Split-Dollar Versus 457(f) Plans and What Credit Unions Should Evaluate
When building an executive benefits package that seeks to recruit and retain top talent, the question arises: with multiple options, which benefits should we include? Popular choices that uniquely benefit credit unions are the collateral assignment split-dollar (CASD) and 457(f) plans. Both are retention tools that provide retirement benefits to executives—but which is better? As […]
Can—and Should—Your Credit Union Serve Cannabis-Related Businesses?
With the legalization of medical and adult-use, i.e., recreational marijuana spreading across the country, you may be considering how your credit union can begin providing services to cannabis-related businesses. Perhaps you don’t know where to start or if you even should. With more research demonstrating the positive benefits of medical marijuana, many credit unions view […]
When to Take Strategic Risk in Your Credit Union—Your ACTion Point
As a credit union executive, should you consider your personal financial success before the direction of your credit union? Yes and no. The reality of your position challenges you to lead your organization boldly into new initiatives, technology, and markets; however, every major decision you make comes with risk. Whether it will pose a financial […]
Risks Credit Union Executives and Boards Should Consider With Collateral Assignment Split-Dollar Plans
Many credit union boards propose adding a collateral assignment split-dollar plan (CASD) as a desirable compensation benefit to help retain their top executives. At first glance, a CASD appears to perform similarly to a pension plan. However, this benefit is quite complex, and misunderstanding or making assumptions about a CASD could lead to more risks […]
How Strategic CEO Succession Planning Can Position Internal Executives for Success
Planning to exit your organization as a credit union CEO ideally occurs years before your anticipated retirement date. Strategic credit union leaders understand the logistical and emotional process ahead of them. As a result, succession planning is an essential component to ensure the credit union’s success in the future, and the confidence of the credit […]
How Credit Unions May Overcome Income Challenges with a Charitable Donation Account
Credit unions across the country are currently facing a common challenge—how to create more yield and income. They traditionally rely on reinvesting money from lending products as one form of income. However, due to the increase in government stimulus payments and record-low loan growth, credit unions have had to find alternative income-generating sources to offset […]
How Credit Unions with Highly Compensated Executives Can Avoid the 21% Non-Profit Excise Tax
Do any of your executives currently earn more than $1 million in annual income? Perhaps not. But consider additional benefits and compensation for retirement, such as a 457(f); do any of your executives exceed the $1 million a year mark? These are the questions credit unions have begun to ask since the 2017 Tax Act […]
Why Due Diligence Is Essential to Your Executive Benefits Plan
Credit unions charge board members with making decisions that are best for the membership and retain top management. One of the incentives they use is providing executive benefits and compensation packages that supplement an executive’s salary or bonuses. A common benefit is a split-dollar collateral assignment, a legal agreement between the credit union and executive […]
How Credit Union Executives Can Optimize an Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan
Nearly 80% of credit union 401(k) plan participants have all or some of the retirement savings going into a target-date fund. The concept is certainly attractive, offering an entire portfolio with automated rebalance features for those who are less comfortable with self-managing their investments. But is the target date fund a one-size-fits-all solution suitable for […]
C.U. Women Who Lead: Lessons Learned From Judy Tharp
Few careers start as uniquely as the career of “C.U. on the Show” guest Judy Tharp, retired president and CEO of Piedmont Advantage Credit Union. After finishing college, Judy came across a newspaper ad for -Cape Fear Employee Credit Union, a new start-up in North Carolina. While she had bookkeeping, inventory, and customer service skills […]