Karen Neal is managing director of the Family Office Exchange (FOX) consulting group, where she works with family groups and wealth advisors to bring processes and solutions to the challenges of preserving family wealth, including refining of business strategy to address transitions and changing needs of the family and firm. Karen brings to her clients more than 20 years of consulting experience with an extensive background in the valuation of closely held businesses for estate and gift tax planning, merger and acquisition, and financial planning purposes.

Karen joined FOX in 2008 after eight years at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, where she was a senior manager responsible for business and intangible asset valuations primarily for family-owned businesses in the manufacturing, consumer products and financial services industries. For two years she also was responsible for remotely managing the firm’s offshoring operations in Hyderabad, India, which included facilitating communications, HR and the expat program, as well as the change management process relating to the adoption of this unique platform for serving U.S. clients. Prior to joining Deloitte, Karen was a senior manager at RSM McGladrey, and also held consulting positions at the boutique national valuation firms of American Appraisal Associates and Marshall & Stevens.

Karen received her bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois, where she also earned her MBA in finance and accounting. Karen holds the designations of CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) from the CFA Institute as well as ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser in Business Valuation) from the American Society of Appraisers.