Title III of the JOBS Act: Crowdfunding Last week the SEC voted to propose rules on Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act or “JOBS Act” as it is most commonly referred to. Title III of the act has a focus on governing crowdfunding while also permitting new freedoms by allowing non-accredited investors…
Why Investors Say No Lloyd: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances? Mary: Not good. Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred? Mary: I’d say…
The Fund of One The “fund of one”, it sounds very Zen-like. I could imagine the phrase being used in a marketing campaign for some private bank or trust company. However, the “fund of one” is much more practical than spiritual. Imagine you are a high net worth individual (I imagine that a lot…), and…
Advisory Board – Yes or No? “What you need is a manager” – Mickey Goldmil to Rocky It seems no matter what stage your company is in, entrepreneurs are always told that “best practice” is to have an advisory board. Like Mickey’s advice in that scene from Rocky, the right advisors, friends and colleagues are…
Top 10 Reasons Why Startups and Early Stage Ventures Fail Quote: “Houston, we have a problem.” From the movie, Apollo 13 At the risk of sounding like a David Letterman skit, I would like to present my Top 10 List for this category. By the way, there is no scientific research to support this and…
Strike Up the Band! In exactly one week, WithumSmith+Brown is hosting its Inaugural Global Summit: Strike Up the Band. Attendees can enjoy a full day of international business analysis and discussion, based on the much-talked about book, “After the Music Stopped: The Financial Crisis, the Response and the Work Ahead.” Authored by famed economist, former…
Equity Sharing – Avoiding Remorse Quote: “It’s good to be the King” – Mel Brooks (too many times to do attribution) So here is the scenario – you are running a solid business; you own 100% and everyone around you (including employees) are advising you to consider sharing ownership. In private, you mull this over…
Clearing Back the Brush Between “Trader” and “Investor” One of the key tax determinations in the financial sector is whether an investor or a fund is a “trader” or “investor” for tax purposes. Every U.S. taxpayer that trades securities (or fund with U.S. taxable investors), must be categorized as an investor, trader or dealer. Each…
Estate and Trust October 2013 DOMA Decision Gives Rise To Tax Savings and Wealth Transferring For Same-Sex Married Couples [author-style]By Mary Ellen Meara, CPA, Senior Manager[/author-style] Mary Ellen Meara [email protected] On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court ruled on a landmark case related to same-sex marriage (United States v. Windsor), which struck…
Am I Ready to Sell My Business? Lord Dark Helmet: “When will then be now?” Colonel Sandurz: “SOON!” Spaceballs by Mel Brooks I often think of this hilarious scene from Spaceballs when I have a discussion with an established entrepreneur regarding the potential sale of his or her business. This scenario is even more relevant…