How To Scale an eCommerce Services Company From Startup To Private Equity Exit With Ilya Vinogradsky
Pillar6 Podcast
Ilya Vinogradsky is the Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Information Officer of Astound Digital, a global digital consultancy that helps brands grow revenue by enhancing their online relationships with consumers. Founded in 2000, Astound Digital delivers personalized digital commerce experiences by combining technological expertise with creative talent. Ilya leads the company's technical teams, ensuring the quality, scalability, and cohesion necessary to provide flexible, innovative solutions that maximize customer value. With over three decades of experience, he has been...
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IT Security Essentials for Business Owners and Individuals With Arash Shokouh
Pillar6 Podcast
Arash Shokouh is the Founder and Managing Principal of Ophtek LLC, a company specializing in cybersecurity, managed IT security and support for small- and medium-sized businesses. With over 18 years of experience in computer technology, his background includes roles at several startups and a tenure at IBM, where he contributed to developing some of the world's fastest computer processors and holds patents in computer architecture. Beyond his professional endeavors, Arash has served as a small business development commissioner for the City of San Jose and teaches computer engineering at his...
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Finding the Right Fit Without Following the Script With David Goldman
Pillar6 Podcast
David Goldman is the Founder of Ruby Peak Recruiting, a firm specializing in direct-hire recruiting for top level executive assistants nationwide. After moving to San Francisco from Colorado in 2001, he began his recruiting career and established Ruby Peak Recruiting in 2008. With over two decades of experience, David has been instrumental in connecting companies with exceptional talent, particularly in administrative and executive assistant roles. His dedication to building long-standing relationships and reducing friction points at every step of the process has made him a respected figure in...
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Managing Properties with an Investor + Owner’s Mindset With Ryan Shane
Pillar6 Podcast
Ryan Shane is the President of The Housing Guild Management Co., a property management company based in San Francisco that specializes in managing apartments, homes, and commercial spaces throughout the Bay Area. Under his leadership, the company continues the legacy established by his father, Lawrence Shane, who founded The Housing Guild in 1977 with a commitment to providing exceptional service to property investors. Ryan brings a personal perspective to property management as an owner and investor, which ensures that clients' investments are well cared for and their returns maximized. In...
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Estate Planning Ideas for Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals With Michelle Lerman
Pillar6 Podcast
Michelle Lerman is an attorney specializing in estate planning, real estate law, and business law, with a focus on serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and real estate investors. Michelle and her husband co-founded Lerman Law Partners, LLP, and joined forces with Cunningham Legal to enhance their collective expertise. She has been named a Top Attorney and received the Top Women Attorneys award in Northern California by San Francisco Magazine multiple times. In 2018, Michelle released the third edition of her book, Create Your Best Legacy: What Every...
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Unlocking DSTs: A Hidden Tool in 1031 Exchanges With Amit Urban
Pillar6 Podcast
Amit grew up in a family of real estate professionals, and early on, he saw how smart investing has helped people generate wealth and help them to live the way they dreamed. Now, as a real estate professional with Fortitude Investment Group, Amit helps rental property owners and investors navigate 1031 exchanges, Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), and passive real estate investment opportunities. With over 15 years of experience in real estate, Amit has worked in both domestic and international markets, including developing shopping malls in China. In this episode… Many real estate...
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HR Under Trump 2.0 and What’s Next for Employers With Becky Barton
Pillar6 Podcast
Becky Barton is the CEO of People415, a human resources consulting firm that helps growing businesses grow faster with streamlined workflow policies, talent management, and HR compliance. With over 20 years of experience in HR strategy and operations, she specializes in aligning workforce planning with business goals. She has worked with companies across various industries, advising on hiring practices, employee classification, compensation, and compliance. Becky also speaks on HR trends and workplace regulations, providing guidance to business owners and leaders. In this episode… The...
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Annuities: Misconceptions, Regulations, and Best Practices With David Cranfield
Pillar6 Podcast
David Cranfield is the Brokerage Director at Pinney Insurance, a full-service BGA. Pinney's services help financial advisors, planners, and insurance agents expand their knowledge on insurance products and source solutions for their clients. Some of David’s areas of focus include annuities, life and disability income insurance in business planning, estate planning, and individual insurance planning. With extensive experience in the insurance and financial services industry, he also serves as the Regional Vice Chair of the National PAC Committee for NAIFA (National Association of Insurance...
