Group Five Releases Annual Client Ratings Of Corporate Stock Plan Administration Service Providers

SAN ANSELMO, Calif., Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporate services research company Group Five today announced the results of its 16^th annual study on customer satisfaction with stock plan administration services, administration systems, and financial accounting and reporting services.

With 885 public companies participating, the study has the highest participation of public companies among all studies in the stock plan industry. The study is the only independent forum for plan sponsors to make their opinions and priorities known to service providers.

The key industry priorities identified by the study participants are: tax compliance, plan participant education, financial accounting & reporting, plan participant communications, managing award metrics, and cost-basis.

"This is our sixteenth annual study and we continue to have the highest plan sponsor participation of any industry study, with 1,103 individuals responding to the survey," said Kathy Huston, CEO of Group Five. "The results show that service providers are responding aggressively to plan sponsor concerns documented in prior year studies. We are committed to providing plan sponsors with independent research in stock plan services."

Full Outsourced Administration
Fidelity Investments, for the fourth year in a row, has the highest overall plan sponsor satisfaction ratings for full administration services with a 94% favorable rating. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has the second highest rating at 90% favorable, which is a 14 point increase over last year.

"Being recognized by our clients in the Group Five for the fourth year in a row underscores our continued commitment to helping our clients maximize the value of their company stock plans," said Kevin Barry, executive vice president of Fidelity's Stock Plan Services. "As stock plans continue to play an increasingly important role in corporate compensation and benefit programs, Fidelity remains dedicated to delivering the best technology and service experience for our clients."

David Tyrie, Head of Retirement and Personal Wealth Solutions for Bank of America Merrill Lynch said, "We're proud to receive top ratings for overall client satisfaction, high touch account service and support, and for helping employees achieve better outcomes through access to personalized education and advice. Our ongoing commitment to the highest quality stock plan services and added value through fully integrated benefit plan offerings shines through in this study, and is helping to make people's lives better."

Partial Outsourced Administration – Brokerage services
E*TRADE has the highest overall satisfaction for partial outsourced - brokerage services at 95% favorable. UBS has the second highest overall satisfaction at 93% favorable. Both brokers were also top rated last year.

Michael Barry, Head of UBS Equity Plan Advisory Services commented, "We are delighted to be recognized with top ratings in many categories of the study - including partial administration – again this year. Our global wealth management footprint and advice driven model give us the ability to deliver quality services to our corporate clients and participants around the world.

Partial Outsourced Administration – Internal Administration Systems
E*TRADE's technology continues to lead the industry for commercial systems used for in-house stock plan administration. Once again E*TRADE has the highest overall satisfaction for commercial administration systems with Equity Edge Online rated at 97% favorable.

"Earning these distinctions three years in a row is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to the plan administrators we serve," said Paul Hutchison, President of E*TRADE Corporate Services. "As an industry leader with over 1 million participants in almost every country, we will continue to raise the bar by developing the technology and services that meet their needs as they continue to grow and evolve."

Financial Accounting & Reporting Services
Plan sponsors identified financial accounting & reporting as the third biggest issue confronting them. In this year's study Equity Methods received the highest overall satisfaction rating at 98% favorable.

Takis Makridis, President and CEO of Equity Methods, commented, "Equity Methods takes pride in creating robust, customized financial reporting solutions for our clients' most complex plans. We're privileged to have really amazing clients who are at the heart of everything we do. We've continued to expand our services in response to their evolving needs, and we're thrilled that they've honored us in such a public way."

The summary report of the study's findings is available from the Group Five website at www.groupfiveinc.com.

Group Five is a corporate services research and consulting firm. The firm is best known for its research in stock plan administration and shareholder services.

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of Group Five.

SOURCE Group Five