Podcasts about Isos

Tap on Phone has been one of the most talked-about innovations in payments, but many agents still aren't offering it to merchants. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James sits down with Vlad Sadovskiy, CEO of Netevia, to discuss why Tap on Phone is gaining momentum, the challenges behind bringing it to market, and how ISOs can use it to compete more effectively in a Square-dominated segment. They explore real-world use cases for salons, field service businesses, events, and mobile merchants, along with instant onboarding, funding innovations, and the growing importance of creating a seamless merchant experience across devices. Plus, Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment covers fintech access to payment rails, stablecoin developments, fraud prevention initiatives, Mastercard's latest merchant risk tools, and new same-store sales data from across the economy.

Retirement planning is about more than just saving money—it's about making smart decisions with your finances to ensure that you keep as much of what you've earned as possible. On the show this week, I'm sharing essential strategies for managing your taxes in retirement—including a real-life example of a couple selling $146,000 in capital gains and paying zero taxes. I break down the benefits of non-retirement brokerage accounts, clarify the rules around capital gains and losses, and reveal a key element of the tax code that hasn't changed in nearly 50 years. In the second half of the show, I'm also discussing the risks and rewards of company stock, stock options, and restricted stock units (RSUs), and providing guidance for anyone investing in their own company or dealing with equity compensation. This episode is packed with practical advice and insightful stories to help you retire in the best financial position possible.   You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [00:26]Importance of tax management in retirement [02:05] Capital gain harvesting (an uncommon topic) and capital loss harvesting [06:25] Explaining brokerage account basics [08:17] Distinction between short-term vs. long-term capital gains [14:24] Practical example of managing large capital gains [18:30] Tax-free capital gains strategy [24:40] Understanding equity compensation risks [31:51] RSUs and the tax implications [33:27] Evaluating company stock and options Understanding Brokerage (Non-Retirement) Accounts Brokerage accounts, also known as non-retirement accounts, are investment accounts funded with after-tax dollars. Unlike IRAs or 401(k)s, which have strict withdrawal rules and penalties, these accounts offer much more flexibility. There are two primary advantages: Accessibility: Funds are available before age 59½, meaning you aren't locked into waiting as with some retirement accounts. Tax Control: Taxes in these accounts are mainly due on capital gains, dividends, and interest, and you can influence the timing and amount of tax owed by managing what and when you sell.   Many investors overlook the advantages of these accounts, often assuming that retirement planning must revolve solely around 401(k)s and IRAs. Speaker B points out that one of the biggest benefits is the ability to 'cherry pick' what is bought and sold, giving investors direct control over their tax liabilities.   Capital Gains and Loss Harvesting Most people are familiar with the idea of harvesting capital losses—selling investments at a loss to offset taxable gains or up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year. But 'harvesting capital gains' can also be a powerful strategy. If your income is low enough in a particular year, it's possible to realize long-term capital gains at zero federal tax, especially under current tax laws. There are nuances, however. The $3,000 capital loss deduction limit hasn't changed since 1978, despite decades of inflation, and excess losses must be carried forward to future years—a critical aspect often forgotten. Additionally, the wash-sale rule prevents you from writing off a loss if you purchase the same (or substantially identical) security within 30 days before or after the sale.   Risks and Rewards of Company Stock, Stock Options, and RSUs  Equity compensation—whether through company stock, stock options, or restricted stock units (RSUs)—is a growing component in many retirement portfolios. Stock options come in two primary flavors—incentive stock options (ISOs) and non-qualified stock options (NSOs)—with distinct tax treatments. The potential upside can be huge, especially in fast-growing companies, but if the stock price falls below the strike price, the options may end up worthless. Upon vesting, the value of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) is taxed as ordinary income. Many companies manage tax withholding by selling some shares at vesting, but any future gains after vesting are subject to capital gains tax. Overreliance on one company's stock can be financially devastating. Don't be like the Enron employee who lost almost everything by refusing to diversify. It's essential to manage company-specific risk and diversify holdings as you approach retirement.   Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning IRS Case Study 1 – Wash Sales    Connect With Gregg Gonzalez   Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com Podcast: https://RetireStrongFA.com/Podcast Website: https://RetireStrongFA.com/ Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made Easy On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts  

Over the years, we've spent a lot of time on this show talking about the grid, why it needs to expand, where it's falling short, and what it will take to meet growing demand. We've talked about improving how the grid gets planned and built, and the bottlenecks that slow projects down. But even if those bottlenecks are resolved, the system itself is becoming harder to manage. Demand is rising fast, driven by electrification and data centers powering AI. At the same time, the grid is getting more complex. Distributed resources, extreme weather, and aging infrastructure are making it harder to plan, predict, and operate. And the tools utilities rely on weren't built for this kind of system. Our guest today has spent his career inside that problem, from working at a utility to building one of the early software platforms for managing distributed energy. Josh Wong is the founder and CEO of ThinkLabs AI, a Powerhouse Ventures portfolio company. We co-led ThinkLabs' $5 million seed round in 2024. ThinkLabs is building an AI copilot for the electric grid, helping operators understand and manage the system in real time. Using physics-informed models, the platform can compress analyses that once took weeks or months into minutes. Josh was born in Hong Kong and raised in Toronto. He began his career at Toronto Hydro, where he saw firsthand how difficult it is to operate the grid in practice. That experience led him to found Opus One, a company focused on helping utilities manage increasingly complex power systems, which was later acquired by GE. Josh kept coming back to the same underlying problem: utilities need to move faster, but the tools they rely on make that nearly impossible. ThinkLabs is his answer. In our conversation, Josh walks me through his journey, and what it takes to build in one of the most complex and risk-averse industries in the world. Today, ThinkLabs has raised more than $30 million from investors including NVIDIA and Energy Impact Partners, and is working with partners and customers including Southern California Edison, and other major ISOs. About Powerhouse Innovation and Powerhouse Ventures Powerhouse Ventures backs seed stage founders building the future power system across energy, infrastructure, and AI. If you are thinking about building something in this space, get in touch with our team. Powerhouse Innovation is a best in class consulting firm, powered by the strongest energy innovation network, data and team in our industry. We partner with world's leading corporations, investors, and utilities to source and evaluate disruptive startups shaping the future of energy and industry. To hear more stories of founders building our energy abundant future, hit the “subscribe” button and leave us a review.

The mid-market is where tech decisions get dangerous. You are big enough that uptime, security, and delivery speed matter every day, but you are not big enough to burn cash on massive consulting retainers or absorb the fallout from a shaky vendor. That “valley in the middle” is exactly where David Robinson lives, and it is why he built Stratos Development Group to offer right-fit technical leadership, managed services, and software development that feels structured without being out of reach. We walk through David's journey from building early electronic medical record software in healthcare to leading engineering at a venture-backed startup, and then into entrepreneurship. From there, we get practical about what mid-market teams actually struggle with: competitors using the same licensed infrastructure, product roadmaps hijacked by one or two big customers, and the need to own real intellectual property and architecture to keep a competitive edge. For payments, fintech, and ISO leaders, the conversation goes deep on what Stratos is seeing right now: consolidation, tougher differentiation, and the technical friction that can make or break net-new deals. David shares how ISOs can approach technology enablement and custom integrations, plus the bigger opportunity of moving from ISO to ISV. If you already have a book of business, you also have a built-in feedback loop, faster validation, and a clearer path to launching software that your clients will actually pay for. We also tackle AI and the “vibe coding” era, including why agentic development can boost productivity but cannot shortcut PCI, SOC, or HIPAA compliance. If you want to modernize safely and win in a more competitive market, this one is for you. 

Traditional ISO models often leave agents waiting on approvals, relying on multiple systems, and giving up control throughout the merchant lifecycle. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James sits down with Simon Kemp to discuss the growing opportunity around PayFac for ISOs and how new models are helping bridge the gap between traditional ISO relationships and full payment facilitation. They break down faster onboarding, real-time transaction visibility, AI-driven underwriting, gateway ownership, and why giving ISOs more control could fundamentally change the way payments businesses scale. Plus, Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment covers interchange legislation, AI trends, software provider complexity, and major shifts impacting the industry.

The payments landscape is changing fast—and many ISOs are struggling to keep up. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James sits down with Ben Griefer, COO of Maverick Payments, to break down what it really takes to stay competitive today, from choosing the right upstream partners to balancing risk, operations, and sales focus. They dive into the tradeoffs between going direct vs partnering, how infrastructure decisions impact growth, and why the most successful ISOs are doubling down on sales while leveraging the right back-end support. If you're building or scaling an ISO, this episode offers a clear look at what's working right now—and where the industry is headed.

Most agents are focused on saturated markets like retail and restaurants—but the real opportunity may be in B2B. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James sits down with Russ Hayes and Mike Hayes to break down how ISOs and agents can tap into manufacturers, distributors, and contractors to unlock larger deals and long-term growth. They discuss why integrated invoice and ACH solutions are in high demand, how to get in front of the right decision-makers, and what it takes to build a scalable B2B portfolio. Plus, Today in Payments covers global surcharge changes, digital wallet trends, and key shifts shaping the future of payments.

Waiting 47 days to get paid for work you already finished is more than annoying, it's a cash-flow killer. I sat down with Garima Shah, President and Co-Founder of Biller Genie, to talk about the unglamorous part of payments that decides whether a business thrives: accounts receivable. We get practical about what actually slows payments down and why “just run the card” ignores the messy reality of invoicing, accuracy, and collections.Garima explains how accounts receivable automation tightens the whole workflow. Send invoices on time, protect data integrity so the right customer gets billed correctly, and give people an Amazon-like way to pay with a simple button for credit card or ACH. That shift can take a typical service business from getting paid in weeks to getting paid in days. We also dig into the real-world benefits beyond money, like saving 10 to 15 hours a week of admin work and giving owners time back.We also unpack what makes Biller Genie different in the payments ecosystem: a partner-first model built for banks, processors, and ISOs, deep payment gateway integrations, and bi-directional sync with accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero to support clean payment reconciliation. Garima shares where she sees growth in AR software, how AI in payments is accelerating product and insights, why stablecoin acceptance is “easy but early,” and what industry consolidation means when two partners suddenly become one.If you care about SMB payments, B2B invoicing, AR automation, and the future of merchant services, this one is packed with ideas you can use. 

