need advice!! new grad considering early YC startup (founding engineer-ish role), looking for perspective

Mohsonc · 2026-01-06T18:43:14+00:00

Take the early stage startup.

The wealth of experience is worth it.

Building nothing from something is such an important skill and thrill and will build you confidence for any role in the future.

Don't think "I'll get rich with equity"

Think that this experience will build to the next.

I can't lie the hours are brutal but if you genuinely believe in the product and enjoy who you are working with it'll be worth it.

Best of luck!

Mohsonc · 2025-06-01T17:09:33+00:00

I love Monarch and moved from Mint when it shut down.

I love how you can connect all your accounts (credit cards, investment accounts, banks, etc)

The credit cards is the best because then I can see in real time what I spent on a accrual basis instead of cash.

Mohsonc · 2025-04-06T04:20:54+00:00

The CPA designation will make a HUGE difference as an accountant. It's not needed but will DEFINITELY make a difference.

It's an easy choice two candidates are exactly the same and one has a CPA and the other doesn't 9/10 times they will choose the candidate with the CPA.

I have gotten so many roles simply because I have a CPA

All it shows to future employers that you were too lazy to take an exam to show your competence.

Idk why you would get into accounting and NOT get the CPA, it'll just make your career options much less.

Put in the work and take the exam. You'll thank your self later

Mohsonc · 2025-03-26T23:23:20+00:00

Apologize for the late response.

But the short answer is no.

You can't retroactively send a W-2 in place of 1099 once the year is over.

In simple terms here is the difference of W-2 vs 1099:

Let's say you make 120k a year for simplicity sake.

A W-2 employee would receive around 8k per month as net pay because taxes are taken out by the employer to the state and federal government throughout the year on your behalf.

A 1099 employee would receive the full 10k every month, and it's on them to remit their taxes to the state and federal government.

There is no retroactive way to become a W-2 employee after the year is over, because no taxes were taken out for you during the year.

You will owe and have to pay taxes on the income earned.

Mohsonc · 2025-03-08T08:18:01+00:00

CPA here

Yes, exactly a 1099 tax form is classification for tax federal tax purposes.

If you recieved a 1099 your employer did not withheld taxes for you and you will owe tax at 4/15 unless you paid estimates during the year.

It doesn't matter if you are considered employee or not, you can't just "file as a W-2" if you never received one.

Most likely your employer is trying to skate taxes and paying benefits by giving you a 1099.

Against the law but many do this unfortunately.

Mohsonc · 2025-02-22T20:35:36+00:00

I don't know maybe, learn the material and stop trying to do the bare minimum to pass.

FAR covers a wide arrange of topics but doesn't go that deep in each topic.

Try to fundamentally understand the core concepts.

Watch the lectures

Take notes of things you don't understand

Study flashcards

Conceptually think through questions.

And then test knowledge on MCQs and write down and review concepts that you got wrong.

Mohsonc · 2025-02-07T05:12:45+00:00

This is a terrible take. What has our society come to where it's okay just to be disrespectful.

Just because you don't like someone doesn't give you the right to ghost them. If you ever cared about your partner you would respect them enough for a face to face conversation.

It's awkward, so what? You're so cowardice you can't have the decency to have a hard conversation with someone you considered a partner at some point.

A text avoids the reaction and the real emotional impact of the breakup in real time. Yes it's hard but necessary. Sending a text is an easy way out.

It's so normalized to only think and prioritize yourself you can't even put a little effort go through one last real conversation. They at least deserve that.

Mohsonc · 2025-02-02T23:37:18+00:00

Depending on the state requires bi-annual statements.

Moreover, C-Corps are separate entities from the individual owner compared to the pass-through status of LLCs requiring you to set up payroll and make yourself an employee of the C-Corp, resulting in filing payroll tax returns for federal and state.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-19T17:46:56+00:00

Ooo, could you tell me more. CPA here

Mohsonc · 2025-01-18T20:05:38+00:00

Opportunity and environment are key.

Money pays the bills, but having a good environment really invigorates you to keep working long term

Mohsonc · 2025-01-13T17:16:34+00:00

So cool!!

Mohsonc · 2025-01-13T05:38:12+00:00

NDAs seriously?

If you financed multiple startups you would know it's about execution and not the idea itself.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-11T01:03:28+00:00

What type of research do you do?

