Equity Compensation Plan Participants Value Education

Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed feel it is important that an employer provide education and guidance about how a stock plan works, according to the poll from Morgan Stanley Global Stock Plan Service. Only 50% feel their employer has done an excellent or very good job of providing such education and guidance.

While 59% of respondents describe their stock plan as a key part of their compensation package, 82% believe 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,” says Evan Siegal, executive director and head of Product Strategy, Morgan Stanley Corporate Equity Solutions, based in New York.

When asked about financial planning, 66% of respondents were extremely or very confident in reaching long-term financial goals if they had a written financial plan.

“These poll 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 poll confirmed that confidence rises when stock plan assets are included in the overall financial plan.”