The ESOP Association
ESOP Association Resources
Nov. 14
I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I make the statement “ESOPs are unique”. An ESOP is not like other privately held companies, and it’s definitely not like a publicly traded company. This is because ESOP employees are not just employees, they are also owners. Owners expect (and deserve) different things from their company and likewise, the company should expect a different level of engagement when sharing ownership.
Nov. 09
SYNTHETIC EQUITY SERIES – PART THREE OF THREE
This is the third in a series of articles covering components of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 409(p) test, which is specific to S-corporation ESOPs. The first article discussed the items required for the test, one of which is information on any outstanding synthetic equity awards. The second article defined and described common forms of synthetic equity for 409(p) purposes. We recommend that you review these two articles before proceeding, as this article presumes knowledge of the concepts discussed in them.
This is the third in a series of articles covering components of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 409(p) test, which is specific to S-corporation ESOPs. The first article discussed the items required for the test, one of which is information on any outstanding synthetic equity awards. The second article defined and described common forms of synthetic equity for 409(p) purposes. We recommend that you review these two articles before proceeding, as this article presumes knowledge of the concepts discussed in them.
Nov. 07
Happy Employee Ownership Month! It’s a special time for a special community. Employee owners nationwide celebrate with tremendous pride. It’s a great time to reflect on the 11 million-plus employee owners in America who not only enjoy the individual benefits that accompany employee ownership, but also the contributions to communities and the social good that employee ownership adds. We know we have a cause worth celebrating but also one – in the very nature of employee ownership – worth sharing.
Nov. 02
From Oregon to Massachusetts and from Minnesota to Florida, TEA’s Chapter team logged some serious miles in October, hosting chapter and regional fall conferences across America.
ESOP Blog, Resource
Jan. 31
I am hearing increasingly from certain thought leaders that current ESOP laws do not create “good” employee ownership plans.
Anytime we ESOP advocates encounter someone who takes such a view of ESOPs, we need to ask ourselves, “Why does that person think ESOPs are not good employee ownership plans?” When we know the answer, we can counter the ESOP cynic’s point of view.
In my experience, there are three main criticisms of ESOPs. I’ll deal with each one in a separate blog post.
The first criticism maintains that ESOPs are bad retirement plans.
Anytime we ESOP advocates encounter someone who takes such a view of ESOPs, we need to ask ourselves, “Why does that person think ESOPs are not good employee ownership plans?” When we know the answer, we can counter the ESOP cynic’s point of view.
In my experience, there are three main criticisms of ESOPs. I’ll deal with each one in a separate blog post.
The first criticism maintains that ESOPs are bad retirement plans.
ESOP Blog, Resource
Jan. 17
For some time now, the data have shown that businesses with employee stock ownership are clearly better than conventionally owned companies at retaining employees. But new insights gleaned from existing research data show that, over a period of 12 years, businesses with employee stock ownership have gotten increasingly and dramatically better than conventionally owned firms at retaining employees.
How much better? Try 235 percent better!
How much better? Try 235 percent better!
ESOP Blog, Resource
Jan. 03
It would be easy for us to sit back and bask in the comfortable knowledge that the Congressional tax committees did not draft tax reform measures that negatively affect ESOPs.
Certainly, that is good news. But we can’t let that recent success cause us to remain ignorant of the fact there remain plenty of people who do not believe in the things that we believe—that ESOPs are good for our nation, our companies, and employees.
Sometimes that dislike for ESOPs can be harder to spot, because it is hidden under an apparent love for different forms of employee ownership.
Certainly, that is good news. But we can’t let that recent success cause us to remain ignorant of the fact there remain plenty of people who do not believe in the things that we believe—that ESOPs are good for our nation, our companies, and employees.
Sometimes that dislike for ESOPs can be harder to spot, because it is hidden under an apparent love for different forms of employee ownership.