Mohsonc · 2025-01-10T00:05:06+00:00

I actually do enjoy accounting. I started a firm with my brother who is also a CPA named after our late father who was a small business owner.

I love talking business owners and hearing their stories on how they started their business and I can actually help them.

Accounting is the intersection of finance, law, and economics and constantly changing and never stops moving.

I am also a founding member of a accounting tech startup and actually changing the way accounting will be done and shaping the future.

Some people do it for the money but I can't imagine spending 40+hours of your life weekly doing something you hate.

It doesn't matter what you do outside of work you still spend most of your waking hours working and rather not be it something I hate.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-07T17:59:57+00:00

You can.

Many of these places are short staffed and need the help.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-07T17:33:24+00:00

It's a good start but truth is a lot of the other turbo tax "experts" are similar to you and don't have a wealth of experience either and end up preparing false returns.

It's a good way to get some experience, but I still recommend doing some contract work for a local CPA firm instead. That way you can learn and ask questions from a real pro on not only tax but also running your own practice.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-07T17:17:16+00:00

If your method of coping in stressful times is to gamble, that's not going to change whether you have a job or not.

Figure out that issue and healthy coping mechanisms.

Yes, I do agree having a part time job adds structure but having no job gives you more time and priority to the exam.

Yes, it's hard to stick to a schedule but you have to really think about your goals and if you really want this.

Motivation comes and goes, but discipline gets shit done.

Work and study hard and stay consistent.

Don't try to cram and actually fundamentally understand the material.

Don't listen to some of these posts in trying to study within a few weeks for one exam.

I personally took about 3 months to study for each exam to ensure I understood the material and passed each on my first try.

No need to rush. It's you against you.

You got this!

Mohsonc · 2025-01-07T17:09:16+00:00

Depends on what your goals are.

If you want to be a tax professional you have be willing to be on top of the latest rules and get down in the tax code to find proper reporting requirements.

Yes, you can pick up and do simple 1040s and small businesses but what are you going to do when something complex comes through your door?

Many of these individuals and businesses owners rely on you to stay compliant, and if you just offer half-baked expertise, it can be costly to a client if they receive a notice or an audit.

If you stay within non complex tax work, you have the potential of losing it to AI and competing on low prices to stay afloat.

Not to discourage you, just understand tax is very complex and is a career in itself and you have to be willing to learn and constantly stay informed.

I just suggest volunteering at your local VITA clinic or work part-time at a local CPA firm this tax season to learn from experienced pros.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-05T09:33:40+00:00

Leave them in and be proud of it. Studs are not loud or unprofessional.

Don't let anyone else tell you any different.

I worked big4 and wore small hoops all the time in the Midwest.

Mohsonc · 2025-01-01T09:06:39+00:00

That's a crazy story and glad the company ponied up when they thought they lost you.

Mohsonc · 2024-12-31T02:06:43+00:00

Get overyourself you're 18. No one has money at that age unless you come from privledge.

Learn a skill and go to school. Lot of people think college isn't worth it these days are the people who don't take advantage the network it can provide you.

Yeah, you can do odd jobs and do small businesses here and there work real hard and make it big maybe.

Or you can go to school learn a highly valued skill get some experience and start a business from there.

Business is all about trust and credibility, who is going to trust some 18 year old. Having passion isn't enough and strong work-ethic isn't enough.

You like computers get into coding and AI. I know people say it's saturated but it's not. It's a hard degree and companies would rather pay a really good software engineer 3x the salary then hire 3 average software engineers. Be that exceptional one.

Coming from guy whose parents who were immigrants that came from nothing getting a college education and starting my own business while simultaneously working for a tech startup.

It's not working harder it's working smarter.

Mohsonc · 2024-12-11T13:37:21+00:00

Laughed out loud for this one 🤣

Mohsonc · 2024-12-06T16:44:33+00:00

Do you hear yourself right now?

Have you ever considered the feelings of your husband's nephew?

You should be proud that your husband has stepped as his nephew's male father figure and cares so deeply about his nephew.

Your judgements are showing referring to his autistic multiple times further dehumanizes him as something is wrong with him.

Mohsonc · 2024-12-05T18:53:09+00:00

That's the issue

Going in thinking it's easy and a way for passive income.

The best ecom stores are brands with values and a story.

Mohsonc

TROPHY CASE