The Principal Helps Financial Professionals Uncover ESOP Opportunities

DES MOINES, Iowa - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Baby boomer business owners face a dilemma as they near retirement: nearly 80 percent of their net worth is tied up in their businesses¹. And the value of that business ownership is about $4.8 trillion dollars². Financial professionals who are able to help owners convert business assets into investable retirement assets can potentially tap into significant opportunities.

Jerry Ripperger, director of ESOP consulting at the Principal Financial Group. (Image courtesy of the Principal Financial Group.)

The Principal Financial Group has launched a national training program and a suite of resources to show financial professionals how to do just that with employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs).

ESOPs are qualified defined-contribution retirement plans that are primarily invested in company stock. They transform the illiquid asset of company ownership into cash. That cash can then be invested in other vehicles such as mutual funds, insurance, stocks, bonds and other options.