Company stock: one of the most confusing—and potentially valuable—parts of your compensation. From RSUs to ISOs and NSOs, learn what you actually own, how vesting and exercising work, and where people commonly make costly tax and risk mistakes. The key takeaway: equity compensation is often a great opportunity, but it's not simple—and without a clear plan around timing, taxes, and concentration risk, it's easy to leave money on the table or create avoidable problems.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

This episode is brought to you by AFS, Automated Financial Services, your partner for fast, reliable, and affordable payment processing. Whether you're taking payments at the counter, on the go, online, or through a full POS system, AFS makes it easy to get paid anywhere, anytime. They handle credit, debit, EBT, gift and loyalty cards across every industry, and touchless options available for all in-person transactions. Entrepreneurs and ISOs can even earn monthly residuals through AFS partnership opportunities. The tools are yours. The income is yours. You'll get approvals in under an hour, 24-hour equipment deployment or reprogramming, low simple rates, matched or beaten, or they pay you and 24-7 live customer service. You get the technology, rates, and support your business deserves. For a free cost analysis or rate quote, call 1-877-738-5010 or visit automatedfinancialservice.com. AFS, smart technology, real service, better business. Mayor Brandon Bochensky discusses Grand Forks' spring updates, including record-low crime, major development and construction projects (sports complex, Agristo plant, Children's Museum), Greenway management, bridge and road repairs, airport air service efforts, UND campus growth, and local reactions to travel and social media controversies — plus community events and priorities for the coming months.

ACH has long been a frustrating part of payments — slow settlement, complex onboarding, and limited control. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd sits down with Will Messina, CEO of GrailPay, to break down how modern infrastructure is transforming ACH. They discuss why legacy ACH has struggled for decades, how better risk modeling enables faster funding, and what it takes to create a seamless experience for agents, ISOs, and merchants. The episode also features Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment, covering Walmart's AI checkout results, new interchange legislation, Klarna's growth, and Mastercard's move into stablecoins. If you're an agent or ISO looking to improve cash flow, reduce risk, and stay competitive, this episode is a must-listen.

Unlock the Atlassian and Isos Technology podcast to hear digital transformation experts discuss how Atlassian Jira Service Management enables greater operational resilience, stronger compliance and better mission outcomes. Discover how to align people and processes by using strategic change management to overcome cultural resistance and ensure modernization leads to scalable, long-term mission success.

AI isn't just increasing demand for electricity - it's changing how power behaves.In this Tactical Tuesday, Nico Johnson sits down with Jon Parella of Terraflow Energy to break down a problem few people are talking about: modern AI data centers don't draw power like traditional loads. They ramp rapidly, swing unpredictably, and introduce volatility that existing infrastructure wasn't designed to handle.That shift is putting real strain on generators, batteries, and the grid itself - accelerating wear, increasing complexity, and creating new risks for developers and investors alike.In this episode, you'll learn:

In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd talks with Satheesh Kanchi, founder and CEO of OneHubPOS, about the growing opportunity for ISOs and agents to offer a processor-agnostic, white-label POS solution. They discuss how OneHub is approaching restaurant and specialty retail verticals, what makes a unified POS platform different from fragmented app-based systems, and why flexibility matters for agents looking to build their own brand in a competitive market. The episode also features Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment, covering retail sales growth, buy now, pay later adoption, payment processing expansion, and Brinks' acquisition of NCR Atleos' ATM business. If you're an ISO or agent looking for new ways to create value and expand beyond traditional processing, this episode highlights a compelling path forward.

Are your Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) building a path to wealth, or are they an accidental tax trap? In this episode of The Abundance Mindset, Ben and Andrew dive into the high-stakes world of ISOs. They break down the terminology, the tax advantages, and the key strategies used to optimize these grants. ISOs offer some of the best tax benefits in equity compensation—but only if you understand the rules. From managing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) to navigating the 90-day rule when leaving a company, we cover the essential levers you need to pull.

Payments is full of noise: legacy processors, vendor sprawl, duplicate onboarding, and merchants who just want their money faster. We cut through it by showing a pragmatic path from point products to a unified embedded finance stack that actually scales. With Jaris founder and CEO Chris Aristides and VP of Platform Partnerships Matt Thomas, we unpack why “foundation first” beats bolt-on every time and how to make it work across multiprocessor portfolios without ripping out your core.We start with the playbook behind winners like Square and Stripe: remove complexity, unify the experience, and make multi-product adoption effortless. Then we translate that into the realities of processors and ISOs. Chris explains the banking backbone - independent RTN, sponsor bank alignment, and vertically integrated ledgers—that makes settlement reliable and compliant. Matt breaks down managed settlement as the key unlock: a dynamic funding layer that normalizes Fiserv, TSYS, Worldpay, and Elavon flows, enabling split settlement, instant payouts, and automated loan repayment without custom builds for each backend.From there we stack the products merchants actually use. Lending remains a high-margin anchor with powerful retention, while instant payouts reach a far larger share of the base with a clean pay-as-you-use model that works on weekends and holidays. High-yield savings ties it together for cash management, all delivered through one onboarding, one golden merchant record, and a white-labeled UI that honors sub-ISO relationships and trust. The result is tangible: fewer forms, faster activation, clearer visibility for ops, and a material lift in retention and revenue.If you lead partnerships, product, or operations at a processor or ISO, this conversation gives you a concrete framework to touch the other 95 percent of your merchants, modernize onboarding, and launch new revenue lines through a single integration. Subscribe, share this episode with your team, and leave a review to tell us which product you'd launch first.

What does it actually take to secure a payments company in an era of sophisticated, well-funded cybercriminals? In this first episode of The Trust Advantage Series, brought to you by Payroc, host Greg Myers sits down with David Edwards, Payroc's Senior Vice President of Information Security, for a candid and eye-opening conversation about modern cybersecurity in the payments industry.With 30 years in technology — spanning private banking, retail, and payments — David brings hard-won perspective to the questions keeping payments executives up at night. Sparked by a real-world ransomware attack on a payments company, this episode cuts through the compliance checkbox mentality to explore what genuine, operational security actually looks like.David and Greg cover a wide range of critical topics: why passing audits doesn't equal being secure, how AI has radically changed the phishing threat landscape, the three pillars of identity and vulnerability management, and why resilience — not prevention — is the new gold standard. David also breaks down Payroc's layered approach to ransomware defense, how the company integrates acquired platforms without creating security gaps, and the right questions ISVs, ISOs, banks, and merchants should be asking their payment partners.Whether you're a developer, a risk officer, or a business owner processing transactions, this episode delivers a masterclass in why security isn't just an IT issue — it's everyone's job.

The payments industry is shifting, and for ISOs, the future increasingly belongs to software. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd sits down with David Robinson, CEO of MyDevTeam, to discuss how payment companies and agents can transition from traditional processing models into software-driven businesses. They break down what it really takes to build technology, how ISOs can identify opportunities within their merchant base, and why vertical software and integrated solutions are becoming essential for long-term growth. They also explore the realities of software development, common misconceptions about AI, investment expectations, and the massive valuation upside of becoming a technology-driven organization. Plus, Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment covers buy now, pay later trends, surcharging debates, ATM fraud, and major industry developments impacting merchants and payment professionals. If you want to understand where merchant services is headed, and how to stay competitive, this episode is a must-listen.

In this first episode of a new series on the Leaders in Payments podcast, host Greg Myers sits down with Chris Aristides, Founder and CEO of Jaris, to explore what it truly takes for payments companies and ISOs to remain competitive as the market shifts toward owned, embedded finance experiences.Chris brings an unconventional background to the payments world, having spent 22 years in the hedge fund industry as an analyst and portfolio manager before making the move into building a company. The conversation begins with the origin story of Jaris, which set out to bring a Square Capital-style lending product to the broader payments market. Rather than following the typical merchant cash advance route, Chris made the deliberate choice to build on a bank-backed model with a modern tech stack, prioritising regulatory alignment and a foundation flexible enough to eventually expand into multi-product banking services.A significant portion of the discussion centers on the complexity of working with legacy payment processors. Unlike vertical SaaS platforms, which offer high conversion and seamless integration, the legacy world is fragmented, running on outdated infrastructure with no easy outlet to plug into. Jaris has spent years building around this challenge, developing its own cloud-based core and processor-agnostic settlement infrastructure to bridge that gap.Chris also addresses the broader vision, making the case that lending alone is insufficient and that engaging the full merchant base requires a suite of products including instant payouts and commercial banking. He closes by framing Jaris not as a disruptor, but as a complement to the existing infrastructure, doing the hard work the industry has long needed done.

Interchange fees are one of the largest — and most misunderstood — costs in merchant services. But new changes from Visa are reshaping how optimization works and creating new opportunities for payment professionals. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd speaks with Jeremy Layton, CEO of Verisave, about interchange optimization, Visa's new Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP), and how merchants can reduce processing costs without switching providers. They explain how interchange works, why many merchants overpay, and how real transaction data is becoming critical under Visa's new rules. The episode also explores how ISOs and agents can partner on cost reduction programs, unlock new revenue opportunities, and help larger merchants who aren't looking to switch processors. Plus, Patti Murphy's Today in Payments segment covers major industry developments including Europe's move toward a new payment network, rapid growth from Toast and Zelle, and emerging payment innovations. If you're a merchant sales agent or ISO owner looking for new ways to deliver value — and generate revenue — this episode is a must-listen.

Real-time payments are already transforming how money moves, but most payment professionals still don't understand the opportunity. In this episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd and Patti Murphy sit down with Jim Colassano, Senior Vice President at The Clearing House, to break down the RTP (Real-Time Payments) network and why instant money movement could reshape merchant settlement, cash flow, disbursements, and business payments. They discuss how payments can settle in seconds, why adoption is accelerating, and what ISOs and processors need to do now to stay competitive. The episode also includes a Today in Payments segment with Patti Murphy covering major industry news, including interchange legislation, consumer spending trends, digital wallet adoption, and emerging payment innovations. If you're a merchant sales agent, ISO owner, or payments professional, this episode will help you understand one of the biggest infrastructure shifts happening in the payments industry today.

