I Am Northwest Arkansas® How Express Wages Empowers Small Businesses in Northwest Arkansas to Compete for Talent
About the Show:
"Financial wellness transforms communities."
– Alfred Milan, CEO Express Wages
In this episode of I Am Northwest Arkansas®, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Alfred Milan, founder and CEO of Express Wages—a connection made at a recent StartUP NWA VC event—to explore how giving employees faster access to their paychecks can transform small businesses across the region.
Alfred shares his journey from leading a Memphis healthcare company to launching Express Wages—inspired by workers who simply couldn't wait two weeks to access money they'd already earned. You'll hear how Earned Wage Access (EWA) strengthens hiring and retention, why financial literacy is a game-changer, and how small businesses can compete with big corporations for talent—without spending a dime extra.
Whether you own a local business, care about your team's well-being, or just want practical solutions for paycheck-to-paycheck challenges, this episode delivers insights and tools you can put to work right away.
Key Takeaways:
- Earned Wage Access (EWA): Employees can access a portion of their pay as they earn it—no more waiting two weeks for a paycheck. This helps 79% of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck.
- Leveling the Playing Field: Small businesses can compete for talent by providing speedy wage access and financial wellness tools, just like big companies.
- Employee Retention and Morale: On-demand pay and useful financial education build loyalty, reduce turnover costs, and support personal emergencies for workers.
- No Cost to Employers: Express Wages gives businesses value with no invoices or hidden fees. Employees only pay a small fee if they use the service, and there’s even a free option.
- Extra Benefits: Express Wages partners with organizations offering budgeting tools, credit repair, legal support, and identity theft protection—empowering employees for the long term.
- Fast, Easy Setup: Most companies can launch Express Wages in just 5–7 minutes, connecting easily with payroll providers like ADP, Paylocity, Paychex, or QuickBooks Cloud.
All this and more on this episode of the I Am Northwest Arkansas® podcast.
Important Links and Mentions on the Show*
- Express Wages – Request Your Free Demo
- LinkedIn: Alfred Milan
- Call or text Alfred Milan: 901-489-3915
- Partners mentioned: Monarch Money, LegalShield, Allstate
- Organizations referenced: Northwest Arkansas Council, Walmart, City of Memphis
This episode is sponsored by*
Signature Bank of Arkansas "Community Banking at its Best!"
*Note: some of the resources mentioned may be affiliate links. This means we get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.
Connect more with I am Northwest Arkansas:
- Grab our Newsletter
- Email Us at hello@iamnorthwestarkansas.com
- Connect With Our Facebook Page
- Connect With Us on Threads
- Connect With Our Instagram
- Connect With Our LinkedIn Page
- Join The Facebook Group
- Connect with our Fearless Host, Randy Wilburn on LinkedIn
Thank you for listening to this I am Northwest Arkansas podcast episode. We showcase businesses, culture, entrepreneurship, and life in the Ozarks.
Consider donating to our production team to keep this podcast running smoothly. Donate to I Am Northwest Arkansas