Latest Insights
We provide timely, expert analysis on emerging trends and developments in executive compensation, guiding organizations in making informed, forward-thinking decisions.
Beyond the PSU Mandate
Has the pendulum swung too far toward PSUs? Some investors think so and, in 2026, proxy advisors have signaled greater flexibility toward alternative LTI structures. This article explores why the three-year PSU model is under pressure and provides a 2026 roadmap for Compensation Committees when evaluating LTI design for 2027.
PE Pay Lessons
Article | By Michael Chavira, Austin Lee for Corporate Board Member
Michael Chavira, Managing Director and Austin Lee, Principal, collaborated with Corporate Board Member on, “PE Pay Lessons”, originally published on February 17, 2026 in the Q2 Issue of Corporate Board Member Magazine.
FW Cook Featured on CNBC’s Now We Know!
Alert | FW Cook Featured on CNBC’s Now We Know!
Watch FW Cook present a primer on the role of an executive compensation consultant on Now We Know! with Steve Guttenberg, which aired on CNBC.
Final ISS Compensation Benchmark Policy Changes for 2026
By David Yang, Emilia McDougal
On November 25, ISS released final benchmark policy updates for 2026. The compensation-related U.S. policy changes are effective for meetings on or after February 1, 2026…
After the IPO: Evolution of Equity Practices
This blog post is the second in our series analyzing equity practices of technology and technology-enabled companies that IPOed during 2020 and 2021 (excluding companies with <$100M market cap at IPO).
Proposed ISS Benchmark Policy Changes for 2026
By David Yang, Emilia McDougal
On October 30, ISS released proposed 2026 benchmark policy updates for public comment…
5 Tips for an Effective Compensation Committee Meeting
By Lauren Spencer, Jin Fu
Compensation committee meetings are a crucial element of running executive pay programs. Here, FW Cook shares five tips for nailing these meetings….
Holding Power: S&P 500 Snapshot
By Andrew Lash, Shashwat Singh
We reviewed broad-market data using S&P 500 executives to support preliminary assessments of executive Holding Power (aka retention glue)…
ISS Announces Results of 2025 Global Benchmark Policy Survey
By Dina Bernstein, Bindu Culas
On September 22, 2025, ISS published the results of its latest annual Global Benchmark Policy Survey. The following is a summary of the compensation-related items in the Benchmarking Survey and the investor responses to those items…
The SEC’s Disclosure Dilemma
Article | Corporate Board Member with FW Cook Thought Leadership by Michael Abromowitz, Jose Furman
What boards need to know about potential changes to compensation disclosure requirements.
SEC’s Spring 2025 Regulatory Flex Agenda Signals a Strategic Pivot
By Samantha Nussbaum, Dina Bernstein
On September 4, 2025, the SEC released its latest Spring 2025 Regulatory Flex Agenda, outlining its rulemaking priorities under Chairman Paul Atkins. It marks a pronounced shift compared to those published under the prior administration, focusing on deregulation and streamlined disclosures…
Could Stock Options Make a Comeback?
By Michael Kenney, Erin Bass-Goldberg
Love them or hate them, everyone has a point of view on stock options. Some people credit them for driving a growth culture, while others blame them for promoting undue risk-taking in corporate America. Given evolving shareholder perspectives on performance-based pay and volatile market conditions, it begs the question: could stock options make a comeback?
Executive Compensation Data
With our in-house compensation data analytics, you benefit from the market’s most accurate and comprehensive data…