The Jump-Start Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act is designed to encourage funding of United States small businesses by easing various securities regulations pertaining to acquiring capital—principally crowd funding and the number of shareholders a company may have prior to registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission. President Obama signed it into law in April 2012. Title II of the JOBS Act, concerning crowd funding, passed into law in September 2013.

Crowd funding is hailed as the revival of small business in America and reviled as the next great Ponzi scheme. Designed to help small business—the creators of most new jobs in America—start up more quickly and easily, will it live up to its expectations, or will it become the means by which to bilk unwitting investors?

Joining me to discuss the benefits of the JOBS Act is Greg Writer, the author of Saving America One Crowd @ A Time.