Automated Financial Services, your partner for fast, reliable, and affordable payment processing. Whether you're taking payments at the counter, on the go, online, or through a full POS system, AFS makes it easy to get paid anywhere, anytime. They handle credit, debit, EBT, gift and loyalty cards across every industry, and touchless options available for all in-person transactions. Entrepreneurs and ISOs can even earn monthly residuals through AFS partnership opportunities. The tools are yours. The income is yours. You'll get approvals in under an hour, 24-hour equipment deployment or reprogramming, low simple rates, matched or beaten, or they pay you and 24-7 live customer service. You get the technology, rates, and support your business deserves. For a free cost analysis or rate quote, call 1-877-738-5010 or visit automatedfinancialservice.com. AFS, smart technology, real service, better business.

The first official In Search of Sunrise Live event for 2026 took place in London, a city holding deep footprints of influence in Markus Schulz's life and career. Describing the experience as a night defined by emotion, connection and transcendence, the atmosphere is captured for the Global DJ Broadcast World Tour series. This special set live from Outernet journeys through exclusive remixes, new productions and In Search of Sunrise reinterpretations, reflecting the more melodic and atmospheric side of Markus' sound. From intimate moments to peak-time release, the energy of the crowd and the spirit of ISOS combine to create a truly timeless experience.   Markus Schulz (Recorded Live from HERE at Outernet, London - January 31 2026) 01. Markus Schulz x BLR - Ten Seconds Before Sunrise 02. Robert Nickson presents RAHB - Heliopause 2025 03. Markus Schulz & Matt Fax - The New World 04. Markus Schulz - Remember This (ID Remix) 05. Tiësto & FORS - Bring Me to Life (Markus Schulz Remix) 06. Daxson - Second Sunrise 07. Ilan Bluestone presents Stoneblue featuring Emma Hewitt - Hypnotized (Markus Schulz Remix) 08. Grace - Orange (ID Remix) 09. Nemke -Stampedo 10. Giuseppe Ottaviani - Till We Meet Again 11. Daxson - While We Wait 12. BT featuring Jan Johnson - Remember (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Remix) 13. Markus Schulz presents Dakota - Faultline (ID Remix) 14. Markus Schulz - Forgotten Element 15. Shadow Assembly - Elarion 16. Duderstadt & Davey Asprey vs. Markus Schulz & Nikki Flores - We Are the Light of Muhanjala (Markus Schulz Mashup) 17. Markus Schulz - Lisbon 18. Jardin - Illuminate 19. Markus Schulz x Arkham Knights - Vanderbilt 20. Who.Is - We.Are (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Remix) 21. Mesh - Purple Haze (Dave Neven Remix) 22. Daxson - Who We Are 23. Fish56Octagon x Plastic Boy -  Silver Bath 24. Jardin - Shift 25. Markus Schulz featuring Delacey - Destiny (ID Remix) 26. Rapid Eye - Circa-Forever (Markus Schulz Down the Rabbit Hole Remix) 27. Robert Nickson - Rocket Surgery 28. Markus Schulz - Simulated 29. Markus Schulz, C-Systems & Ana Diaz - Nothing Without Me 30. Markus Schulz - Sunrise Over the Bay (Daxson Remix) 31. Markus Schulz - What Remains of Us 32. Matt Fax vs. Solarstone - Ascended Cities (Ferry Corsten Mashup)  

Send us a textI'm joined by Ryan Goldenhar and Jackie Lewis, the powerhouse duo behind Wealth with Options, a San Diego–based firm helping tech professionals make sense of equity compensation, major liquidity events, and the emotional decisions that come with sudden or complex wealth.Ryan and Jackie bring a rare combination of technical rigor and humanity to financial planning—meeting clients not just where the numbers are, but where their values, fears, ambitions, and life transitions live.Together, we unpack what equity compensation really means, why money decisions are never “just spreadsheets,” and how true wealth is ultimately about freedom, clarity, and choice.This conversation is especially relevant for tech executives navigating RSUs, ISOs, IPOs, job transitions, or the question many silently ask: “What is all this money actually for?”Important Disclosures:Jackie Lewis and Ryan Goldenhar offer investment advisory services through Mariner Platform Solutions, LLC (“MPS”), an SEC-registered investment adviser. Wealth With Options and MPS are separate, unaffiliated entities. For additional information about MPS, including fees and services, please refer to Form ADV Part 2A, which is available on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.This podcast episode includes statements by Tina Powell of Intention.ly. Intention.ly is a marketing firm that is compensated by Wealth With Options to provide marketing and related services. This compensation creates a conflict of interest, as Intention.ly has a financial incentive to promote Wealth With Options and its services. Statements made by Intention.ly should not be construed as independent or unbiased. This endorsement is not a guarantee of future results or client experience.Discussion of careers in technology companies and equity-based compensation, including stock options, is provided for general informational purposes only. Stock options and other forms of equity compensation do not guarantee wealth creation. Outcomes vary significantly based on company performance, market conditions, vesting terms, concentration risk, tax considerations, and individual circumstances.Any examples or scenarios discussed are illustrative only and should not be interpreted as indicative of typical or expected results. Nothing discussed should be construed as individualized investment, tax, legal, or employment advice, or as a recommendation to pursue any particular employment or compensation structure. Any opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.There is no assurance that any investment, plan, or strategy will be successful. Investing involves risk

