As we approach a new year, it is time to reflect and review the goals and accomplishments of the current year and the hopes and opportunities for the year to come. The pandemic, the labor shortage, a competitive workforce, and benefit incentives are just a few factors that are playing a large role in ensuring… Read more »
Celebrating 20 Years!
EBN is celebrating 20 years in business!! Thank you to our clients who trust us to provide service and plans that fit your needs, to our employees who go above and beyond to assist our clients, and to the different organizations that allow us to partner together to provide “Knowledge You Can Bank On.” We look forward to… Read more »
Factors in Choosing the Top-Hat Group
Determining Who is in the Select Group In today’s market there is a strong focus to recruit, retain and reward your key executives. To accomplish this, companies are implementing Top-Hat plans known as Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans that are “unfunded” and maintained by the employer. Top-Hat plans are exempt from the Employee Retirement Income… Read more »
Feeling the Squeeze in Net Interest Rates?
Take a Look at BOLI 2020 has seen a significant drop in interest rates with several cuts by the Fed over the past several months. While these dramatic steps work to ward off an economic recession, it is also creating major issues on bank margins by shrinking yields on the short-end of the yield curve…. Read more »
Effects of COVID-19 on Nonqualified Plans
Nonqualified Plans and the American Pandemic, COVID-19 The new coronavirus, COVID-19, has created great social and economic uncertainties for companies, their employees and families. This article provides helpful information to assist nonqualified plan sponsors in answering the most common questions they may be receiving from their participants. In this brief newsletter we will have answers… Read more »
The SECURE Act: What You Should Know
Highlights of SECURE Act The President recently signed the “Setting Every Community Up for the Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019” also known as the SECURE Act of 2019. The SECURE Act is a retirement reform that is aiming to improve the nation’s retirement system, which has not been changed in nearly a decade. The following… Read more »
Final Regulations on Reportable Policy Sales in BOLI/COLI Marketplace
Impact of Policy Sales in BOLI/COLI Marketplace Background Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) modified the prior-law exemptions of the Transfer for Value Rules (TFV Rules) to include new reportable policy sale requirements that apply to all transfers for valuable consideration. This rule making has important implications for the Bank and Company Owned Life… Read more »
Addressing A Flat Yield Curve
How to Invest with a Flat Curve Economists, financial professionals and business owners use the yield curve to predict economic outcomes and gauge the behavior of the market. The yield curve percentage is the rate at which debt interest rates change from shorter to longer maturities and is the spread between the Treasury 2-year and… Read more »
Salary Budget Predictions 2020
Reviewing Compensation Packages As the new year approaches, it is time for employers to consider salary increases for the 2020 year. The results produced by WorldatWork, an association of Total Rewards professionals, predict that salary increases will remain the same as 2019 or slightly increase by .1% from this year. This slight increase is due… Read more »
The Importance of Employee Engagement
Tangible Benefits and Best Practices David Fritz was featured in an article titled “Employee Engagement” in the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s July 2019 Magazine. David states, “The productivity of the organization improves and will be at a high level when you have people who believe in your company.” To read the entire article, visit the following… Read more »