The stock market has been on a roller coaster the last few weeks, but in general the S&P 500 index is not far from its all time high. Consequently, most employee stock options granted in the last ten years are likely to still be significantly "In-the-Money" (current stock price above the grant price) as illustrated by the above chart. This chart shows the S&P 500 over the past decade. It can be used as a general representation of the...
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IMAGE: Peshkov / 123RF.com Financial advisors that work with corporate executives and help them to diversify their company stock and options can use the following best practices to drive additional business. One: Keep track of how much revenue you generate from executives. StockOpter.com users report they gather on average over $500,000 in assets under management per client and can charge between $500 and $2,500 annually for equity compensation risk management and tax planning. Knowing how much business you are deriving...
MoreBend, OR, February 12, 2020 - StockOpter.com, the industry leading application for equity compensation valuation and risk analysis has been enhanced to track client 10b5-1 trading plans. These trading plans established under SEC Rule 10b5-1 provide an affirmative defense against charges of insider trading because they are setup before the employee knows information that may affect the company's stock price. This allows trades to be executed when stock price targets are met even during black-out periods. Since 2008, StockOpter.com from...
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Fee compression has become a major challenge for the wealth management industry. This StockOpter overview video explains why financial advisors now need to provide clients with specialized and sophisticated advice instead of just portfolio management. One such discipline is assisting clients that receive stock-based compensation from their employers. Here's how financial advisors can beat fee compression and justify their fees by providing equity compensation guidance using the StockOpter applications. Click theses links for detailed information about StockOpter.com and StockOpter/Pro.
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Here are the key findings from the E*TRADE 2019 survey of stock plan participants. Stock plan benefits drive participants’ perception of ownership and recognition: 59% say "my stock plan provides me with a sense of ownership in the company" 59% believe "My contributions to my company’s performance are acknowledged through the equity grants I receive" Participants require assistance with understanding how their stock plan benefits work and potential tax implications: 59% understand their vesting schedule 53% understand how their stock...
Moreby Patrick Brewer, CPA, CFA How your firm prices its services is about more than just boosting profit margins. The right fee structure is vital to client satisfaction and your long-term success. Fees have always been a hot topic in this industry. However, with trading commissions getting slashed to zero, the rise of passive managers and price pressures across the board, many advisors are rethinking the way they price their services. Even if your firm’s current fee structure seems ideal,...
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According to new research from Schwab Stock Plan Services, the average vested value of U.S. workers’ equity compensation is $97,711 and the average total value of their equity compensation is $149,835. The study, which examines the attitudes and behaviors of 1,000 equity compensation plan participants who currently receive employee stock options or restricted stock awards and/or participate in employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs), finds that 59% of respondents have NOT exercised or sold at least some of their equity compensation...
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Over the years of working with financial advisors who attempt to market their client services to companies, we have seen four common mistakes that are costing them business and referrals. If you want to get your foot in the door at companies to secure business with their employees, avoid the following mistakes when you meet with the HR department. Mistake # 1: Trying to sell yourself and your unique expertise Most financial advisors feel compelled to tell a prospect company a great deal about themselves and their...
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By Jill Addison You’ve chosen to focus on corporate executive clients as a niche in your financial advisory practice. Great! But here’s the biggest mistake so many advisors make: they don’t put this niche focus and specialty front and center in their marketing. Having a niche is one of the biggest keys to growing a successful practice. But if no one knows about your niche, the power of it is lost. That’s where marketing comes in. You must platform your...
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Financial advisors contact me regularly to ask for ideas on how to grow their practices by acquiring corporate executive clients. Having been in the equity compensation guidance space for 20 years I've seen what works and what doesn't. Here are some do's and don'ts for pursuing this market: Do have a few questions and an elevator pitch memorized for whenever you meet an executive that receives equity compensation (i.e. employee stock options and restricted stock/units). Read this article on the Four Questions to Ask...
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