IRS data prove 2017 tax cuts benefited middle class the most

Biden and many Democrats in Congress have argued that their plan to raise taxes in the midst of an economic recovery is justified because it would help offset or reverse important elements of the Republican tax reform passed in 2017. Democrats have long claimed that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act needs to be repealed or heavily altered because it unjustly benefits the wealthy at the expense of working and middle-class families.

However, the most recent personal income tax data from the IRS prove that this claim is completely false. The 2017 tax law has disproportionately benefited lower- and middle-income working families. The data show the law has also led to substantial improvements in economic mobility for middle-income and upper-middle-income households. READ MORE

Understanding Equity Compensation

Your upcoming IPO should make employees feel excited, not unsure, so it’s crucial to take care of their equity compensation needs. If employees feel they are part of the company’s success story, the stock they own can serve as a powerful reminder of their commitment and contribution. It is key that employers focus on their employees and their equity compensation every step of the way as they go public. 

Much depends on the administration provider you choose. The right one will be adept at establishing a plan for communicating with and educating employees. In this way, you equip your staff with the information they need to understand what’s happening and to act with confidence on their awards. READ MORE

Amid Tight Labor Market, Organizations Are Increasingly Relying on Bonuses

WorldatWork’s 2021 “Bonus Programs and Practices” survey revealed that organizations have heightened their bonus activity to attract and retain employees during an especially active labor market.

The four types of bonus programs measured in the survey were: sign-on, referral, spot and retention. More than one in three (38%) of 957 organizations surveyed use all four types. Overall, the trend is increasing among use of all four bonus types, and of those without a program currently implemented, consideration is also growing. Only 7% of organizations reported not using any of the four types of bonus programs. READ MORE

Walmart salaries revealed: from up to $200,000 for an engineering role to $74 hourly rates for pharmacists

Walmart pays some engineers up to $200,000 — at least in Colorado.

To determine how much Walmart pays employees, the Wall Street Journal analyzed 5,000 job offers at major companies posted in the state between August and October, after Colorado began mandating employers disclose hourly or salary compensation or range in all job postings. The state's legislators passed the law to ensure equal pay for equal work. READ MORE

Supreme Court to hear Northwestern 403(b) fee case: Why it's important to all plan sponsors

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Dec. 6 in a lawsuit that contends that Northwestern University violated its duty under ERISA by allowing two 403(b) retirement plans to charge participants excessive investment and recordkeeping fees.

The case could have broad implications since dozens of similar lawsuits have been filed across the country. READ MORE

U.S. SEC issues guidance on corporate share-based executive compensation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday issued guidance to listed companies around how to properly recognize and disclose share-based compensation arrangements made to executives ahead of company earnings and other releases.

The regulator said its new guidance spells out how companies must consider the impact such 'spring-loaded awards' would have on market-moving releases. READ MORE

CEOs and insiders sell a record $69 billion of their stock, and the year isn’t over yet

CEOs and corporate insiders have sold a record $69 billion in stock in 2021, as looming tax hikes and lofty share prices encourage many to take profits.

From Satya Nadella at Microsoft to Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, CEOs, founders and insiders have been cashing in their stock at the highest pace on record. As of Monday, sales by insiders are up 30% from 2020 to $69 billion, and up 79% versus a 10-year average, according to InsiderScore/Verity, which excludes sales by large institutional holders. READ MORE

13 In-Demand, High-Salary Skills Every Tech Professional Needs To Know About

Tech professionals choose their field for a variety of reasons, ranging from the challenging and creative aspects of the work to the ability to play a role in improving the ways people live and work. Money may not be the primary factor in a fulfilling career in the tech industry, but it’s not an unimportant consideration, either. 

It’s smart for newcomers in any field to pay attention to the skills that are and will soon be in high demand—and which often come with generous compensation. Below, 13 industry experts from Forbes Technology Council share some of the IT skills that will be yielding high salaries in the next five years. READ MORE

Before 2021 Ends, Ask Your Boss For A Big Salary Increase To Compensate For The Rapid Rise In Inflation

This week starts the holiday season. Soon we’ll be at the end of the year. During this time period companies traditionally offer performance reviews and tell employees if they are getting a salary increase or not. In sectors such as Wall Street, bankers eagerly await their bonus numbers as it's a significant part of their overall compensation package. READ MORE

CEO Fined Over Undisclosed Perks

Texas oilfield services firm ProPetro and former CEO Dale Redman have settled charges that they understated his executive perks by failing to disclose ProPetro had reimbursed him for more than $400,000 in personal and travel expenses.

According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, ProPetro did not include the expenses, including Redman’s use of his personal Learjet for trips that were not directly related to the performance of his CEO duties, in its proxy statements for fiscal 2017 and 2018. READ MORE

It’s important to understand all your options with a deferred compensation plan

For those eligible, a deferred compensation plan is a powerful employee benefit to accelerate savings and reduce taxes. But they aren’t without tradeoffs.

Every year we hear from people who want to evaluate participating in the program — they strive to make a prepared, confident election, only to spend way too much time analyzing a hundred different variables and ultimately rush the decision each year. READ MORE