It's a new year, so we're unpacking what 2026 could bring for Canada's energy sector. Host Trevor looks back at 2025, from shifting federal policy to rapid AI adoption. Then he scans the horizon: faster major project approvals, an east–west grid push, and new hydro and small modular reactor investments in Ontario. He also touches on AI-powered DER programs, battery storage, and wider support for industrial decarbonization. Plus a quick note on the podcast's new pace.   Related links   ●       Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO): https://www.ieso.ca/    ●       Save on Energy program: https://www.saveonenergy.ca/   ●       Trevor Freeman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-freeman-p-eng-8b612114   ●       Hydro Ottawa: https://hydroottawa.com/en     To subscribe using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinkenergy/id1465129405    To subscribe using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wFz7rdR8Gq3f2WOafjxpl    To subscribe on Libsyn: http://thinkenergy.libsyn.com/  --- Subscribe so you don't miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/user/hydroottawalimited Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hydroottawa  Stay in the know on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HydroOttawa  Keep up with the posts on X: https://twitter.com/thinkenergypod --- Transcript: Trevor Freeman  00:00 Welcome to a thinkenergy short hosted by me, Trevor Freeman. This is a bite sized episode designed to be a quick summary of a specific topic or idea related to the world of energy. This is meant to round out our collective understanding of the energy sector, and will complement our normal guest interview episodes. Thanks for joining and happy listening. Hi everyone, and welcome back and Happy New Year. Welcome to 2026 this is the first think energy podcast episode of this new year. Happy to be here with you. I'm your host, Trevor Freeman. So last year, we started off 2025 with a little bit of a look forward at some of the energy stories we might see throughout the year. And I think this goes without saying, 2025 was a pretty eventful year when it comes to energy and politics and all things associated with that certainly had lots of twists and turns, more than any of us expected. But I kind of think that's just the new normal in all things this during this time of history, but certainly when it comes to energy as well, I think we should just expect every year to be unexpected, lots of twists and turns. So I think the best way to start this one is to look back at some of the things we said we were keeping our eye on at the beginning of last year and see how they turned out, and see whether or not our predictions or guesses were correct and kind of what happened throughout the year. So just for a little bit of context, when we recorded this episode last year, Justin Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister at the time, had just resigned the leadership of the party and as prime minister. So we knew that a new leader was coming for the Liberal Party, and likely a federal election was on the horizon. And at the time, the Conservative Party in Canada was much more popular with voters according to polls, and it looked very much like there would be a new government, a new federal government, but that is not what happened. And I'm sure Canadians will know that is not what happened. So after Justin Trudeau resigned, the liberals climbed in the polls. They chose Mark Carney to lead them, and not long after they won the election. Now in the episode last year, I had said that should the Liberals stay in power, which seemed like a long shot at the time, but should the Liberals stay in power? We knew what their energy policy was. They would keep the carbon the price on carbon. They would invest, continue to invest, in clean energy infrastructure and continue working towards their net zero goals. They had been working on that that was kind of a main pillar of the liberal party's approach to governing, and that felt like a safe bet. But even that did not come to pass. On his first day in office, Mark Carney canceled the price on carbon, and soon after that, he paused the previous government's EV target, or target to achieve certain sales on electric vehicles, and just recently, he has signed an MOU to work with Alberta on a new bitumen pipeline. So that is a little bit different than what we expected, should a Liberal government continue? So why is all this happening? Well, this, this isn't a politics podcast, so we're not going to get into all the specifics, but plainly stated, the government is saying they want to position Canada as a leader, both in clean energy, but also economically. And there are some economic pressures that the government is under, and this is what they are saying that is the best way to move forward in that so we'll get to some of the outlook on the new government, or not so new anymore government, but the current government shortly. But let's have a look at some of the other things that we said might happen for 2025 last year, we noted that utility companies would likely continue to use AI to streamline their processes and monitor infrastructure and just really take more advantage of AI. Personally, I can say that AI has moved forward in ways that we couldn't even predict last year, at least that, you know I couldn't predict last year. I'm sure there's folks out there who totally saw where this saw where this was going, but AI really is taking off in our personal lives, certainly in the workspace and definitely in the utility space as well. So we saw some of that come true, but we also see that AI is capable of way more than that in the energy sector, like all sectors of the economy and all areas of society are really looking at new ways to use AI and figure out what's the best way to integrate this into our business. How do we take this from pilot projects to, you know, actual core parts of our business? So that's continuing for sure. We also said that electricity companies or utility companies would continue to invest in. Grid modernization, and that certainly is happening. In August of 2025 the federal government announced a plan to spend over $13 million to update Ontario's power grid, with five major projects on the horizon, which is a huge investment, and investment of this size is really intended to make the system more reliable and help manage projected electricity demand. And you know the other thing, and I'm sure I've talked about this before on other episodes, so you'll be aware that hydro Ottawa is still in the in the process of getting approval for our next five-year plan, which has big investment in reliability and modernization and supporting continued electrification. And of course, we talked a little bit about the trade conflicts with the US, and you know how Canada is responding to that. And certainly, that was a major piece of 2025 it really formed a lot of the policy, or influenced a lot of the policy of both our federal government as well as provincial government when it comes to energy projects, it's increasing that look kind of east to west, rather than north to south. So making sure that we have good interprovincial energy cooperation and collaboration. And certainly, we've saw some progress on that throughout 2025 so on the sort of provincial side of politics, again, I'm in Ontario here, so we had suggested that we would likely see a provincial election in 2025 and certainly that's exactly what happened. The Ontario Conservative Party won another mandate, and part of their approach since they've come back into power, or one that new mandate is to look to expand clean energy, look to expand our nuclear fleet in particular. And we'll talk a little bit more about this in a little bit. So that's kind of a summary of the 2025 outlook that we did a year ago. Now let's get into what might we see moving forward in 2026 and again, you know, just the caveat here, this isn't a politics podcast. This is strictly about energy. So going to try not to weigh in on one side or the other of some of these issues, just highlighting what we might see moving forward. So, first off, major projects. So in 2025, this sort of newly elected Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, founded the major projects office. This department looks to streamline the approval process for what they consider nation building projects. You know, trying to help take the approval process for those projects to be like a two-year decision rather than a five year decision under that kind of previous process that it went through. On the website for this the Liberal Party states that they open the major projects office in part to build clean energy infrastructure quickly, and of the 11 nation building projects that they've announced so far, they are categorizing eight of those 11 as clean economy projects. On top of these, Mark Kearney reiterated his commitment to building an East West electricity grid, which would link those our provinces together and help, like I said earlier, help that flow of electricity east to west, you know, between provinces improve, rather than, you know, right now, we have a lot of great north south connections between us and the United States. So the intent is that these projects will really position Canada as a leader in clean energy, help us achieve our own carbon reduction and net zero goals and ensure that we can manage growing demand for electricity. So we're in very early days of those projects yet, and what I'm highlighting here is that we expect to see a lot more information about those projects, about how they're going to proceed, timelines, etc, during the course of this year, and likely even see some new ones get added to that to that current list. So speaking of major projects, our next item that we're keeping an eye on is the Alberta to BC pipeline. This definitely has been a big news item in the latter part of 2025 and as we move into 2026 we expect to see a lot more about it and hear a lot more about it. So near the end of 2025 the federal government smart Carney signed an agreement with Alberta's Premier. Alberta's government, led by Danielle Smith, and this agreement acknowledges the plan to collaborate on and expedite the approval process for a new pipeline, which will transport oil from Alberta to the coast of BC. And the federal government is calling this a nation building project, and it would streamline the review process for this pipeline. So really make it a lot easier to get through the various hurdles in order to actually be built. And sort of initial timelines are saying Construction is expected to start in 2029 So still a few years out. But this pipeline was controversial before the agreement was signed. So this pipe. China has been on the books, or, you know, in the plans for a while, and it was controversial to start with, and this agreement has, you know, only made it more so it was really skyrocketed this project into the public's eye, and there's a lot of controversy around it. Once the announcement went public, Liberal MP, Stephen Gilbeau resigned from the Prime Minister's cabinet citing the government's decision to walk back their climate commitments. So this is definitely controversial, mainly because a new pipeline will increase fossil fuel production by, you know, at least a million barrels per day is sort of the current estimate, which is counter to Canada's stated target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In addition, BC's Premier, David Eby, also opposes the project, arguing that the federal government moved ahead without meaningfully considering BCS concerns British Columbia's concerns, particularly around environmental risk and the spill response on BC's sensitive coastline and on their marine ecosystem, which would be put at risk by adding another pipeline in the area that they're talking about. In addition to that, many indigenous people in BC and elsewhere stand against the pipeline, and the government is still looking for indigenous stakeholders as part of this project. Now, Mark Carney and Danielle Smith both say they want Canada to reach its net zero target by 2050 but even after the deal was signed, Alberta announced some changes to its industrial carbon pricing mechanism that, you know, in a sense, weakened that tool, which a lot of people are kind of pointing at to say, clearly, climate targets are not a key driver in consideration in this. And so this there's a weakening of the climate tools that we do have in place is not a great sign, and we'll leave it at that. So there's a few caveats to this deal. First, the pipeline is only supposed to move forward if there's real progress on carbon capture. In other words, the pipeline and large-scale climate capture are kind of being treated as a package. So in theory, you shouldn't get one without the other. But carbon capture is yet to be implemented at scale. It's not clear that it's actually a viable solution, something that can actually have a meaningful impact at that scale. So it remains to be seen whether or not that that can actually happen second. And this is a big one, the pipeline needs a private sector partner to actually build it, and nobody stepped up for that yet. So it's important to know that this agreement between the federal government and the Provincial Government of Alberta is just to help streamline the process. Should a private sector partner come along to actually build this, the federal government's not saying they're going to fund it and build it, which is sort of contrasts with how the previous Liberal government traded a pipeline many years back. But we won't get into that here. So all that to say, don't expect any actual movement or shovels in the ground on this one anytime soon. And certainly, as this progresses, there will be lots of legal challenges, and sort of you know, there are, there are people on both sides of this, but we will hear a lot more about this in 2026 it's going to be a big news story. Things are going to happen, and we'll hear both from proponents of the pipeline as well as opposition to the pipeline throughout this year, it will definitely be a big energy story here in Canada and even beyond that, Okay, next up investments in Ontario, so let's look a little bit closer to at least home. For me, on a greener note, Ontario will expand its clean energy sector in 2026 the government has announced several new partnerships with indigenous groups, including two large scale hydroelectric dams in northern Ontario. We talked a little bit about that in a previous episode, and they've also committed $4.7 billion to refurbish and update existing hydroelectric facilities to make sure that they can continue to provide clean electricity well into the future. So some of these new stations, there's the Nine Mile rapids project and the Grand Rapids project. They are coming online, you know, at a time when we really do need additional capacity on our grid. So ISO, as I've talked about many times, ISO is predicting that by 2050 we'll see a 75% increase overall in the province. But specifically in northern Ontario, demand for electricity will increase by over 80% and to meet that demand, there's, you know, this is an all tools in the toolbox. Kind of approach here, in addition to all the other great things that are happening, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, etc, we also do need more infrastructure, more generation. The government also wants to expand Ontario's nuclear fleet. This is a government that's very keen on using nuclear. Energy and expansion of our existing nuclear assets as an important tool to provide emissions free electricity. One big step that they've taken towards this goal is investing $3 billion into four small modular reactors, which will produce, you know, 1200 approximately 1200 megawatts of energy, which is a lot that's enough to power over a million homes. Construction on these started in 2025 but the reactors aren't expected to come online until 2030 but the important point is that the government is very keen, as I said, on nuclear energy, looking to expand our emissions free electricity in order to meet our growing electricity demand, but to do so in a way that still tries to approach our climate targets and make sure that we're providing emissions free energy. Okay, next step is AI we talked about this last year, and it's well, it'll be a topic of conversation for many, many years to come. So AI and electrification, lots more in store. This year, it'll be a key investment area for energy companies. Moving forward, for sure, we'll see utilities continue to use it to build smart grids, for example, to analyze the flow of electricity on their grids in real time. And hydro Ottawa is no different. We're a part of that as well. So just in the last few weeks here, at the very end of 2025 in December, the federal government announced a $6 million investment into hydro Ottawa's der accelerator program. And part of that program looks to utilize AI to help us analyze electricity demand manage it. So this program really looks to partner with customers in specific areas, areas of constraint, to leverage their own devices. So customer owned devices like smart thermostats, battery storage systems in order to help us manage electricity demand. And we'll use AI as a function of that, or as a tool to help us do that to really forecast when we need to take action and what action we can take. But AI goes well beyond that. So electrification is going to grow. Overall, electricity demand is going to grow. We're going to see more utilities looking for solutions like large scale battery storage systems in order to tackle that demand. These systems, the storage will help relieve the grid from additional stress and better utilize the infrastructure that we do have in place. So lots more to come on, the sort of next gen of technology when it comes to AI and grid mod and how we're going to use those to help manage this growing electricity demand that we're seeing Next up, and our last kind of main topic is decarbonization. So that's not anything new. Obviously, if you're listening to this podcast, you'll know that we talk about this all the time, and it's one of the main drivers of what's happening in the energy industry right now. But decarbonization continues. It's not a constant flow of progress in the same direction. There's sort of ebbs and flows, if you will. We saw lots of change on the decarbonization front in the last year, but it continues to be something that organizations need to figure out. We know that we need to decarbonize as a society. Our different sectors of the economy all need to figure out how they're going to decarbonize, and the stakeholders of that really need to figure out what their role is. So the ieso, as one of those stakeholders, has also been focusing on their own decarbonization support, but mainly Their support has been focused on transportation and building heating. But we expect there to be, you know, a bit of a broadening of that look from the ISO in 2026 looking at other sectors like mining, paper, steel, you know, cement production, refining, chemicals, etc, the list goes on. So really look to see potentially more support for others, other areas of the economy, and how they will achieve decarbonization with, you know, could be industry specific programs or initiatives. We should probably see more of that in the coming year. But that's not to diminish from the existing programs that are already in place, and we'll see more leverage of, for example, of the ISOs existing save on energy incentive programming which helps existing commercial businesses, industrial businesses, residential customers, really target energy efficiency, energy reduction in the in the decarbonization in their own lives or workplaces. So there will be continued leverage of that. Utilities will continue to promote that. So expect to see that be a big piece of 2026 so that's the areas that we've that we've identified in 2026 it'll be interesting to look back a year from now to see you know what happened? Was it in line with what we said here? What came out of the blue that we totally didn't expect? Or what was a bigger deal than. Maybe we thought it would be but really look forward to this year. We've got lots of great conversations planned with some fantastic guests, and really looking forward to exploring some of these topics. Certainly, looking for you guys to connect with us and interact with us. Send us a note, find us on social media. Think energy at hydro ottawa.com is our email address always looking for guest recommendations, topic recommendations, questions, feedback. I'd certainly love to hear from you. You might know it's a little bit of a change in how we do things in 2026 we're certainly committed to continuing to bring you great content and great guests, but we might be shifting to maybe more of a monthly format, so really focusing on bringing those experts on, giving us the time and the space to plan those episodes, to coordinate with the guests and bring you great content. So we'll be looking at one episode a month moving forward, but always happy to hear from you. So if you have thoughts on that format or again topics, guests certainly reach out. Okay, so that wraps up our first episode of the year. Like I said, really looking forward to getting into all the great content this year with you guys. Thanks for tuning in. Happy New Year, and we'll chat with you again soon. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of The think energy podcast. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and it would be great if you could leave us a review. It really helps to spread the word. To spread the word. As always, we would love to hear from you, whether it's feedback comments or an idea for a show or a guest. You can always reach us at thinkenergy@hydroottawa.com.

