The New Wave of Payroll Integration Tools

Payroll automation is one of the hottest topics in retirement plan administration.

RPCs/TPAs know the pain of chasing payroll data, cleaning census files, and wrestling with mismatched formats. It’s no surprise that new tools are emerging to address this challenge.

One of the newest entrants is 7 Simple Machines’ Dynamis. Dynamis is designed to help PensionPro users pipe payroll data from Finch or Payroll Integrations LLC into their workflows. It’s gaining traction because it promises to make a painful process easier.

But here’s the critical question every COO, VP of Operations, or firm owner should ask: does it go far enough, and at what cost? What risks does it introduce?

What Dynamis Offers TPAs

Dynamis’ pitch is straightforward. If you’re already a PensionPro shop, Dynamis can take data from Finch or PI and pass it into your system, where it can be used to generate and scrub census data. For TPAs locked into PensionPro, that sounds appealing.

They’ve also boosted their credibility with a partnership announcement with PensionPro and co-sponsorship of workshops, which has raised visibility.

For some TPAs, that’s enough to give it a look.

It means that if you are stuck with your current CRM and don't see a path to upgrade your operations, then it doesn't require a "rip-and-replace". Or so it seems...

Where Dynamis Falls Short

The reality is more complicated.

Dynamis only solves a narrow slice of the payroll integration puzzle, and introduces its own tradeoffs:

• Multiple subscriptions required: You still need to separately pay for Finch or Payroll Integrations, and PensionPro.

• Costly stack: PensionPro + Finch/PI + 7SM Dynamis quickly becomes more expensive than an all-in-one solution.

• Limited scope: Dynamis mainly handles 12/31 plan year end (PYE) plans, leaving off-calendar year plans unsupported.

• No adoption agreement mapping: Stax.ai automatically maps data to provisions; Dynamis does not.

• Fragmented portals: Sponsors must log into yet another portal for payroll connections—then still use PensionPro’s PlanSponsorLink for tasks, and FTWilliam/ASC for compliance.

• Short track record: As a newer entrant, Dynamis doesn’t yet have the proven trust in the TPA industry that more established partners do.

For TPAs trying to simplify their stack, Dynamis risks creating more fragmentation, not less.

This is completely contradictory to our ethos and vision.

How Stax.ai Does It Differently

Stax.ai CX was built as a unified platform—not a patchwork of integrations. That means:

• No extra subscriptions. Payroll integration and census automation are built in.

• Cheaper overall. TPAs don’t pay for PensionPro, Finch/PI, and 7SM separately.

• All plan years supported. Stax.ai automates mapping and scrub for off-calendar plans too.

• Adoption agreement automation. Stax.ai maps plan provisions automatically, reducing errors.

• One sponsor portal. Payroll, census, tasks, 5500 signing, secure messaging—everything in one experience.

• Deeper automation. From recurring plan events to reporting dashboards, it’s a CRM + workflow engine, not just a connector.

• Proven partner. With years of focus on TPAs, Stax.ai is trusted by the industry.

Stax.ai vs 7SM Dynamis: Feature Comparison

The All-or-Nothing Myth

Some TPAs hesitate because they’ve heard Stax.ai is an “all-or-nothing” solution. That’s not true. We’ve worked with firms that kept their existing CRMs while using Stax.ai for payroll and census automation.

That said, the firms who reevaluate their CRM usually discover they’re leaving value on the table. Today’s sponsor expectations are higher, and workflows are more complex. That’s why we recommend reading our Best CRM for TPAs guide.

The ROI and Plan Sponsor Experience Case

Switching systems isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about how sponsors feel. Across Stax.ai migrations:

• Client satisfaction improved by 29% within 90 days of implementation.

• 89% of surveyed plan sponsors said they preferred the upgraded CX Client Portal over the prior year (mix of PlanSponsorLink, FTW portal, etc.).

• Sponsors also said their relationships with both advisors and TPAs improved after the upgrade.

This isn’t just IT—it’s a client retention and growth decision.

Ready to See for Yourself?

Want to know what your client portal would look like on Stax.ai?

Try our self-serve demo tool.

The Bottom Line

Dynamis fills a gap for PensionPro users, but it comes with hidden costs, extra vendors, and fragmented sponsor experiences. Stax.ai delivers the same payroll automation—and much more—in a single, unified platform that TPAs and sponsors love.

If you’re considering your next move, don’t just patch holes. Consider a platform built for the future of retirement plan administration.