Employees value their company stock ownership plans but want employers to do a much better job educating them about how stock ownership fits into their overall financial plans.
This is a key finding of a new poll sponsored by Morgan Stanley Global Stock Plan Services, which is launching a series of thought leadership studies regarding equity compensation. The poll, conducted by Matthew Greenwald & Associates, Inc., explored the thoughts, attitudes and behaviors of participants in employer stock plans, and shows that employers have an important role to play in educating employees. Key findings include:
- 89 percent of those surveyed feel it is important that an employer provide education and guidance about how a stock plan works.
- Only 50 percent of those surveyed feel as if their employer has done an excellent or very good job of providing such education and guidance.
- While 59 percent of respondents describe their stock plan as a key part of their compensation package, a larger number – 82 percent believe that having a stock plan is a sound business strategy for employers.
“Providing first-class educational resources and access to planning tools can help maximize the investment companies make in establishing and maintaining an equity compensation plan,” said Evan Siegal, Executive Director and Head of Product Strategy, Morgan Stanley Corporate Equity Solutions.
When asked about Financial Planning, 66 percent of respondents were extremely or very confident in reaching long-term financial goals if they had a written financial plan.
“These survey results make it clear that employee education is extremely important to stock plan participants and most expect that education from their employer,” said Walter Veghte Executive Director, and Head of Financial Planning Resources at Morgan Stanley. “Financial planning is also directly related to a participants’ confidence about reaching long-term goals and is critical in increasing the value perceived from their stock plans. This study confirmed that confidence rises when stock plan assets are included in the overall financial plan.”
Findings of the survey were unveiled at the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals annual conference in Washington, D.C., in September 2013 and at the National Equity Compensation Forum annual conference on October 23, 2013.
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CRC 757146 11/2013