In this week's episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd sits down with Chris Del Grande, payments entrepreneur and ISO operator, for an in-the-weeds conversation on scaling merchant portfolios through the 1099 agent model. They break down what it really takes to grow at scale - where agents struggle, how ISOs can better support them, and why the 1099 channel remains one of the biggest opportunities heading into 2026.

As the industry shifts gears into a new year, James Shepherd sits down with Allan Noe for a timely conversation focused on growth, goal setting, and building the right partnerships to scale an ISO. Allan brings deep experience helping payments businesses grow through strategic relationships - including associations, bank referral programs, and other partnership-driven models that create long-term leverage. This episode offers practical perspective for agents and ISOs looking to start the year with clarity, prioritize the right opportunities, and think more strategically about how partnerships can accelerate growth in today's payments landscape.

As the payments industry looks toward 2026, many agents and ISOs are realizing the traditional agent model is under pressure. In this episode, James Shepherd sits down with Keith Sampson for an honest conversation about burnout, goal setting, and why chasing high splits often leads to unsustainable businesses. Keith shares lessons from building and exiting companies, navigating personal and professional burnout, and rethinking how payments fits into a larger long-term strategy. Together, they break down why the agent model is changing, how to think differently about referral versus dealer structures, and what it really takes to build lasting wealth in today's integrated payments landscape. The episode also includes a Today in Payments segment with Patti Murphy, covering timely industry news and updates not included in this interview.

This week we dig full force into some interesting listener questions. Noah talks about an open source hardware synth, and Steve walks through some of his hardware choices to help you! -- During The Show -- 00:50 Intro Weather Cooling IT rooms in winter 05:00 Printers, DVD ripping and more - James Steve has 2 brother printers Auto Duplexing Separate printer and scanner Large business grade units Ask Noah Show 368 (https://podcast.asknoahshow.com/368) All in One Brother DCP-L2640DW Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPLFTPCV) Budget Brother HL-L2460DW Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPL2N5H6) Monochrome Brother HL-6210DW Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGC9HPNH) Color Brother HL-L3280CDW Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFD1G1VT) Trouble with auto duplexing Stay away from Lexar HP printers Manually add the printer Change to Jetdirect or IP printer Pay attention to exact model or most similar When it goes wrong, it goes really wrong Your mileage may vary Canon Color Image Class LBP622Cdw Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QBR7JFV) Scanner Brother ADS-1200 Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WSJQWVQ) Containers vs Codecs MKV vs MP4 Avidemux (https://avidemux.sourceforge.net/) Ripping as ISOs vs video files MakeMKV (https://www.makemkv.com/) MakeMKV Docker Image (https://github.com/jlesage/docker-makemkv) ``` # sudo modprobe sg services: makemkv: image: ghcr.io/jlesage/makemkv:latest ports: "5800:5800" volumes: "./makemkv:/config:rw" "./storage:/storage:ro" "./output:/output:rw" security_opt: # Fix for apparmor enabled systems apparmor:unconfined environment: USER_ID=1000 GROUP_ID=1000 devices: "/dev/sr0:/dev/sr0" "/dev/sg0:/dev/sg0" ``` Christmas movies Handbrake (https://handbrake.fr/) FFmpeg (https://ffmpeg.org/) Transcoding Run controller at each site Ubiquiti Cloud Key (https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/uck-g2) Lots of problems OVH server Put basic auth in front Inbox Zero Paperless NGX (https://docs.paperless-ngx.com/) Dump to eml file then import into special Thunderbird 45:14 News Wire Firefox 146 - firefox.com (https://www.firefox.com/en-US/firefox/146.0/releasenotes/) Thunderbird 146 - thunderbird.net (https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/146.0/releasenotes/) KDE Frameworks 6.12 - kde.org (https://kde.org/info/kde-frameworks-6.21.0/) Cinnamon Desktop 6.6 - itsfoss.com (https://itsfoss.com/news/cinnamon-6-6/) Mir 2.25 - github.com (https://github.com/canonical/mir/releases/tag/v2.25.0) Rust 1.92 - blog.rust-lang.org (https://blog.rust-lang.org/2025/12/11/Rust-1.92.0/) AerynOS 2025.12 - phoronix.com (https://www.phoronix.com/news/AerynOS-2025.12) Kali Linux 2025.4 - kali.org (https://www.kali.org/blog/kali-linux-2025-4-release/) Pop!_OS 24.04 - itsfoss.com (https://itsfoss.com/news/pop-os-24-04-review/) PearOS - pearos.xyz (https://pearos.xyz) MaboxLinux 2025.12 - maboxlinux.org (https://maboxlinux.org/mabox-25-12-improvements-fixes-and-gtk2-farewell/#google_vignette) Papermoon - thenewstack.io (https://thenewstack.io/papermoon-a-space-grade-linux-for-the-newspace-era/) 01flip Ransomware - esecurityplanet.com (https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/rust-based-01flip-ransomware-hits-windows-and-linux/) React2Shell - thehackernews.com (https://thehackernews.com/2025/12/react2shell-vulnerability-actively.html) Nomos 1 - venturebeat.com (https://venturebeat.com/ai/nous-research-just-released-nomos-1-an-open-source-ai-that-ranks-second-on) Nemotron Model - reuters.com (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/nvidia-unveils-new-open-source-ai-models-amid-boom-chinese-offerings-2025-12-15/) Quilter's AI - venturebeat.com (https://venturebeat.com/ai/quilters-ai-just-designed-an-843-part-linux-computer-that-booted-on-the) Chatterbox Labs - redhat.com (https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/red-hat-acquire-chatterbox-labs-frequently-asked-questions) Agentic AI Group - hackernoon.com (https://hackernoon.com/linux-foundation-launches-agentic-ai-group-to-set-standards-for-autonomous-systems) Firefox AI Browser - phoronix.com (https://www.phoronix.com/news/Mozilla-New-CEO-AI) 47:47 Zynthian Open hardware device We want your feedback! Are you comfortable with software VST Zynthian.org (https://zynthian.org/) 50:30 Family Resistant to Self Hosting - David Ovens house hold approach Watching for pain points Making responsible path easy Making irresponsible path hard Value driven decisions Supporting where your paycheck comes from -- The Extra Credit Section -- For links to the articles and material referenced in this week's episode check out this week's page from our podcast dashboard! This Episode's Podcast Dashboard (http://podcast.asknoahshow.com/471) Phone Systems for Ask Noah provided by Voxtelesys (http://www.voxtelesys.com/asknoah) Join us in our dedicated chatroom #GeekLab:linuxdelta.com on Matrix (https://element.linuxdelta.com/#/room/#geeklab:linuxdelta.com) -- Stay In Touch -- Find all the resources for this show on the Ask Noah Dashboard Ask Noah Dashboard (http://www.asknoahshow.com) Need more help than a radio show can offer? 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In this week's episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd sits down with Juan Ortiz for a motivating and strategy-packed conversation on setting goals for 2026 and choosing the right vertical. Juan shares practical guidance for agents and ISOs on how to focus, niche down, and build a plan that actually drives measurable growth in the coming year. Together, they dig into the challenges reps face today and the mindset shifts needed to win in an increasingly verticalized payments landscape. After the interview, James and Patti Murphy bring you another Today in Payments update, offering a quick look at what's happening across the industry right now.

#257: We break down essential tax and financial decisions to make before year-end. Learn how to maximize deductions, optimize charitable giving, manage investment gains and losses, and take advantage of retirement and home-improvement credits. We also run through all the credit card, points and miles deadlines to hit before 12/31. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/end-of-year-financial-checklist-2025 Partner Deals Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Aura Frames: $35 off the best digital frames with code ALLTHEHACKS DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Chris' End of Year Checklist for Taxes, Points & Miles Carry Solo 401k Kick (20% off your first year of bookkeeping with code CHRIS20) Invest America Kids Savings & Investment Accounts Hotel Mattress Run CardPointers Pro (50% off here) Use Your Credits ATH Podcast Chris' Best Cards Page Ep 144: Leveraging Tax-Advantaged Accounts to Maximize Your Wealth with Katie Gatti Tassin Ep 243: Smarter Strategies for Retirement, Wealth Building, and Taxes with Michael Kitces Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:03) Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing (03:02) The New SALT Cap & Property Tax Strategy (05:02) Pass-Through Entity Taxes for Business Owners (06:07) Smart Charitable Giving Strategies (07:07) Donating Appreciated Assets (09:18) Using Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) (14:16) Why 25-26 Changes Matter for Charitable Giving (16:14) New Car Loan Interest Deduction (18:19) Deduction for Qualified Tips & Overtime (18:34) New Senior Deduction (19:12) Shifting Income to Optimize Your Tax Bracket (20:48) Capital Gains: Loss & Gain Harvesting (22:02) Understanding the Wash Sale Rule (25:11) Advanced Tax Moves to Ask Your CPA (25:42) Key Retirement Deadlines & Contribution Limits (31:01) Roth IRA & Traditional IRA Rules (34:18) Backdoor & Mega Backdoor Roth Contributions (35:18) ISOs & Alternative Minimum Tax (36:16) FSA Essentials: Use It or Lose It (38:57) HSA Strategy & Triple-Tax Advantage (42:13) Home Efficiency & Solar Credits for 2025 (43:14) 529 Plans, Gifting Rules & Education Savings (47:37) The New “Trump Account” for Kids (48:14) Funding a Child's Roth IRA Through Earned Income (50:29) EOY Tax Moves for Business Owners (55:51) EOY Checklist for Points & Miles (01:00:32) Credit Card Annual Credits & Benefit Resets (01:03:57) Calendar-Year Credits to Use Before January (01:14:55) Final EOY Checks for Airlines, Hotels & Credit Cards Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor's Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, James Shepherd sits down with Allen Kopelman, CEO of Nationwide Payment Systems and host of the B2B Vault podcast, for a wide-ranging discussion on the biggest shifts reshaping merchant services today. From the Visa/Mastercard settlement and VAMP chargeback rules to the growing pressure on ISOs to own their tech stack, Allen shares what he's seeing firsthand — and why agents must rethink how they sell, support, and position technology to compete in 2026 and beyond. They break down the rise of processor-agnostic software, the future of hardware, the growing push for ISOs to streamline onboarding with automated funnels, and how agents can stay relevant by focusing on the right verticals, the right partners, and the right products. After the interview, James and Patti Murphy dive into a new Today in Payments, breaking down fresh data on holiday spending, the continued rise of Buy Now, Pay Later, and the growing momentum behind real-time payments like RTP and FedNow—and how they compare to legacy ACH rails.

