Point Me To First Class

166. The Payroll Points Strategy Update: Cards, ROI & Best Practices with DeAndre Coke

Point Me To First Class

Show Notes

If you're a business owner who pays payroll for yourself or your employees, you might be sitting on one of the biggest untapped points-earning opportunities in your business—and it doesn't require opening new cards or chasing welcome bonuses.

DeAndre Coke, a financial advisor and points expert, returns to the show to give us a much-needed update on earning credit card points for payroll expenses using the Zil Money platform. We first talked about this strategy back in Episode 105 last year, but right after that conversation aired, the entire system experienced major disruptions. DeAndre and I discuss what happened over the past year, what's different and working reliably now, and how business owners can approach this strategy moving forward.

DeAndre and I walk through the step-by-step process for how this works, which credit cards are currently the best options for maximizing points, and the real math behind the ROI—including the processing fees, platform costs, and how to actually evaluate whether this makes sense for your business. We also cover critical best practices to avoid disrupting your payroll and who this strategy is and isn't right for.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/earning-points-on-payroll-update

Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!

Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

More from Point Me To First Class

Oct 19, 2026

There's a good chance one of your best rewards cards quietly stopped paying its full bonus rate months ago, and never said a word about it.

Oct 12, 2026

One of the most useful hotel programs in my wallet right now is also the most boring, and that turns out to be exactly why it works.

Oct 5, 2026

You can have a small fortune in points between two people and still not be able to book the trip you want.

Sep 28, 2026

Some of the most valuable miles in award travel belong to a program most people have written off.

Sep 21, 2026

Planning an entire trip around one airline seat is a backwards way to travel, and every so often it's exactly the right one.

See all episodes →