
What kinds of cases do you handle?
Financial matters that require following the money: unreported income and income tax cases; occupational fraud (embezzlement, ghost employees, vendor fraud); Ponzi-scheme victimization; shareholder derivative suits and other white-collar fraud; divorce tracing of separate and community property in a community-property state; estate and probate investigations; and litigation support for plaintiff and defense counsel.
How do you analyze large volumes of records?
Cases typically involve boxes of paper or large electronic files. We inventory and scan records, load them into DIO, and produce Excel reports that can be searched by keyword and tied back to the underlying documents. DIO also supports tracing of separate and community property and allocation of commingled funds.
Do you conduct interviews, asset searches, or surveillance?
Yes. We interview clients at the outset and interview witnesses after discussion with the client's attorney. We conduct asset searches, drawing on experience as IRS Special Agents. We provide surveillance, documented with video, still photographs, and a written report delivered within 24 hours of completion. Computer forensics and TSCM (bug sweeps) are provided through licensed specialists with whom Sage has a close relationship.
Do you work under attorney work product?
Yes. Once counsel retains us, we work under the attorney work product privilege.
How do you charge?
Rates vary by the type of case. We require a retainer and bill hourly against it. Call 512-659-3179 to discuss your matter.
What is the best way to contact you?
Office hours are 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday. We are available on weekends when needed. Call 512-659-3179 or email support@sageinvestigations.com for a free initial phone consultation. The mailing address is 4103 Westbank Dr, Austin, TX 78746. The fax number is 512-328-6878.
In the news
Press & firm history
Announcements from Sage Investigations, 2001–2024.
2020–20248 items
- June 2024
Edmond J. Martin Celebrates 35 Years as a CFE and ACFE member
Edmond J. Martin, Sage Investigations’s Principal and Chief Investigator, has been a Certified Fraud examiner (CFE) and belonged to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) for 35 years. Click to view letter →
- September 2022
Ed Martin Gave a Presentation to the National Association of Defense Investigators.
The founder of Sage Investigations, Ed Martin, gave a presentation to the National Association of Defense on Forensic Accounting and Investigation. This presentation helped educate Defense Investigators to understand the investigative side of a criminal investigation.
- June 2022
The Team of Sage Investigations Attended ACFE Training
Edmond Martin, Jason Slick, Daniel Fannin, and Toni Lusk attended the 2022 ACFE virtual training that included courses on fraud examination, report writing, ethics, and tracing techniques. This annual training helps us better understand and examine matters relevant to the needs of our clients.
- May 2022
Sage Investigations Started Sending Out Targeted E-Newsletters
Sage Investigations started sending out targeted e-newsletters to educate their individual markets. These e-newsletters arm their potential clients with critical information.
- February 2022
Ed Martin Gave a Presentation to the Austin Rotary Club of Austin
The founder of Sage Investigations, Ed Martin, gave a presentation about computer and internet security to the Austin Rotary Club. This presentation helped educate the members on how to avoid risks on the Internet.
- July 2021
Ed Martin Gave a Presentation to the Austin Rotary Club of Austin
The founder of Sage Investigations, Ed Martin, gave a presentation about Forensic Accounting to the Austin Rotary Club. This presentation helped educate the members about how to avoid business risks.
- February 2021
Sage Added a New Feature to DIO
Sage added a new feature to their proprietary technology, DIO, that created an algorithm to trace separate and community property more quickly by having the ability to adjust transactions automatically. This new feature benefits our clients by saving time and money.
- April 2020
Sage Started Using Zoom to Conduct Business
Sage Investigations started using Zoom to conduct client meetings, depositions, and continuing professional education. Utilizing this technology allowed us to continue to serve our clients.
2010–201912 items
- April 2019
Ed Martin attended 16 hours of forensic expert witness training at the national office of FEWA in San Francisco, CA
This specific forensic expert witness training bolsters the trial experience Martin received as a Special Agent of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. All financial investigations require extensive analysis of financial records including bank and brokerage records, and the tracing of funds and following the money through the use of sophisticated proprietary technology. Martin’s expertise as a forensic expert witness helps our clients be better represented in deposition or trial.
- April 2019
Ed Martin attended 19.5 hours of training by the National Association of Defense Investigators in San Diego, CA
The training Ed Martin received was in trial preparation, witness interviewing, testifying as an expert, report writing and other skills to help refresh knowledge acquired as an IRS Special Agent and Criminal Investigator. This knowledge will be used in defense of clients.
- August 2018
Ed Martin was elected President of the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators
Sage Investigations is proud to announce that Ed Martin was elected President of TALI.
