💰 🤦🏾‍♀️ Why I Think ACAMS Should NOT Lower Their Prices 💰 🤦🏾‍♀️

Welcome to the episode 26 of the 2nd season of “WE WERE ON A BREAK” - Ross Voice. The series where the host, Stephen Brent Sargeant (Compliance Consultant to Bitfinex) talks to industry professionals during the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) quarantine and gains industry insights and expertise. In response to mix reactions to the AML educational juggernaut ACAMS $500 Million sale to French Investment Company, Wendel, I breakdown why I think ACAM should maintain their pricing scenario

Youtube - https://lnkd.in/dcRvaaaA

In this episode the host, Stephen Brent Sargeant responds to Oonagh van den Berg of Raw Compliance’s post on ACAMS recent sale and although he is in agreement of the majority of her points, the solution doesn’t seem to be alternative organizations and the emphasis should be put on AML professionals speaking with their dollars and for ACAMS to provide more value for the amount they are charging.

This is probably not going to be a popular opinion for most AML professional’s but definitely some food for thought.

**This interview was recorded on February 6, 2022

**Disclaimer**
The views and opinions expressed in this episode (and all episodes) are those of the host and the guests. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of their employers, contractors or any organization they may be affiliated with now or in the future.

Discussion Topics
•Disclaimer – ACAMs has been instrumental in my career and I’m a super fan of many of the professionals that work there and they have made more efforts than any other organizations in the space to promote support for BIPOC and BAME professionals (mentioned: Lashvinder Kaur / acknowledged scholarship programs with FINTRAIL)
•The ACAMS certification and membership fee doesn’t “appear” to be a significant barrier to excel in this industry and is definitely not a barrier to entry.
•The information is essentially free or available in some form online, but if you want to have the prestige of having the designation there should be a cost for certification. No one is entitled to just become a certified AML professional and these organizations spend a lot of time, resources and capital to become industry leaders (mentioned: ACAMS / ACFCS)
•If the information was free most of ACAMs competitors may probably be out of business and they are essential for other organizations to fill in the gaps (mentioned: Raw Compliance and
•Do people value the least expensive courses and will professionals value the information. Will employers around the world value those less expensive certificates and prefer them on job descriptions
•ACAMS has to increase the value they provide to their community including the CAFCA scholarship, the free anti-human trafficking training courses
•Are you checking in with your community ?? Have you reached out to your community in the last two years and checked in on them
•ACAMS designation is only one small part of the puzzle and professionals need to focus on soft skills and work experience as well.
•ACAMS and ACFCS has a fullsome certification course and they aren’t just throwing together presentations and considering it a course. There is a lot of planning, expenses and strategies that go into building these courses
•Big organizations have a bigger value proposition for industry professionals including compensation, exposure and network connection, which may outperform many of the smaller organizations (mentioned: Faisal I.
•What are you paying for ??? Just don’t pay if you feel you have extracted enough of the value out of the professional relationship
•If you are really struggling financially, it doesn’t hurt to ask these organizations or present creative ways that you can gain access to...

🧲♥ 3 Ways Crypto Companies Can Attract and Retain Top Talent ♥🧲

Welcome to the episode 25 of the 2nd season of “WE WERE ON A BREAK” - Ross Voice. The series where the host, Stephen Brent Sargeant (Compliance Consultant to Bitfinex) talks to industry professionals during the CoronaVirus (COVID-19) quarantine and gains industry insights and expertise. In what appears to be the first job market where employers may not have all the leverage, I discuss a few ways to ensure that crypto companies are attracting and keeping the best in the game.

Youtube - https://lnkd.in/ed_7QS4M

In this episode the host, Stephen Brent Sargeant discusses paying a premium for candidates that are a right fit for your organization and how their best recruiters are actually happy and nurtured employees. If you are having trouble finding top talent, this may be the episode you tune into with a pen and paper.

**This interview was recorded on February 6, 2022

**Disclaimer**
The views and opinions expressed in this episode (and all episodes) are those of the host and the guests. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of their employers, contractors or any organization they may be affiliated with now or in the future.

Discussion Topics
•Pay a premium for top professionals – organizations don’t have the same leverage that they did a few years ago and when employees see these top talents during the interview process they may want to up the budget to secure them (mentioned: Alex Côté, Nandita Merchant, Saloni Bhavsar, Arjav Azad, Ash Aiyar, Nelu Sund, Divya Bhatka, Ari Redbord, Liat Shetret, Amanda Wicks, Ian Andrews, Kimberly Grauer, Mikaela Ann Smith)
•These top players more than exceed in the role that they are given, but they also attract other top tier professionals that are looking for a great employer to work with (mentioned: Solidus Labs)
•You have to nurture your existing employees and check in with them If you are at the top of your organization, in the last two years you have had more than enough time to leave a thoughtful and personalized message for everyone in your organization.
•A thoughtful message could leave a more lasting impression than a swag bag or a sweater with the organization’s colours on it
•Are you tapping into your community to show gratitude and to support them in their growth. Can you reward those people that are ambassadors for your company, by providing them early access to reports or complimentary short term use of your tool or solution
•Professionals in the industry are looking for a place to feel included and a part of something bigger than just their job. Is your company creating a hub for the community to come and learn and feel heard
•Support what your employees are doing outside of. Be the first to buy their side hustle project or to sponsor an event that they are speaking at or financially supporting initiatives they are leading (mentioned: Tara Annison, Elliptic)

Stephen Brent Sargeant (Host)
•LinkedIn (Best way to reach me) - linkedin.com/in/stephen-brent-sargeant-cams
•Instagram (Everyday type stuff) https://www.instagram.com/stephen_b_sargeant/
•Twitter (I communicate in GIFs) - https://twitter.com/lifesgt
•Business Related Matters (Let’s Collab): stephenbsargeant@gmail.com

Resources
•How I Got Into Fincrime Compliance and Cryptocurrency) – Fintrail Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/41075463
•So You Want To Work In Crypto (Shelley Schachter-Cahm) - Show more...