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.

In this week’s episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd welcomes back Steven Morris for a direct and practical conversation about the mistakes agents commonly make when entering the merchant services industry. Steven shares real-world insights from the front lines, what slows agents down, what causes deals to fall through, and how new reps can build a stronger foundation for long-term success. After the interview, James and Patti Murphy team up for another insightful Today in Payments, covering the latest headlines and shifts shaping the payments landscape.

In this episode, James Shepherd delivers a straightforward, easy-to-understand explanation of what credit card processing is and how it works, from the basics of authorization and settlement to the role of processors, acquirers, and merchant accounts. Whether you're new to payments or need a refresher, this is the perfect foundational guide to help you understand the moving parts behind every transaction and how they connect to merchant sales. After the lesson, stick around for Today in Payments with Patti Murphy, where James and Patti cover the latest industry headlines.

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.

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.

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

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

Don’t miss the replay of our live event where I sat down with Jon Shirey, CEO of Full Stack Payments, and Greg Olesnycky, Founder & CEO of Micros Restaurant Systems, to unveil a powerful new partnership built for the enterprise restaurant space. In this session, we explored how agents can now access high-volume and multi-location restaurant accounts that were previously out of reach—and how to turn those opportunities into long-term residual income. You’ll learn how to identify ideal prospects, position the integrated solution, and use the Full Stack Payments platform to streamline demos and deal flow. This is a must-watch for anyone looking to break into the enterprise restaurant space and build a powerful portfolio of high-value clients.

Don’t miss the replay of our live event where James Shepherd, Jon Shirey, and Ben Shirey introduced Stackably—a new brand built to help agents win and retain more merchant accounts. You’ll get a first look at Payment Stack, a simple, all-in-one solution with free hardware, software, dual pricing, and native apps for both merchants and their customers. It’s the first of many feature sets designed to help agents grow long-term, high-value residuals. Then, Patti Murphy joins James for Today in Payments with insights on the latest updates in the industry. Plus, Rich Norton shares some sales tips. If you’re ready to reduce churn and strengthen your portfolio, this is a must-watch.

Stablecoin is more than hype—it’s creating real opportunities in high-risk and e-commerce. In this episode, James Shepherd sits down with Stan Pacovsky of Payment Servers to explore how stablecoin payments are being applied today and what the future could look like. Then, Patti Murphy joins James for Today in Payments with insights on the latest industry shifts, including changes in B2B transactions and new data on surcharging. Plus, Rich Norton returns to share practical strategies for selling integrated payments and POS solutions—can you still close the deal in one call? Don’t forget: Join James on Monday, September 29th at 4PM EST for the official Stackably launch event. Get an exclusive demo of the Full Stack Payments app and the first “Payment Stack” feature set. Register now at ccsalespro.com/stack. Check out this week's episode of Today in Payments: https://todayinpayments.com/blog/the-debit-divide-courts-cards-and-change