Your Directors Advocate

What happens when business dreams collide with poor planning and the wrong advice? In this powerful episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby continue the conversation with Brisbane lawyer Bruce Pasetti to uncover why so many partnerships end in bitterness, costly disputes, and broken companies. From shareholder fallouts that mirror messy divorces to small “mum and da...

In this episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby sit down with Bruce Pasetti, Principal at Stratos Legal, to unpack the traps directors fall into when things go wrong—and why blaming the bookkeeper, accountant, or anyone else won’t hold up when the law comes calling. Bruce brings sharp legal insights into where responsibility truly lies, what directors must do to pro...

In this episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby sit down with Tammy Haug, General Manager of eCarz Finance, to expose a growing crisis in the business world—high-risk “last chance” loans that quietly destroy companies and personal assets. Tammy explains how easy it is for directors under pressure to click through late-night ads, sign complex contracts, and stack mul...

In this episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby sit down with Damien Davis of Robson Cotter Insolvency Group to unpack one of the most common traps directors fall into when the pressure’s on—the blame game. From shifting responsibility onto accountants, bookkeepers, or third parties, Damien explains why excuses don’t erase statutory duties and how silence or delay c...

In this powerful episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby pull back the curtain on the risky world of loan stacking—and the devastating traps many business owners unknowingly fall into. From slick FinTech ads to non-conforming lenders promising quick fixes, Cheryl explains how short-term, high-interest loans can spiral out of control when piled one on top of another....

In this episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby welcome back bookkeeper Kirsten Carter from Mello Bookkeeping to tackle one of the most common headaches for small businesses: director loans. Why do they happen so often, and why do they create such massive problems down the track? From directors accidentally using company funds for personal expenses to ignoring their...

In this insightful episode of Your Director’s Advocate, James Flaherty and Cheryl Stainsby sit down with bookkeeper Kirsten Carter to unpack one of the most common frustrations in business—the blame game. Why do business owners so often point the finger at their accountant or bookkeeper when things go wrong? Kirsten sheds light on the challenges faced by bookkeepers, from inconsistent communicatio...

Join us for the second episode featuring our special guest, Duncan Perkins, from Tax Time! This insightful discussion dives deep into the complexities of Division 7A loans (what are those!?) and directors' loans, offering valuable advice for business owners and their advisors. Key Points: Understanding Division 7A: Duncan explains the basics of Division 7A and its implications for directors' loans...

In the third ep of the YDA Podcast, hosts Cheryl Stainsby and James Flaherty are joined by Duncan Perkins from TaxTime to discuss some pressing issues faced by business owners. In "None So Blind," the get deep into the common pitfalls and challenges that entrepreneurs encounter, especially when they fail to heed professional advice. Key Issues Discussed: Blame Game: Business owners often look for...

So let's start with who gets the blame when the business goes bust. All too often, people are quick to blame others. Who gets the grief? And who should? Cheryl’s doing this series to reach out to small business owners who are currently facing challenges, especially having survived covid and its impact on various industries like construction, hospitality and retail. We've seen many failures, price...

Cheryl’s doing this series to reach out to small business owners who are currently facing challenges, especially having survived covid and its impact on various industries like construction, hospitality and retail. We've seen many failures, price increases, and interest rate hikes.  Cheryl will share her extensive experience in dealing with similar stories of directors and business models that oft...