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Comprehensive Tax Planning for Small Businesses With Becky Brown & Morgan Holmes
Pillar6 Podcast
Becky Brown and Morgan Holmes are the Founders of Stride, a comprehensive tax planning, bookkeeping, and accounting firm that helps companies accelerate growth. With a combined background in bookkeeping and taxation, Morgan and Becky joined forces to help MSPs, digital agencies, and professional services achieve their business goals through better financial planning and accounting. Focusing on small to midsize companies, Becky and Morgan help streamline financial operations, strategic planning, and effective tax management. In this episode... Keeping your books in order may be a chore, but it...
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Estate Planning for Families with Non-Taxable Estates With Rachel Dodson
Pillar6 Podcast
Rachel Dodson is the Principal at Ayoub & Dodson LLP, a law firm in Oakland, California, specializing in estate planning, trust administration, and probate law. A certified specialist in estate planning by the California State Bar, she has over a decade of experience guiding families with young children and individuals with non-taxable estates to create practical and personalized estate plans. Rachel also serves as a Professor of Wills & Trusts at UCLaw SF (formerly Hastings) and has been recognized as a Northern California Rising Star each year by Super Lawyers since 2015. In this...
info_outlineJames (Jay) O'Neil is the CEO of CTASafe, a compliance technology and consulting company focused on helping small and closely held businesses meet the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting requirements. With a background in law, Jay combines legal expertise with practical solutions for businesses facing new regulatory obligations. His experience includes guiding clients through complex compliance laws, and he works closely with accountants and business attorneys to streamline CTA compliance and ensure accuracy in reporting.
In this episode…
Navigating the complexities of new regulations can be daunting for small business owners, especially when the stakes are high. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), recently enacted, requires businesses to report detailed ownership information to avoid hefty fines. But what exactly does this mean for your business, and how can you ensure compliance?
According to Jay O'Neil, a seasoned attorney and expert in compliance law, the CTA aims to create a comprehensive database to help prevent money laundering and other financial crimes. He highlights that the law applies to any small business entity registered with the Secretary of State, provided it meets specific size and revenue thresholds. While the Act’s intentions are clear, the details are complex, from identifying beneficial owners to understanding filing deadlines. Jay emphasizes that missing the January 1, 2025, deadline could result in severe financial penalties, making it crucial for business owners to understand and address these requirements now.
In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, host Roman Polnar speaks with Jay O'Neil, CEO of CTASafe, to discuss the challenges and obligations of CTA compliance. They cover essential details on reporting requirements, potential penalties for non-compliance, and how CTASafe’s platform helps streamline the process for small businesses. Jay also shares practical advice for staying compliant in the face of evolving regulations.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn
- Pillar6 Advisors
- James (Jay) O'Neil: LinkedIn | Email
- CTASafe: Website | Free Consultation | Email | Pricing
- CTASafe Coupon Codes: $20 off of one time filing (PILLAR61FILE) | $400 off of concierge consulting options (PILLAR61124)
- Law Offices of James O'Neil
- Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Quotable Moments
- "The Corporate Transparency Act is essentially an attempt by the federal government to create a database of small businesses and their owners."
- "Easy to do wrong, hard to do right. If your test is whether you filled in something on each of the boxes, you're going to be able to do that pretty easily."
- "You have 30 days to file an update, or you're subject to the same penalties. Filing incorrect has the same consequence as failing to file."
- "So you can imagine if you had to call up eight different owners and officers of a company and say, hey, can you mail me your driver's license?"
- "This is a law enforcement database. We need to know within 30 days of where the money launderers are so we can go after them."
Action Steps
- Understand the requirements: This foundational knowledge helps you identify if your business is a mandatory reporter, thereby avoiding potential penalties.
- Conduct a beneficial ownership analysis: Analyze your business structure to identify all beneficial owners, including those with substantial control, community property interests, and any complex ownership scenarios to ensure accurate reporting and mitigate the risk of underreporting, which could result in fines.
- Implement a compliance monitoring system: Set up a system to monitor and update any changes in ownership or company information within the required 30-day period to avoid lapses in compliance due to overlooked updates or changes in business operations.
- Engage professional help: Leveraging professional expertise can simplify the process and provide clarity, especially regarding complex ownership structures and legal nuances.
- Schedule regular compliance reviews: This routine helps maintain vigilance against any unreported changes and keeps your business aligned with evolving legal requirements.