• 188 - Politics, Confidence, and Success in Compliance
    Oct 17 2024

    While I normally choose to keep my political views separate from my professional life, in this episode, I share why forming and defending your own political opinions is a very useful tool that can lead to the development of skills that will be invaluable to you as a financial-industry professional.

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [01:03] Why I usually keep my political views separate from my professional life.

    [02:44] Damage that can be caused by bringing political will into the financial industry.

    [04:00] My thoughts on Dima Kats’ decision to expose corruption.

    [06:17] The value of having strong opinions.

    [07:24] Real-world examples of how my strong opinions have benefited me.

    [11:58] My first introduction to Donald Trump.

    [13:22] What I thought when I found out he was running for president.

    [14:15] How I feel about his time in office.

    [15:56] My thoughts on why so many people are negatively triggered by him.

    [18:30] Lessons that I think we can all learn from him, whether or not we agree with the things he says.

    [19:31] Skills that can be developed through the formation of solid political opinions.

    Show links:

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.



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    22 mins
  • 187 - The Three Most Harmful Addictions: Heroin, Sugar and a Monthly Salary
    Oct 10 2024

    Unfortunately, many employers have held onto outdated beliefs about employment and entrepreneurship. In this episode, I share why I agree with Nassim Taleb’s belief that getting a monthly salary (i.e. full-time employment) as opposed to working as a consultant often does more harm than good!

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [00:41] An overview of the focus of today’s show.

    [01:14] The dangers of drugs vs. a monthly check

    [01:48] The stories that inspired me to record this episode.

    [03:10] Issues that have become commonplace in big companies.

    [04:51] Nassim Taleb’s thoughts on the harm caused by formal employment.

    [07:23] Travis Kalanick’s biggest battle as Uber’s CEO.

    [09:26] A personal experience highlighting how employers misinterpret full-time employment and entrepreneurship.

    [16:18] Lessons that can be learned from the communist revolution.

    [18:48] Share your thoughts!

    Show links:

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.

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    20 mins
  • 186 - Cancel Culture vs Darryl Cooper
    Oct 3 2024

    I am obsessed with free speech and misinformation, so this episode about the attempted “canceling” of Darryl Cooper means a lot to me. Tune in today to hear about Darryl’s podcast episode that caused uproar amongst many of his listeners and my thoughts on the topic.

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [01:01] What Darryl Cooper’s podcast is about.

    [02:29] The story that inspired today’s episode.

    [06:16] Why I strongly disagree with the canceling of Darryl Cooper.

    [07:30] How Darryl Cooper responded to the attempt to cancel him.

    [08:14] What I learned about Israel and Palestine from Darryl Cooper.

    [11:06] Positives that came from the Darryl Cooper controversy.

    [12:21] Why cancel culture is so rife.

    [14:21] The importance of not viewing complex events as ‘black and white.’

    [15:37] The problem with trying to cancel certain opinions.

    [17:08] Introduction to my upcoming brand new workshop.

    Show links:

    • Register for my new workshop, ‘Balancing DSA and GDPR Requirements,’ here!

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.

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    19 mins
  • 185 - Setting Goals and Not Achieving Them
    Sep 26 2024

    “Having a goal and not reaching it is better than not having a goal at all.” We all know the feeling of disappointment when we set a goal that we are unable to achieve. When this happened to me earlier this year, I reread Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning, and in today’s episode, I share the invaluable lessons that it taught me about setting goals and not achieving them.

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [00:39] An overview of today’s topic.

    [01:06] The goal that I set for myself for this year that I wasn’t able to achieve.

    [02:10] What the book Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl, is about.

    [04:35] Criticisms that the book received.

    [07:10] The power of having a purpose.

    [10:04] Why Frankl believes that people always have freedom, regardless of their circumstances.

    [13:04] Don’t put your goals on a pedestal!

    [13:56] A new perspective on setting goals.

    [18:38] How to deal with things not going to plan.

    [20:28] The value of joining the FinTech Startup Certification Program.

    Show links:

    • Join our FinTech Startup Certification Program here!

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.



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    23 mins
  • 184 - The Concept of Nationality and Its Role in Financial Services
    Sep 19 2024

    Today, we’re discussing the concept of nationality and its role in financial services. An experience of Ukrainian clients’ of mine was the inspiration for this episode, and I hope it gives you a good understanding of some of the key global financial trends and the unequal impacts they are having on people and countries across the world.

