Compliance That Makes Sense

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the first episode of the “From Risk to Rescue” series, I explore how many existing regulatory laws and requirements de facto discriminate against smaller businesses and people with less money, deepening financial inequality, and why it is so important that we eliminate outdated risk and compliance norms. 

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] Welcome to the first episode of the “From Risk to Rescue” series. 

[01:07] Why I agree with Elon Musk’s proposal to have a Regulation Removal department in every state.

[04:09] How regulations discriminate against poorer people and smaller businesses. 

[05:29] Outdated assumptions about smaller businesses and poorer people that do more harm than good. 

[10:15] My experience working with businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and South East Asia. 

[12:05] Understanding Nassim Taleb’s theory of “fat tails.” 

[13:45] How “the network effect” works. 

[14:02] How the failure of a major organization impacts smaller businesses. 

[16:09] Exploring Jeffrey Sacks’ theory of economic and financial apartheid. 

[20:02] Why it’s important to understand the history of risk and compliance norms. 

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.

Reddit and YouTube star, Roaring Kitty, is being accused (again) of market manipulation by the mainstream media because of his role in the 2021 GameStop saga. In this episode, I explain why I strongly disagree with these claims. This is a topic I am very passionate about and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. 

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:

[00:40] An overview of the topics I will cover in today’s episode. 

[01:44] What Reddit and YouTube star, Roaring Kitty, has been accused of (again).

[03:13] Why I disagree with the general sentiment towards Roaring Kitty. 

[06:02] The cause of the increased value of GameStop shares in January 2021. 

[08:15] The timebomb created during the period after GameStop and how Robinhood responded.

[11:38] Understanding market manipulation (and why I don’t think this is what Roaring Kitty did). 

[17:40] Why I agree with how Robinhood reacted in 2021. 

[19:12] Unpacking Gary Gensler’s opinion on Roaring Kitty and GameStop. 

[21:19] Why I am so passionate about this topic. 

[24:52] Please 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.

BaaS options are becoming more limited and their requirements are becoming stricter. In this episode, I explain why the current market conditions are challenging for early-stage startups partnering with BaaS providers. I also share the names of some of the providers that I know to be reliable, the difference between BaaS, open banking, and FinTech-friendly banking, and the factors to consider before choosing a BaaS provider!

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] The focus of today’s episode. 

[00:58] Why current market conditions are problematic for BaaS providers and their partners.

[01:37] An overview of what has been going on in the BaaS world since 2020. 

[03:28] Flaws in the design of Europe’s Baas industry.   

[04:50] Why licensing services and technology services should not be mixed. 

[06:34] How BaaS works and the services that BaaS providers offer their customers. [08:19] The most reliable BaaS providers to the best of my knowledge as of today. 

[09:13] How open banking differs from BaaS. 

[10:55] Understanding what a FinTech-friendly banking partner is. 

[11:39] Advice for choosing the right BaaS provider for your startup. 

Show links:

• Join my Crash Course on White Label Solutions in FinTech 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.

In this episode, I share some key takeaways relating to economic and FinTech trends and patterns in Europe that I have gathered from several different reports as well as through my own observations. From the payment default crisis to the state of BAS and the rise of BNLP, A2A, and digital wallets, tune in today to hear it all!  

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] Documents I have been reviewing which form the basis of this episode. 

[01:31] The problem of inflation.  

[02:23] An overview of the current state of the European economy. 

[03:19] The BNPL (buy now, pay later) landscape. 

[04:35] How the payment crisis is affecting businesses. 

[05:52] The derisking process that banks are going through. 

[07:48] Understanding the digital wallet trend. 

[09:38] The pros and cons of account-to-account payments.

[12:03] Why the current market conditions are unfavorable for BAS (banking as a service) providers. 

[14:42] New fraud patterns that have emerged in recent years.  

[15:36] Why it’s worth keeping an eye on the increased drive for instant payments.

[17:43] The need for additional technological innovations. 

[19:15] The rate of predicted growth of payment companies. 

[20:00] What you will get out of the workshop I am holding on June 4th!

Show links:

• Join my masterclass on Setting Compliance Priorities in FinTech 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.