- August 2017
Sage Investigations is proud to announce our Financial Investigator and Technology Expert, Jason Slick received his CFE
Jason has the ability to conceptualize the nature of a financial investigation and bring to bear his knowledge of mathematics and computer science to solve problems for our clients. This involves analyzing voluminous records and converting them into a database and summarizing the transactions in reports beneficial to our clients. Among the many things he has done for our clients, he has successfully reconstructed a file server that acted as the repository for the contents of 15 point of sale registers. This achievement helped defend the client in a criminal case.
- April 2016
Kenton Stephens became the Director of Surveillance and Undercover for Sage Investigations.
Sage Investigations is proud to bring on board Kenton Stephens. He has the ability to blend in and be nearly invisible. He has a vast knowledge of the operation of business entities and has an uncanny ability to find hard to acquire information through searching the internet and social media. Kenton finds out the truth of what is happening for our clients.
- March 2016
Sage Investigations, LLC Founder, Edmond Martin Awarded United States Fraud Investigator of the year for 2015 by Wealth and Finance Magazine
Wealth and Finance Magazine awarded Edmond Martin, Founder of Sage Investigations, LLC, Fraud Investigator of the Year for 2015 for the United States. It is with great pride that Sage Investigations, LLC accepted this award for, “possessing the talent needed to accomplish the scope of our work.” Download PDF →
- August 2015
Sage Investigations, LLC Founder, Edmond Martin Awarded the Hudgins-Sallee Award by TALI
The Texas Association of Licensed Investigators awarded Edmond Martin, Founder of Sage Investigations, LLC the most distinguished, honourable and noble award that can be presented to a member of Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) by their peers. This award was established in remembrance of two outstanding deceased TALI members — Virginia Hudgins and David Sallee. The Hudgins-Sallee Award was established in their memory to exemplify the high moral and ethical standards by which a professional licensed private investigator adheres to in his/her services to the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators.
- June 2013
Sage Investigations, LLC Moves to a New Corporate Office
To better serve clients due to growth of Sage Investigations, LLC Company founder, Edmond Martin moved to a new office located at 4103 Westbank Drive, Austin, TX 78746.
- August 2012
Sage Investigations, LLC Founder, Edmond Martin Chosen as TALI Treasurer
The Texas Association of Licensed Investigators chose Edmond Martin, Founder of Sage Investigations, LLC as Treasurer for the association. Duties include maintaining the books and records of the association.
- February 2011
Sage Investigations, LLC Narrows Their Focus to Better Serve Their Clients
To better serve their clients Sage Investigations, LLC narrowed their focus to their core competency of tax investigations and forensics accounting. In the last ten years of business, Sage Investigations, LLC learned the needs of their tax and financial investigative clients and developed systematic ways to effectively and efficiently fulfil their needs.
- January 2011
Sage Investigations, LLC Adds Additional Computer Power as a Client Benefit.
Sage Investigations, LLC increases its computing power with the acquisition of two file servers to more efficiently serve clients.
- January 2010
Sage Investigations, LLC Launches DIO Technology
After four years of development, Sage Investigations, LLC and Jason Slick, the new Director of Technology for Sage Investigations, LLC launches DIO financial investigative technology. This technology will better serve our clients with a faster, more accurate and less expensive analysis of voluminous financial data.
2001–20096 items
- December 2009
Sage Investigations, LLC Acquires Technology as an Additional Client Benefit.
Sage Investigations, LLC has added portable high speed scanning of large quantities of data to bring additional benefits to clients.
- April 2008
Sage Investigations Founder, Edmond Martin Invited to Join Intellenet
Edmond Martin, Principal, Chief Investigator of Sage Investigations, LLC was invited to become a member of Intellenet, a nationwide Private Investigator Association that provides training and better access to investigators worldwide to better serve clients.
- August 2006
Meritorious Service Awarded
San Antonio, TX - The Texas Association of Licensed Investigators at its annual meeting awarded Edmond Martin, Principal, Chief Investigator of Sage Investigations, LLC, the Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service to a client in a Wrongful Death Investigation in Colorado.
- February 2006
Sage Investigations, LLC Starts Development of DIO Technology
Sage Investigations, LLC contracted with Jason Slick, and together started the development of the DIO financial technology in order to better serve clients with faster, more accurate and less expensive analysis of voluminous financial data.
- April 2002
Association Joined by Sage Investigations, LLC
Principal, Chief Investigator, Edmond Martin of Sage Investigations, LLC joined the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators to continue investigative education and remain on the cutting edge in order to provide the best service to clients.
- June 2001
Sage Investigations, LLC Launches First Website
Sage Investigations launches its first website to educate the public about the diverse investigative services offered to the legal profession, individuals, businesses and the government.
