Stock plans hold a prominent position in the pantheon of workplace benefits and help larger employers attract and retain employees, our stock plan services study confirms. Data from a recent study conducted by Charles Schwab and Logica Research, which surveyed 1,000 equity compensation plan participants, show that approximately 31% of respondents rated stock plans as an “essential benefit,” and an additional 44% rated them as “very important.” Even more telling, the study’s survey results show that roughly 28% of respondents cited equity compensation plans as a primary factor in their decision to accept the job offer with that company, including an impressive 46% of Millennial respondents.

Digital capabilities are a crucial factor in the stock plan user experience

While stock plans are generally a low-touch-point account for most employees—relative to other financial accounts such as credit card, checking and brokerage accounts—digital capabilities still factor into a plan’s effectiveness. Defined contribution plans similarly are employer-sponsored with much lower engagement levels than traditional financial accounts, but Corporate Insight’s (CI) Retirement Plan Monitor research shows that websites are viewed as critically important to the overall retirement plan participant experience.

According to the results of a recent CI survey of over 1,700 DC plan participants, 73% of respondents view the participant website as either “very important” or “extremely important.” Conversely, only 4% of respondents rated the website as “not very important” or “not at all important.” While it is not a perfect correlation between digital views and preferences of retirement plan participants and stock plan participants, there are enough similarities to identify shared sentiments on stock plan participant websites.

Upcoming stock plan services study showcases and examines offerings from top providers

Corporate Insight is excited to release our special report—2020 Stock Plan Services Study—which is the fourth installment in our series of stock plan services reports, following up on the 2018 edition of the study. The study covers the digital capabilities offered by the following nine leading stock plan service providers:

  • Carta
  • Charles Schwab
  • Computershare
  • E*TRADE
  • EquatePlus
  • Fidelity
  • Merrill
  • Morgan Stanley StockPlan Connect
  • Shareworks by Morgan Stanley

The report examines significant features and functionality of coverage firms’ actual participant websites and mobile apps. It also showcases impactful digital innovations since the previous version of the study in 2018. Further, the report identifies strengths and weaknesses of each firm’s offerings and highlights best practices.

The stock plan services study includes:

  • Introduction and research methodology: Stage-setting for the report and a breakdown of the factors considered in the analysis
  • Capabilities matrix: A comprehensive, quantitative look at the digital features, functionality and content provided by the profiled firms
  • Summary findings and best practices: Key industrywide digital learnings and critical recommendations for providing a best-in-class stock plan participant experience across web and mobile channels
  • Detailed firm profiles: In-depth examinations supplemented by screenshots of websites and mobile apps from each firm covered in the report

Download a preview of the report now!

For more information or to purchase your copy of the full report, contact your CI Account Executive or contact us at INTEREST@CorporateInsight.com.