Want a founder story that includes spreadsheets, a stint as a roadie, an Atlantic crossing, and a will-signing party that packed the room? Meet Shane Mason of Brooklyn FI — a CPA/CFP who went from Big Four tax to touring life, then teamed up with AJ to build a 20-person advisory firm rooted in transparency, productized service, and genuine hospitality.We dig into the early days: running a tax practice out of a bar booth, pricing low to get at-bats, and taking weekend prospect meetings to sharpen the offer. Shane explains why he and AJ decided from day one to build an enterprise rather than a lifestyle practice, documenting workflows so every client gets the same quality of service no matter who's in the seat. That mindset shaped their hiring, retention, and their eventual shift from serving creatives to working with tech employees navigating ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, and liquidity events.The conversation gets practical fast. Shane shares why most equity compensation issues are really tax issues, why offering refunds can be a reputation-saving move, and how turning estate planning into a social, notarized event helps clients finally take action. We also explore the difference between small giants and scalable firms, the value of serialized advice, and what happens when founders step back from client work to rethink the business. Plus, a look at Gemifi, the fintech platform Brooklyn FI built to help advisors visualize vesting schedules and future balance sheets.If you're building or scaling an RIA, this episode is full of hard-won insights on niches, processes, client experience, and leading through growth.Shane's Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanemasoncpacfp/

As 2025 comes to a close, we're here to help you make the most of year-end tax planning. I'm explaining seven actionable strategies to help you minimize your tax liability and optimize your retirement savings before the New Year.  From maximizing retirement plan contributions and exploring Roth conversion opportunities to using donor-advised funds for charitable giving and getting the most from your health savings accounts, this episode is packed with practical advice. The insights I'm sharing in this episode will guide you through the essential moves you need to consider before December 31st.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [00:00] Year-end retirement contribution tips. [04:07] Mega Backdoor Roth IRA strategy. [08:51] Maximizing charitable tax benefits. [12:19] Year-end tax savings key insights. [16:24] Maximize HSA contributions strategically. 7 Essential Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for 2025 When the end of the year approaches, savvy savers and future retirees know it's prime time to make smart financial moves. Here are my top seven actionable steps you can take before December 31st, and even a few after, to set yourself up for retirement success and optimize your tax situation.  1. Max Out Your Retirement Contributions For 2025, the maximum contribution is $23,500 if you're under 50 and $31,000 if you're over 50 (including a $7,500 catch-up). Contributing up to these limits reduces your taxable income for the year and boosts your nest egg for retirement, especially important if you're at your career's earnings peak. But don't wait! Corporate payroll deadlines mean these contributions typically need to be made by year's end. Self-employed individuals might have a little longer, but now is the best time to act. Setting yourself up for the new, higher 2026 limits can also help you keep your savings momentum going. 2. Utilize the Mega Backdoor Roth IRA High earners who make too much for direct Roth IRA contributions aren't out of options. The "Mega Backdoor Roth" strategy lets you contribute after-tax dollars beyond the standard 401(k) limits, then convert those funds into a Roth IRA or a Roth 401(k). For 2025, total contribution limits (including after-tax) can be as high as $77,500 if you're over 50. This powerful move can supercharge your retirement savings with the potential for decades of tax-free growth. However, not all employer plans allow in-plan conversions, so check with your HR department to explore your options. 3. Consider Roth Conversions A Roth conversion involves moving pre-tax money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth account. You'll owe taxes on the conversion, but if you're in a low tax bracket this year, or expect to be in a higher one later, converting now could pay off substantially in future tax savings. Even small conversions ($10,000 - $20,000) can be beneficial if kept in lower tax brackets.  4. Maximize Charitable Contributions Using Donor-Advised Funds Charitable giving is generous, but it's also an opportunity to optimize taxes. Since the standard deduction now exceeds what many typically give, "bunching" several years' worth of donations into a single year using a donor-advised fund can allow you to itemize and increase your deduction. For example, funding three years of donations at once could push your deductions over the standard threshold, providing a greater tax benefit. 5. Review Stock Options for Tax Efficiency If you have stock options, especially non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options (ISOs), year-end is an ideal time to review their tax impact. Exercising during a low-income year can mean paying less tax on gains. ISOs, when held beyond the required periods, can qualify for long-term capital gains tax rates. Each type of stock option has distinct rules and opportunities for savings, so analyze your position before acting. 6. Use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) Before They Expire FSAs allow you to pay for medical expenses with pre-tax dollars, saving you the equivalent of your combined federal and state tax rates (often ~30%). For 2025, you can contribute up to $3,300. Remember: FSAs are "use it or lose it," so spend down your balance, or you risk forfeiting unspent dollars, with only a limited carryover allowed. Also consider dependent care FSAs if you have eligible expenses. 7. Maximize Your Health Savings Account (HSA) HSAs are financial powerhouses, offering triple tax benefits: contributions are deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are untaxed. The 2025 limits are $4,300 for singles and $8,550 for families, plus an extra $1,000 catch-up if you're over 55. Make sure employer contributions are factored into your personal limit, and if both spouses are eligible, consider separate accounts for maximum catch-up savings. Year-end tax planning is your chance to make meaningful progress toward retirement readiness and tax efficiency. Whether you're maximizing workplace plans, exploring Roth opportunities, leveraging charitable strategies, or optimizing account contributions, each move can compound into significant long-term benefits.  Resources Mentioned Retirement Readiness Review Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel Download my entire book for FREE  Charles Schwab Fidelity Vanguard Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact   Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

In this value-packed episode of Allworth's Money Matters, Scott and Pat unpack key financial strategies for high-net-worth investors navigating today's markets. From the overlooked need for regular portfolio rebalancing to smart planning for concentrated executive stock, they break down real-world scenarios with millions at stake. You'll hear a listener case involving $7M in assets, HSA withdrawal tactics, and 529 planning for seven grandkids—all through the lens of tax-smart wealth transfer. Plus, expert insights from Allworth's Head of Wealth Planning, Victoria Bogner, on avoiding massive tax traps with RSUs, ISOs, and stock options. Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain live on-air! Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at questions@moneymatters.com. Download and rate our podcast here.

In this week's episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd shares a replay from a recent live event with partners at TCG, diving deep into today's high-risk landscape—and why VAMP is creating massive disruption for Shopify merchants. James breaks down what high-risk accounts really are, how VAMP is triggering holds and shutdowns across Shopify, and why this shift is driving a surge of merchants urgently seeking new processing options. You'll also hear insights on how agents and ISOs can capture these opportunities by leveraging the Full Stack Payments app in partnership with TCG. After the replay, stick around for Today in Payments with James and Patti Murphy as they unpack the latest industry headlines, including major developments around the Visa–Mastercard settlement and other news shaping the week.

Today's guest is Bill Smart. Bill is a sport scientist and physical preparation coach specializing in elite fight-sports performance. As the founder of Smarter Performance and the Strength & Conditioning lead for the CORE MMA team, Bill integrates cutting-edge evidence with real-world high-performance systems to enable combat athletes to show up on fight day in optimal physiological condition. Much of the conversation in sports performance hinges on speed and power development, or conditioning, as a stand-alone conversation. Sport itself is dynamic and combines elements of speed, strength, and endurance in a dynamic space. Training should follow the same considerations to be truly alive and effective. In the episode, Bill shares his journey from cycling and rowing to combat sports. He discusses how long isometric holds develop both physical and mental resilience, and their implementation in his programming. The conversation dives into muscle-oxygen dynamics, integrating ISOs with conditioning, and how testing shapes his approach. Bill also explores flywheel eccentrics, fascicle-length development, and why sprinting is a key element for maintaining elastic power in elite fighters. Today's episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and the Just Fly Sports Online Courses 30-50% off all courses until December 1, 2025. (https://justflysports.thinkific.com) Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer Use code “justfly20” for 20% off of LILA Exogen Wearable resistance gear at www.lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 0:00 – Bill's coaching journey and early mentors 6:04 – The importance of movement observation and intuition 11:35 – Why athletes plateau and how to identify limiting factors 20:42 – Strength training principles that actually transfer 30:01 – Using movement variability and play in training 40:36 – Coaching communication and creating connection 52:09 – The role of curiosity and creativity in coaching longevity 1:00:55 – Key lessons from years of coaching experience Actionable Takeaways 6:04 – Movement observation and intuition Bill emphasizes that the best coaches develop a trained eye for movement by observing, not just testing. Watch athletes move in multiple contexts before prescribing anything. Look for how they transition between patterns, not only the end positions. Use video less for judgment and more for curiosity. What is the athlete trying to do? 11:35 – Identifying limiting factors Athletes plateau when coaches overemphasize one metric or capacity while ignoring the real constraint. Look beyond the weight room; technical or psychological factors often drive plateaus. Use minimal testing data to narrow focus rather than justify complexity. Sometimes the limiting factor is overcoaching. Let athletes fail and self-correct. 20:42 – Strength that transfers Transfer happens when strength work complements, not competes with, the sport's rhythm and intent. Prioritize strength that preserves elasticity and timing rather than just force output. Rotate exercises often enough to keep athletes adaptive, but not so often that they lose rhythm. Load movement patterns, not just muscles. Treat every lift as coordination under resistance. 30:01 – Variability and play in training Bill describes play as a teaching tool that restores creativity and problem-solving in athletes. Use small games, uneven surfaces, or timing constraints to build adaptable movers. Variability should be purposeful. Expand coordination bandwidth without losing technical intent. Schedule “uncoached” time in sessions where athletes explore movement freely. 40:36 – Coaching communication and connection Great coaching depends on trust and empathy before information transfer. Deliver feedback as collaboration,

