Jeb Graham CEBS®, CIMA®, CPFA®
CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
Chair, Editorial Board

Jason Burlie
Prudential Retirement

John Curry
CAPTRUST Financial Advisors

Marcela Curry
Milliman, Inc.

Matt Demet CEBS®, CRA®, CRC®
LPL Financial

Robert Massa AIF®, CBC, ChFC, CEBS®
Qualified Plan Advisors

Michael R. Paris, AIF®
Paris International

Mike Reilly
Empower-Retirement

Daniel Schatz
Hartford Funds

Courtenay Shipley, CRPS®, AIF®, CPFA
Retirement Planology

Rich Sotell CFP®
Kraematon Group

C-suite executives and upper tier management (collectively, “Executives”) earn top compensation, both to reward them for their talent and contributions, and as an attraction and retention tool by their employers. However, despite their high earnings, and even because of them, Executives face unique financial challenges and financial stress that is apt to impact their job performance. These unique financial challenges include maintaining a socio-economic lifestyle that they consider commensurate with their position, regardless of earnings, and saving enough to continue to support that lifestyle in retirement. Limitations on contributions to workplace defined contribution plans by ‘highly compensated employees’ and lower percentage of earnings replaced by Social Security benefits contribute to the financial challenges of Executives.

According to a recent study, 51 percent of investors who have total investable assets of $500,000 or more report concern about being financially secure in retirement, and 46 percent are worried that their portfolios are not properly tax optimized.1 The Urban Institute research reveals that one in ten high income families have no retirement income at all.

While Executives earn a higher disposable income than other employees, they share many of the same financial stresses in terms of adequately maintaining their financial health.2 Executives typically increase their standard of living commensurate with their disposable income. The social pressure to keep up with their peer group as they seek to advance their career cannot be understated. They may need to understand basic budgeting matters to overcome the belief that the more they earn, the less they need to worry. Many Executives, in fact, have incurred significant debt during their working lives as they attempt to support their lifestyle.

Executives also carry more risk. They have more personal assets to protect from loss and increased personal liability because of perceived “deep pockets.” Finally, Executives have a higher level of income to be replaced in the event of disability or death to protect loved ones. Many workplace benefits are inadequate to provide financial protection that Executives need and those benefits must be supplemented. For executives, Financial Wellness also involves being more guarded against fraud. Executives of publicly-traded companies are particularly vulnerable to attacks by cybercriminals. Indeed, information about these executives shared with stockholders and investors is more readily accessible.

Saving for retirement compounds the financial challenge. The amount of savings needed during working years to maintain the same high standard of living in retirement increases relative to compensation. At the same time, the replacement rate of Social Security decreases as compensation increases. Qualified plan deferral limitations for highly compensated employees make retirement savings through the workplace more complicated, and Executives must understand how to maximize savings through non-qualified deferred contribution plans, health savings accounts (“HSAs”), and other forms of savings. Finally, higher earnings and reduced qualified plan deferrals lead to increased tax exposure.

Executives may be reluctant to admit that they don’t have the capacity to fully understand the unique financial challenges they face, or how to adequately address those challenges on their own. The complex interrelationship of workplace retirement plans, health plans and other benefits, such as insurance, stock, and bonus plans, add to the confusion. While Executives may have insurance agents, stock brokers, financial advisors and tax accountants, they often lack a comprehensive plan for a complex financial situation. Different advisors, different plans (qualified and nonqualified), different insurance policies, and different savings and investment accounts need to be navigated and integrated to achieve financial and retirement security goals.