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [00:39] Introducing today’s topic.

    [01:00] The clients of mine who inspired today’s episode.

    [02:40] What it means to be a ‘citizen of the world.’

    [03:18] Why I renounced my Russian citizenship.

    [05:22] Discriminatory trends that have become commonplace against poor countries.

    [06:18] My personal experience of discriminatory financial policies.

    [07:10] The unequal impacts of global economic trends.

    [10:40] My prediction about the trajectory of these inequalities.

    [12:37] Why the concept of censorship is becoming a hot topic.

    [14:20] How governments are likely to respond to the growth of remote work.

    [16:03] Examples of the different versions of nationalism.

    [18:03] The problem with nationalism from a financial perspective.

    Show links:

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.

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    19 mins
  • 183 - Pavel Durov, my Soviet Past, and What Still to Expect in 2024
    Sep 12 2024

    Welcome back to a new season of the Compliance That Makes Sense podcast! We’re still going to be focusing on FinTech, compliance and startups, but the upcoming episodes are also going to be related to current affairs. In this first episode, I dive into my Russian background and how it impacts the way I view the world, particularly in relation to the Pavel Durov controversy and the oversight of digital media companies in general. Also, don’t forget to sign up for this year’s final cohort of the FinTech Startup Compliance Pro Certification.

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [00:34] The new direction I will be taking with this new season of Compliance That Makes Sense!

    [01:20] Some of the Russian controversies that have impacted the compliance world.

    [02:57] Exploring my relationship with my Russian roots.

    [05:04] The factors that encouraged me to leave Russia.

    [08:41] My thoughts about the Russia-Ukraine war.

    [10:42] A brief history of Pavel Durov’s professional life.

    [15:44] My analysis of Pavel Durov’s actions.

    [19:05] Where I see parallels between today’s media and Soviet propaganda.

    [24:10] Pros and cons of the Digital Services Act.

    [25:15] How I think digital platforms can (and should) counter the oversight requirements in the Digital Services Act.

    [24:14] How my Russian past influences the way I view the world.

    [29:54] Benefits of joining my FinTech Startup Compliance Pro Certification.

    Show links:

    • Get certified as a FinTech Startup Compliance Pro with my Certification!

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.



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    32 mins
  • 182 - Why MICA Regulation May Be Bad
    Jul 4 2024

    In the latest episode in my ‘From Risk to Rescue' series, I discuss what MICA is, some of its benefits, and why I think the cons outweigh the pros.

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [00:47] An overview of today’s focal topic.

    [00:57] The most commonly-cited MICA benefits.

    [02:09] What MICA is.

    [02:56] Why I am not a fan of the Travel Rule.

    [03:47] My concern with the way lawmakers value crypto.

    [04:58] Some of the MICA requirements for stablecoin issuers that I disagree with.

    [07:34] The story of Luna’s stablecoin collapse.

    [08:40] The biggest issues with the current financial system.

    [10:47] The main purpose of MICA.

    [11:12] Negative outcomes that MICA is likely to cause.

    Show links:

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.

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    13 mins
  • 181 - Why Fiat Services May Be Riskier Than Crypto
    Jun 27 2024

    Today, we’re continuing our conversation about how to transition from “risk to rescue” by delving into the reasons why fiat services may be riskier than crypto, despite long-held beliefs that the opposite is true. If you’re a compliance professional who is feeling deeply dissatisfied with the scope of your work at the moment, you’re not alone, and this episode will shed some light on why that is the case!

    If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help their companies! If you are on Apple, just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.

    Today's episode:

    [00:38] An overview of today’s topic: Why fiat services may be riskier than crypto?

    [01:52] Why owners of fiat accounts are a hugely underestimated risk.

    [02:14] Where the value of fiat currencies is derived from.

    [02:46] Problems with the fiat system.

    [05:28] How we should be thinking about our savings versus our investments.

    [06:38] The biggest risk of the fiat system.

    [07:16] How financial institutions and government regulations manipulate compliance professionals.

    [07:56] Examples of new regulations and requirements that took effect in recent decades.

    [10:03] What these new regulations have failed to achieve.

    [12:33] Why do so many compliance experts feel deeply dissatisfied with the scope of their work?

    Show links:

    • Interested in FinTech compliance? - consider investing in the FinTech Compliance Self-Starter Package!

    • I would love to invite you to sign up for my newsletter. If you are interested, please click here.

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    18 mins