As the payments landscape continues to evolve, how should ISOs, agents, and software providers approach 2026—by going all-in on vertical-specific solutions or by refining generalized offerings that can serve a wider market? In this solo episode, James Shepherd shares hard-earned insights from his experience running both CCStorage, a vertical-specific solution, and Stackably, a more generalized tech platform. He breaks down the advantages and challenges of each approach and offers practical advice on how to align your strategy for growth, innovation, and long-term success in the coming year. Whether you're building software, growing an ISO, or rethinking your 2026 roadmap, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In the second episode in our three part series titled: Focus. Build. Win, I sit down with James Derby, EVP of Merchant Facing Product at Payroc, to unpack how a core product strategy transformed scattered tools into a focused growth engine for partners and merchants. Instead of mastering dozens of third‑party options, the team picked a few products to go deep on, built vertical features that matter, and tightened the feedback loop from sales floor to roadmap.James walks through Roc Terminal+ for broad processing needs, Roc Giving for nonprofits, and Roc Services for field service teams, including a new scheduling component aimed at competing upmarket. The thread tying it all together is software-led sales: lead with the operational win and let payments follow. That shift brings faster deployments, better support, and real economics for ISOs and agents, with an 8–11% margin lift on new core placements and lower attrition as support improves. Owning the gateway and settlement stack gives Payroc the control to integrate acquisitions, standardize security, and ship features at speed without vendor drag.We also get into the commercialization playbook: building a business case with sales input, targeting underserved MCCs, choosing build vs. white label, and running disciplined pilots before GA. Post‑launch, James emphasizes data, not vibes - tracking adoption, revenue, support quality, and direct merchant feedback to keep product-market fit tight. Looking forward, tap to pay continues to rise, standalone terminals slowly recede, and consolidation among large processors creates room for agile teams that ship vertical SaaS with integrated payments.If you care about turning product focus into partner success, this conversation delivers practical detail you can use.

This week on the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd revisits a topic many thought was long gone — leasing. With today's advanced and often expensive POS hardware, leasing is once again becoming a smart tool for ISOs and agents to close deals and increase adoption. James sits down with Robert Ensminger to discuss modern leasing strategies, real-world use cases, and how to position leasing as part of a profitable merchant services offering. They break down what's changed, what still works, and how agents can use leasing to drive portfolio growth. After the interview, James and Patti Murphy tackle this week's top headlines in their Today in Payments segment. Check out the latest blog post from Today in Payments: https://todayinpayments.com/blog/ai-bnpl-and-the-future-of-payments

Don't miss the replay of our live event where James Shepherd, Jon Shirey, and Gabe Pinchev introduced a powerful new opportunity for agents and ISOs: reselling FieldPulse through the Full Stack Payments app. You'll see how FieldPulse helps contractors in industries like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical manage scheduling, invoicing, and payments—all in one simple platform. With full dual pricing support and a native QuickBooks integration, it's a complete solution for busy service businesses. We also covered how to position FieldPulse with prospects, set demos, and grow long-term residuals through the Full Stack ecosystem. If you're looking to break into the trades and boost your portfolio, this is a must-watch. Also, don't miss the latest Today in Payments episode with Patti Murphy. Check out the blog post here: https://todayinpayments.com/blog/rtp-growth-aws-disruptions-and-a-mobile-wallet-showdown

The Articulate Fly delivers timely central Pennsylvania fishing insights with George Costa from TCO Fly Shop in State College, covering the transition into fall conditions across the region. As water levels drop and the first frost arrives, Costa breaks down technical nymphing strategies that are producing results in low, clear water—emphasizing 6-7x tippet and precise presentations during limited afternoon bite windows. Anglers will learn why small flies and long leaders are outperforming standard approaches, which fall hatches are still active (Octobers, olives and sporadic Isos) and when to expect terrestrial patterns to fade. Costa also previews the upcoming steelhead season, explaining how the forecasted rain will activate fish migration in Pennsylvania's Lake Erie tributaries, and discusses why dropping temperatures should trigger the streamer bite for aggressive brown trout. Whether you're targeting technical trout in State College spring creeks or preparing for Great Lakes steelhead, this report provides actionable intelligence for fall fly fishing success in central PA.Related ContentS6, Ep 129: TCO Fly Shop's George Costa Discusses Prime Fall Fishing ConditionsS6, Ep 118: Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and TacticsS6, Ep 138: Central PA Fishing Report with George CostaS5, Ep 145: Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly ShopAll Things Social MediaFollow TCO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck?Check out our

In this week's episode, James Shepherd takes listeners behind the curtain of a new strategic partnership between Netevia and Stackably—a collaboration designed to target three highly specific verticals through custom-built technology and focused marketing. James is joined by Ben Shirey, who leads Stackably, and Isail Flores from Netevia, who brings more than a decade of experience working in these verticals. Together, they break down how this partnership came together, what makes it unique, and how ISOs and tech companies can think differently about vertical specialization in payments. While this is not part of Stackably's reseller channel, the conversation offers a rare look into the kind of strategic deals shaping the next generation of payment partnerships. Interested in learning more about how Netevia supports innovation in payments? Visit netevia.com/ccsalespro. Check out the latest Today in Payments blog post: https://todayinpayments.com/blog/cash-loyalty-digital-gifting-and-crypto-warnings

Join host Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast for a timely Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College. With low, clear water conditions dominating Central PA streams, George breaks down the technical adjustments anglers need to make right now—long leaders, lighter tippets and smaller flies are essential for success. Learn which patterns are producing in these challenging conditions, from terrestrial dry droppers with hoppers, beetles and crickets to productive hatches like Tricos, Isos and October Caddis on waters like Penns Creek. George reveals the key depth strategy for finding fish in current conditions, targeting deeper slots of one to two feet where trout are holding. Get the inside scoop on approaching steelhead season with fish already stacking at tributary mouths, plus details on TCO's fall fly tying classes and steelhead instruction. Whether you're fishing Central PA's freestone streams or planning your steelhead tactics, this report delivers actionable intelligence for October fishing conditions.Related ContentS7, Ep 70 - The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George CostaS6, Ep 118 - Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and TacticsS6, Ep 138 - Central PA Fishing Report with George CostaS5, Ep 145 - Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly ShopAll Things Social MediaFollow TCO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck?Check out our

Paul Thurrott reports live from Maui with exciting details on Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon X2 Elite chip and how it could shake up the PC world, while behind the scenes, Microsoft quietly drifts further from OpenAI just as an NVIDIA mega-deal makes headlines. Is Windows about to get its biggest reboot in years, and can ARM finally topple Intel? Windows 25H2 is imminent: The real ISOs and eKBs are here! Paul's Arm-based trip to Mexico and Arm-based Apple-tastic experience at Snapdragon Summit And yet. It's Week D. And we didn't get any preview updates (for 24H2) Windows AI Labs is a thing If you're migrating from Windows 10 get a Windows 11 on Arm PC, Microsoft suggests New AI features coming to Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool New Dev and Beta (and Canary) builds: Click to Do translation, Share with Copilot, Accounts management improvements AI The Microsoft/OpenAI rift widens yet again NVIDIA invests $100 billion in OpenAI, days after "investing" $5 billion in Intel Intel will keep making its own GPUs because who gives a crap Microsoft is bringing Anthropic Claude to Microsoft 365 Copilot - "Model choice" Microsoft reportedly trying to pay publishers for content used by AI Microsoft Teams is getting more agents Google Chrome is getting a major AI update Snapdragon Summit 2025 6G, AI as the new UI, glasses as the next wave, Android PCs out of nowhere X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme (with up to 18 cores for ultra-premium PCs) 3rd Gen Oryon CPU (X2 was 1st gen, last year's phone chip was G2) 75 percent faster CPU perf than competition at ISO power First Arm chip to hit 5+ GHz New Adreno GPU architecture with 2.3x perf per watt and power efficiency over previous gen Hexagon NPU with 80 TOPS for "concurrent AI experiences" on Copilot+ PCs Supports latest 5G SD X75 modem, Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 75 percent faster CPU perf than competition at ISO power Bad news: First half of 2026 availability Not in the press release: The secret of why X2 Elite Extreme is so fast Xbox Microsoft raises Xbox console prices for the second time in 2025 Here comes the Gaming Copilot on Windows 11 Google is copying it on Android and bringing Android and native games to Windows now Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Think of 1 story for everyone you care about App pick of the week: Notion 3.0 RunAs Radio this week: Managing Vendor Incidents with Mandi Walls Brown liquor pick of the week: High Coast Whisky Quercus IV Mongolica Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com/twit uscloud.com cachefly.com/twit

Paul Thurrott reports live from Maui with exciting details on Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon X2 Elite chip and how it could shake up the PC world, while behind the scenes, Microsoft quietly drifts further from OpenAI just as an NVIDIA mega-deal makes headlines. Is Windows about to get its biggest reboot in years, and can ARM finally topple Intel? Windows 25H2 is imminent: The real ISOs and eKBs are here! Paul's Arm-based trip to Mexico and Arm-based Apple-tastic experience at Snapdragon Summit And yet. It's Week D. And we didn't get any preview updates (for 24H2) Windows AI Labs is a thing If you're migrating from Windows 10 get a Windows 11 on Arm PC, Microsoft suggests New AI features coming to Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool New Dev and Beta (and Canary) builds: Click to Do translation, Share with Copilot, Accounts management improvements AI The Microsoft/OpenAI rift widens yet again NVIDIA invests $100 billion in OpenAI, days after "investing" $5 billion in Intel Intel will keep making its own GPUs because who gives a crap Microsoft is bringing Anthropic Claude to Microsoft 365 Copilot - "Model choice" Microsoft reportedly trying to pay publishers for content used by AI Microsoft Teams is getting more agents Google Chrome is getting a major AI update Snapdragon Summit 2025 6G, AI as the new UI, glasses as the next wave, Android PCs out of nowhere X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme (with up to 18 cores for ultra-premium PCs) 3rd Gen Oryon CPU (X2 was 1st gen, last year's phone chip was G2) 75 percent faster CPU perf than competition at ISO power First Arm chip to hit 5+ GHz New Adreno GPU architecture with 2.3x perf per watt and power efficiency over previous gen Hexagon NPU with 80 TOPS for "concurrent AI experiences" on Copilot+ PCs Supports latest 5G SD X75 modem, Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 75 percent faster CPU perf than competition at ISO power Bad news: First half of 2026 availability Not in the press release: The secret of why X2 Elite Extreme is so fast Xbox Microsoft raises Xbox console prices for the second time in 2025 Here comes the Gaming Copilot on Windows 11 Google is copying it on Android and bringing Android and native games to Windows now Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Think of 1 story for everyone you care about App pick of the week: Notion 3.0 RunAs Radio this week: Managing Vendor Incidents with Mandi Walls Brown liquor pick of the week: High Coast Whisky Quercus IV Mongolica Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com/twit uscloud.com cachefly.com/twit

