Pictured: Brady Gilliam, Gilliam Writers Group
Real American Express customer who was aware their testimonial may be featured by American Express.
Brady Gilliam’s story is one forged in love for the literary arts and an innate talent for teaching. Born and raised in North Carolina, he completed his B.A. in Comparative Literature and Anthropology from UNC Chapel Hill. Along with work in the publishing industry, his international pursuits – from tutoring Buddhist monks in Thailand to medical workers in Bolivia to middle and high schoolers in Greece – cemented his passion for passing on his expertise.
“I’ve always really loved writing since I was young,” he says. “My career helped me understand that I was not only skilled enough to be a writer and editor, but able to help others hone their craft.”
Soon the city lights of New York beckoned, and so did an ambitious dream. His initial days in the city were dedicated to a writing project, only to be disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying a pronounced need in the market, from the calls of struggling students in a pandemic-stricken educational system to the nuanced needs of adult authors, he founded the Gilliam Writers Group in September 2020.
What started as a solo venture in Brooklyn quickly blossomed into a more expansive, two- pronged enterprise: tutoring middle and high school students, and coaching and editing adult writers’ content, from casual hobbyists to those making their way through the industry. The Gilliam Writers Group’s staff now boasts around 30 professionals, largely sourced from Ph.D. programs in literature and Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. From the offices of Gilliam Writers Group, talented individuals often find their way to feeling comfortable and excited about their writing skills and projects. It’s clear that the environment doesn’t just refine a writer’s skills but can help them develop confidence in writing a variety of genres.
“We have a pretty rigorous hiring and interview process for our employees,” says Gilliam. “That’s how we know for sure that they’re able to coach experienced writers and authors through their careers and building better bodies of work.”
As the firm grew, Gilliam faced the quintessential challenges of a budding entrepreneur: efficient management of finances, ensuring smooth transactions, and fostering growth without financial hiccups. “When you’re a business the size of ours,” he says, “it feels next to impossible to find the perfect resource in terms of a payroll system and also a bank.”
In January 2023, Gilliam’s thorough market analysis led him to American Express® Business Checking1. On paper, he thought the fully digital bank account seemed great.
Following the application process, the American Express® Business Checking2 account swiftly became an integral tool for the Gilliam Writers Group. Gilliam was also struck with the remarkable user-friendliness of American Express Business Blueprint3 in conjunction with his Business Checking account. Business Blueprint is a free cash flow management platform, designed exclusively for small businesses, that shows a snapshot of select American Express business products and linked external accounts on a single dashboard. As a writer and literary aficionado, Gilliam freely admits that he’s “not the most tech-savvy.” But with American Express, this was not an issue. “To be able to use a product without having a steep learning curve is totally wonderful,” he shares. He’s on the American Express Business Blueprint™ platform every day.
American Express Business Checking had numerous other features, including a Business Debit Card which helped with the business’ everyday purchases and ATM withdrawals. Gilliam and his team can even earn Membership Rewards(R) points4 on eligible purchases and convert the points into deposits5 directly into their Business Checking account."
Customer service, an aspect that can make or break a business’s relationship with its bank, shone brightly for American Express, whose dedicated support was available 24/7. Gilliam found that every call was met with a quick, helpful response. “Every time we call, it’s fast and super helpful,” he says. This responsiveness was a refreshing change for him.
By offering a product that is as easy to navigate as it is powerful, American Express carved out a special place in Gilliam’s operations. And with each page turned, the group can author its own growth story with a Business Checking account that understands efficiency and dependable backing.
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Story Footnotes:
1 We are currently accepting applications from eligible U.S. businesses. Not all applicants will be approved for a Business Checking account. To learn more about Business Checking, including eligibility, visit https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/checking/.
2 When you open an American Express® Business Checking Account, you will also receive a Membership Rewards® Account, in which you will earn one Membership Rewards® point for every two dollars of eligible Debit Card purchases. Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. For more information on eligible purchases, visit membershiprewards.com/terms. You can redeem Membership Rewards® points for a deposit into your checking account. Click here to learn what other redemption options may also be available. If you also have a Rewards Account in connection with a Card Account, your Rewards Accounts can be linked and you will have access to all redemption options offered with that Card Account. For more information, visit membershiprewards.com/terms.
3 With the American Express Business Blueprint™ App, you can view your select business products. These products include American Express® Business Line of Credit, American Express® Business Checking, and American Express® Business Cards, and eligible external business checking and card accounts you choose to link to Business Blueprint. Additional terms and limitations may apply. Some app features may only be available on supported devices. The American Express Business Blueprint™ App is available on the App Store and Google Play. Message and data rates may apply.
American Express Business Blueprint™ is the small business digital experience that allows a customer to view on one digital dashboard summary account information for the following American Express small business products: American Express® Business Cards, American Express® Business Line of Credit, and American Express® Business Checking. The customer can also choose to link their eligible third-party issued business bank accounts and business credit cards to Business Blueprint. Not all third-party accounts or cards can be connected to Business Blueprint. Business Blueprint allows the customer to view data insights and track their business cash flow and expenses by viewing reports that American Express prepares using the customer’s linked account information. While the cash flow management service from Business Blueprint is currently free, each of the business products from American Express that are visible in Business Blueprint has its own fees, eligibility criteria, application process and approval requirements. The Business Blueprint service (including any data insights provided to the customer) does not constitute legal, tax, financial or accounting advice, and is not a substitute for obtaining competent personalized advice from a licensed professional. You should seek professional advice before making any decision that could affect the financial health of your business. American Express makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the reports, data or account information that are available to the customer from Business Blueprint.
4 Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.
The value of Membership Rewards® points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.
5 You may redeem Membership Rewards® points for deposits into your American Express® Business Checking Account at the standard rate of 1000 points for an $8 deposit. If you have a Business Platinum Card® and an American Express Business Checking Account linked to the same Membership Rewards Account, you can redeem points for a deposit at a rate of 1000 points for $10 for up to 1,000,000 points per calendar year, after which you may continue to redeem points at the standard rate. There is no minimum number of points needed to use Redeem for Deposits. American Express will deduct the number of points you select from your Membership Rewards Account and deposit a corresponding dollar amount into your checking account. Generally, deposits will post to your account within 48 hours of redemption. For more information, visit membershiprewards.com/terms.
