Learning about ESOPs

Can anyone recommend a legal or otherwise conference for an ESOP newbie? I am interested in expanding my practice. Thanks!

Others might suggest a conference.

For a book, whether print or electronic, that covers needed information (without wasting your attention on stuff you’re unlikely to need), Brian Pinheiro’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan Answer Book (Wolters Kluwer) is useful.

The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) at nceo.org has a lot of resources available to members (and a fair amount available for free).  There is a wide range of information available from the what and why of ESOPs to some of the more technical aspects of leveraged ESOPs. Membership is relatively modest.

If you want to dive into the deep end, there is a national forum in Philadelphia next week https://forum.nceo.org/

You might look into materials/conferences/webinars available from:

• National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
• Beyster Institute
• ESOP Association

Agree with everyone - and the ESOP Answer Book to which Peter refers is my go to source.

In terms of conferences find out which chapter of the ESOP Association covers your area. 

They all have local conferences with good breakout sessions.  Since they are local the travel costs aren't too bad typically. 

There are regional conferences related to the ESOP Association.  The Midwest Conference is in the Chicago area this year in mid September for example.  

If you, or your employer, are willing to spend a little more money than:

If you work for an ESOP company or a company thinking about an ESOP look into the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), noted by another person.  Look into becoming a member.  Once you are a member you can get discounts on their books.  I believe they still have monthly webinars for members.  Their spring conference is a great learning environment.  The reason I note them if you are an ESOP company or a company looking into ESOPs is their spring conference has a very large proportion of their attendees from ESOP companies.  That allows you to meet and talk to the executives from other ESOP companies.  You will find they are very willing to share their experiences and network with you.  

If you are on the TPA side of things the NCEO can still be great for first learning as they have a lot of basic sessions since so many companies show up.  However, the large ESOP Association conferences have the best advance technical sessions.  They have some fall conferences.  They are the most expensive to go to in terms of conference fees and travel typically.   

Also look into:

The Beyster Institute  

https://rady.ucsd.edu/why/centers/beyster/index.html

The Ohio Center for Employee Ownership (even if you don't live in Ohio)

https://www.oeockent.org/

More and more states are funding their own centers for ownership so check your own state.  The Ohio one is one of the best and oldest.  They put out all kinds of publications and have their own conferences.  

Hope that helps.