So, this happened at Easter dinner and it’s still bugging me.

I (52F) am retired now, but I spent over 20 years as a business advisor helping small business owners get started—everything from writing their first business plan to finding affordable legal help. I’ve also started a couple of businesses myself, so I’ve seen firsthand how tough and overwhelming those early days can be.

Anyway, my brother-in-law "Jake" (35M) works at a registered agent company—you know, those companies that help you set up your LLC, file annual reports, etc. Over dinner, he starts talking about his job, which is fine at first. But then he shifts into bragging mode.

He starts going on about how they overcharge “dumb” clients for basic services, upsell them on things they don’t need, and how everyone in the office laughs at the “ridiculous” business ideas people bring in. He literally said, “We call it the idiot tax—if you’re dumb enough to fall for it, we’re smart enough to take your money.”

The whole table went quiet. I was honestly shocked.

I told him flat-out that what he was describing wasn’t just shady, it was predatory. That these are often first-time entrepreneurs putting everything on the line—savings, family support, dreams—and that he and his company were profiting off their inexperience and laughing about it. I said, “You’re proud of taking advantage of people who are just trying to build something?”

Well, Jake got defensive and started making excuses—“it’s not illegal,” “everyone in the industry does it,” etc. My sister (his wife) told me I was ruining the mood and “starting drama.” My sister later told me I should’ve just kept my mouth shut and changed the subject.

But I don’t know—I couldn’t just sit there and let him act like that kind of behavior is okay. I’ve spent most of my life trying to help people like the ones he’s mocking.

So, Reddit… AITA for calling him out and “ruining” Easter dinner?