Paul Thurrott reports live from Maui with exciting details on Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon X2 Elite chip and how it could shake up the PC world, while behind the scenes, Microsoft quietly drifts further from OpenAI just as an NVIDIA mega-deal makes headlines. Is Windows about to get its biggest reboot in years, and can ARM finally topple Intel? Windows 25H2 is imminent: The real ISOs and eKBs are here! Paul's Arm-based trip to Mexico and Arm-based Apple-tastic experience at Snapdragon Summit And yet. It's Week D. And we didn't get any preview updates (for 24H2) Windows AI Labs is a thing If you're migrating from Windows 10 get a Windows 11 on Arm PC, Microsoft suggests New AI features coming to Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool New Dev and Beta (and Canary) builds: Click to Do translation, Share with Copilot, Accounts management improvements AI The Microsoft/OpenAI rift widens yet again NVIDIA invests $100 billion in OpenAI, days after "investing" $5 billion in Intel Intel will keep making its own GPUs because who gives a crap Microsoft is bringing Anthropic Claude to Microsoft 365 Copilot - "Model choice" Microsoft reportedly trying to pay publishers for content used by AI Microsoft Teams is getting more agents Google Chrome is getting a major AI update Snapdragon Summit 2025 6G, AI as the new UI, glasses as the next wave, Android PCs out of nowhere X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme (with up to 18 cores for ultra-premium PCs) 3rd Gen Oryon CPU (X2 was 1st gen, last year's phone chip was G2) 75 percent faster CPU perf than competition at ISO power First Arm chip to hit 5+ GHz New Adreno GPU architecture with 2.3x perf per watt and power efficiency over previous gen Hexagon NPU with 80 TOPS for "concurrent AI experiences" on Copilot+ PCs Supports latest 5G SD X75 modem, Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 75 percent faster CPU perf than competition at ISO power Bad news: First half of 2026 availability Not in the press release: The secret of why X2 Elite Extreme is so fast Xbox Microsoft raises Xbox console prices for the second time in 2025 Here comes the Gaming Copilot on Windows 11 Google is copying it on Android and bringing Android and native games to Windows now Tips and Picks Tip of the week: Think of 1 story for everyone you care about App pick of the week: Notion 3.0 RunAs Radio this week: Managing Vendor Incidents with Mandi Walls Brown liquor pick of the week: High Coast Whisky Quercus IV Mongolica Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: threatlocker.com/twit uscloud.com cachefly.com/twit

As summer memories begin to fade and a new season arrives, Markus Schulz marks the transition with a special two-hour studio session on Global DJ Broadcast. Designed to provide motivation and escape for those returning to work, or starting a new year at school or college, the mix blends some of the hottest current favorites with highlights from In Search of Sunrise 21 and a few unexpected flashbacks. The journey travels across progressive, melodic house, techno, and trance - culminating in an emotional finale to carry you into the autumn months ahead.   In Search of Sunrise 21 Mix 1: The Awakening and Mix 2: The Nirvana, are available to stream now. Mix 3: The Nocturnal Voyage, will be released on Wednesday September 17; with limited edition CD and vinyl editions of ISOS 21 released on the same day.   Tracklist:   01. Markus Schulz - The New World (Matt Fax Remix) 02. Ferry Corsten & HALIENE - Wherever You Are (Hel:sløwed Remix) 03. Jerome Isma-Ae - Rise (Jerome's Discothèque Mix) 04. Mike EFEX - The Unseen Path 05. Kaufmann - Broncho's Sandman 06. KASIA & Ayla - Ayla 07. Bart Skils & Weska - Torn Clouds 08. Davey Asprey presents Kaimira & Poly Powder - Echoes of the Future (Markus Schulz In Search of Sunrise Rework) 09. John Summit featuring MKLA - Fade Out 10. Wehbba - Symmetry 11. Dave Neven - Redemption 12. Yahel & Victor Ruiz - Liquid Love 13. DIM3NSION & Daxson - Ardora 14. Markus Schulz - What Remains of Us 15. Veerus - Mind Body Soul 16. HI-LO & Tai Woffinden - The Orange Theme 17. Teenage Mutants & Replay M - Vertigo 18. Morees - Depths of Your Mind 19. Space Frog - X-Ray (Follow Me) (Charles D Remix) 20. The Thrillseekers - Synaesthesia (UMEK Remix) 21. Robert Nickson presents RAHB - Heliopause 2025 22. London Grammar - You and I (Patrick Topping Remix)] 23. Markus Schulz x Paul Oakenfold - Pendulum 24. Silva City - Eternal 25. Stoneface & Terminal - Echoscape 26. Rodd-y-ler - Lifesigns (Bryan Kearney Remix) 27. Markus Schulz - Sunrise Over the Bay 28. Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Roman Messer - Millennium Falcon 29. Daxson - Perpetuity  

Back in World Tour mode on Global DJ Broadcast, and this one holds extra meaning. Not only are we reliving a magical day at one of the most cherished events in the scene, but it also marks the release of something deeply personal - In Search of Sunrise 21: The Awakening. The set was recorded live from the mainstage at Luminosity Beach Festival 2025 in Bloemendaal, the Netherlands, where Markus had the honor of having the Saturday evening slot; as the sun began to fade. With fans from all corners of the globe united by music, Luminosity remains a yearly highlight. As a special bonus, the episode also includes a 30-minute studio mix showcasing music from ISOS 21: The Awakening, which is available now.   Markus Schulz (Recorded Live from Luminosity Beach Festival - June 28 2025) 01. ID 02. Markus Schulz - The New World (Matt Fax Remix) 03. Robert Nickson - Heliopause (ID Remix) 04. ID 05. Mark Sixma, Orjan Nilsen, Push & nilsix vs. Layton Giordani, Sarah de Warren & Linney - Act of Urban Shakedown (Markus Schulz Mashup) 06. Massano - The Lights 07. Markus Schulz & Ferry Corsten & Omnia - Loops & Tings 08. ID 09. Layton Giordani - Phantom 10. ID 11. Markus Schulz x Pavlo Vicci vs. Age of Love - The Age of Love Will Get You Higher (Markus Schulz Mashup) 12. BT - Flaming June (PARAFRAME Remix) 13. Markus Schulz x Frankyeffe - Monolith 14. Cygnus X - Superstring (ID Remix) 15. Markus Schulz x Daxson - Frantika 16. ID 17. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo (Markus Schulz Festival Remix) 18. Miss Monique, GENESI & Carl Bee - Nomacita 19. Space Frog - X-Ray (Follow Me) (Charles D Remix) 20. abry Ponte & Jerome Isma-Ae vs. Stylo, Space Motion & Amethyst - Walk Alone, Sucker (Markus Schulz Down the Rabbit Hole Mashup) 21. Markus Schulz - Simulated 22. JOA - Chase the Sun 23. Markus Schulz featuring Ana Diaz - Nothing Without Me (ID Remix) 24. Markus Schulz - Remember This (Dream Sequence Remix) 25. ID 26. Thomas Schumacher & Technohead - The Passion 2024 27. Mark Reeve & Joyhauser - Focus (Markus Schulz Down the Rabbit Hole Reconstruction) 28. Markus Schulz - Enter the Portal   Bonus Studio Mix: 01. Markus Schulz presents Dakota - Faultline 02. Fahlberg - Transition 03. Arco - All You Want 04. Cosmic Gate & Diana Miro - Never Erase You 05. Deadmau5 - Sixes 06. Matt Fax - Spectrum 07. Markus Schulz - Liquid Night 08. Deep Dish & Eynka featuring Wrabel - Midnight  

A new era beckons for the legendary In Search of Sunrise series, details of which are exclusively revealed on the latest Global DJ Broadcast. Featured on ISOS 21: The Awakening, which can be pre-saved ahead of release on August 6, is a brand new production from Markus under his Dakota alias; with Faultline available as a full single and for playlist support from this Friday, July 25.    Daxson joins Markus for the guestmix, highlighting the release of his Trance Mission playlist featured Miracle, featuring the legendary voice of Susana.   Hope you enjoy the show.   The Essentials with Markus Schulz 01. Cristoph - Where Do We Go 02. Avicii & Elle King - Let's Ride Away (Jonas Blue Remix) 03. Chicola - Samerano [Deeper Shades] 04. Marsh - Stay 05. Markus Schulz presents Dakota - Faultline [A Moment of Sunrise] 06. Matt Fax - Spectrum 07. Solarstone & Clara Yates - Your Sacrifice [In Bloom] 08. Vintage & Morelli - Better Days 09. AYU (UA) & Remy Lights - Run for You 10. Daniel Wanrooy - Reef 11. Inner Sense - Outrage 12. Darren Tate & Sam Tate - The Start and the End of Me 13. Adam Beyer & Chris Avantgarde - Desolate Lands [Down the Rabbit Hole] 14. Laura van Dam & Q.U.A.K.E - Holding On 15. Coast 2 Coast featuring Discovery x Hel:sløwed - Home 16. Above & Beyond presents Tranquility Base - Surrender (Genix Remix) [Hall of Fame]   Daxson 01. HI-LO & Tai Woffinden - The Orange Theme 02. Push - Universal Nation (Daxson Remix) 03. Daxson & Susana - Miracle 04. Markus Schulz x Daxson x Robert Nickson - Reverence 05. Daxson - ID 06. Daxson - ID 07. Daxson - ID 08. Daxson - Aurora   Back with Markus Schulz 17. Victor Ruiz - Energy 18. Bart Skils & Weska - Torn Clouds 19. Veerus - Mind Body Soul 20. Celic & Anna May - Awakening Beat 21. Dok & Martin - Kavale 22. Wehbba - Symmetry 23. Jardin - Too Far Gone 24. Markus Schulz x Frankyeffe - Monolith