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In Episode 194 of It's About Payroll, hosts Brian and Walt welcome two guests Brian Smith Jr and Eric Boling for a “two for the price of one” conversation focused on payroll-driven savings and employee support.

The discussion centers on a payroll-integrated strategy built on a Section 125 plan (a long-standing tax provision) that can increase employee take-home pay while creating savings for employers without adding net cost. Guests explain why this approach resonates in today’s competitive environment: payroll providers and business leaders need more than “same old” services to retain clients and talent.

They also break down what employees value most (cash in their pocket), highlight real-world benefit features (like no-cost prescriptions and mental health support), and discuss earned wage access and identity theft awareness as timely leadership topics.

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What if benefits weren’t just a cost center—but your biggest competitive advantage?

In Episode 193, we’re joined by Melissa Walker, Co-Founder & VP of Brokerage at Sounder Benefits, to break down how AI + innovation + human connection are reshaping healthcare benefits for modern companies. Melissa went from working inside major insurance carriers to building a brokerage that brings enterprise-level strategy to small and mid-size businesses—without the complexity.

We talk real results, real strategy, and what it takes to make benefits actually work for employers and employees.

Why only 1 in 4 Americans understand basic health insurance terms

How AI took a 25% renewal increase down to 9% while improving coverage

Why the “once-a-year renewal broker” model is dying

The benefits + payroll connection (and how to stop deduction errors)

Level-funded vs fully insured: when it’s time to rethink your plan

The truth about the Affordable Care Act — helped or hurt?

How to tell if your broker is driving value—or just quoting plans

Why planning before renewal season is the new power move

What tech actually reduces payroll/benefits mistakes

How modern benefits help attract and retain younger talent

The future of payroll: becoming payroll pilots, not just processors

Payroll pros, HR leaders, benefits admins, CFOs, business owners—and anyone tired of watching premiums rise while employee understanding drops.

Melissa is licensed in all 50 states with 15+ years across both brokerage and carrier sides. Her mission: make healthcare more affordable, accessible, and less confusing through strategy + proprietary tech.

📲 Connect with Melissa

LinkedIn: Melissa Walker

Sounder Benefits: sounderbenefits.com

Email: [email protected]

🎙️ About It’s About Payroll

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In this Season 15 Review episode of It’s About Payroll, Brian Escobar and Walter dive into the biggest conversations, lessons, and surprises from the season — and uncover some eye-opening payroll realities along the way.

The episode kicks off with a look at major news impacting payroll professionals, including minimum wage increases across multiple states starting January 1, with more coming later in 2026 in states like Alaska, Florida, and Oregon. The hosts also break down Amazon Business Prime’s new partnership perks, offering payroll, HR, accounting, and cybersecurity benefits through Gusto, QuickBooks, and CrowdStrike — saving businesses an average of $1,000 annually.

The heart of the episode revisits Season 15’s most popular topics: payroll disasters, implementation failures, true payroll crime stories, and compliance breakdowns that cost companies millions. Brian and Walt highlight a recurring theme across all episodes — most payroll fraud lasts 16–18 months before detection, often due to lack of internal controls and oversight.

From time theft and wage theft to insider data breaches, the hosts make one thing clear: payroll is no longer just processing checks — it’s protecting the business.

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In Episode 191 of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt sit down with Trent Sorbe, Chief Payments Officer at First International Bank & Trust and leader of Kotapay, one of the nation’s largest ACH and electronic payments originators supporting more than 100,000 payroll clients nationwide.

With over 33 years in financial services, Trent shares his journey from the FDIC to fintech founder to payments executive and offers a powerful look into how real-time payments, modern funding models, and “windowless payroll” are reshaping the industry.

Trent explains how payroll is undergoing a generational shift as longtime professionals retire and technology becomes the new gateway for attracting talent. He outlines why traditional ACH cutoffs, banking hours, and multi-day payroll windows are becoming obsolete and how real-time funding can compress a payroll event from days into minutes.

The conversation dives deep into risk management, small-business payroll access, earned wage access challenges, regulatory complexity across 50 states, and why payroll must evolve into a real-time financial services experience.

This episode is a must-listen for payroll leaders, processors, and technology providers preparing for the next era of payroll.

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🔑 In this episode, we tackle the big questions:

* What happens as seasoned payrollers age out?

* How do you find your payroll tribe as a newer payroll pro?

* What does it take to truly succeed in this ever-changing industry?

Whether you’re a payroll veteran, just starting out, or looking to build your network, this episode is packed with practical advice, inspiring stories, and actionable tips. Jon shares his legendary payroll journey, the importance of community, and strategies for thriving in payroll’s next era.

Don’t miss out on this must-listen episode for anyone passionate about payroll, career growth, and professional community!

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes and industry insights.

https://youtu.be/DyaH-NjNltg https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payrollitsaboutpayroll.io

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The conversation shifts to the importance of system integration across HRIS, timekeeping, payroll, and benefits to reduce errors and boost efficiency. Walt shares timely pay news, including RSUs and how vesting impacts tax obligations—often causing unexpected tax bills for employees if not planned properly.

Brian highlights new research from Deel revealing stark PTO usage differences between European and North American workers, exposing cultural gaps around taking time off and the pitfalls of unlimited PTO.

The core of the episode: ten realistic payroll crisis scenarios—from system outages to misclassification—and practical contingency strategies. The hosts emphasize communication, backup workflows, and proactive planning as key to preventing costly payroll errors. The episode delivers tactical advice payroll pros can apply immediately.

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This week, we explore the incredible true story of David Ghantt, a trusted vault supervisor at Loomis Fargo & Co. who masterminded a $17.3 million inside job in 1997. With the help of former co-worker Kelly Campbell and a crew of unlikely accomplices, Ghantt pulled off one of the largest cash thefts in U.S. history.

Discover how a model employee became the architect of a legendary heist, the role of personal relationships in the crime, and the lessons organizations can learn about trust, internal controls, and payroll security.

🎧 Listen to Episode 188 now and join the conversation about payroll fraud prevention and the human stories behind the headlines.

https://youtu.be/a_KHgQ5xhDE 

https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-your-paycheck 

https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/its-about-payroll,  

itsaboutpayroll.io 

itsaboutyourpaycheck.com 

Payroll #TrueCrime #InternalControls #FraudPrevention #Podcast #Leadership #LoomisFargo #TruePayrollCrimeStorieshttps://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/how-did-david-ghantt-kelly-campbell-steve-chambers-steal-more-than-17m

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In this cowboy-themed year-end special of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walter saddle up to ride through the biggest payroll updates every pro must prepare for as 2025 closes and 2026 approaches. They kick off with news around the economy — including U.S. foreclosure filings rising nearly 20% year-over-year and property insurance premiums spiking 70% over five years — highlighting why accurate payroll matters more than ever to employee stability.

The conversation turns to technology, including AI agents already being deployed in Amazon Connect and even the IRS, sparking discussion around the future of payroll automation. Then comes the main rodeo: year-end tasks, W-2 rules, 10-form e-file thresholds, penalties ($60, $130, $330+, and up to millions for large filers), Social Security verification tools, and common W-2 mistakes.

The hosts break down the OB3 Bill, tip & overtime deductions (up to $25K for tips; $12.5K single / $25K joint for OT), new guidance, and what employers should and should NOT do. They wrap up with retirement updates including 401(k) limit increases and Secure 2.0 catch-up provisions. A practical, funny, relatable year-end run-through for payroll folks everywhere.

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