Latest Insights
We provide timely, expert analysis on emerging trends and developments in executive compensation, guiding organizations in making informed, forward-thinking decisions.
Decades of Data: FW Cook CEO Dan Ryterband on Executive Pay, Mentorship, and the Battle for Market Share
Article | businesstoday online journal interview with Daniel Ryterband
Dan Ryterband is CEO of FW Cook, an executive compensation consulting firm founded in 1972 by Ryterband’s former boss and close mentor, Fred Cook. The company was not only an early pioneer in this niche, but it is also the industry leader with the largest market share…
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Its Impact on IRC Section 4960: What Tax-Exempt Organizations Need to Know
By Elaine Yim
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025, introducing extensive changes to the U.S. tax code. Among the changes that are consequential for tax-exempt organizations include…
2025 New Hire Class
Alert | Announcing our 2025 New Hire Class
FW Cook is thrilled to announce the arrival of our 2025 New Hire Class.
Texas Enacts New Law Regulating Proxy Advisory Firms Advising Shareholders of Texas Companies
On June 20, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Texas Senate Bill (S.B.) 2337 “Relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services” that imposes new rules on proxy advisors, such as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis…
Executive Compensation Peer Groups: Why They Matter & How to Build Them
By Lauren Spencer, Jin Fu
Informed executive compensation decisions require market context, and good governance practice often involves benchmarking compensation using a defined peer group—particularly among public and mature private companies…
Tariffs, Targets and Transparency
Article | Corporate Board Member with FW Cook Thought Leadership by Alexa Kierzkowski, Metin Aksoy
How to approach goal-setting and incentive pay design in an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical environment.
Crypto Treasury Execs May Cash In as Stocks Soar, But Will Shareholders Be Cheated?
By Metin Aksoy
Crypto treasury companies are seeing their stocks skyrocket upon launch. One such company believes execs shouldn’t be rewarded for that.
Evolving Shareholder Engagement Landscape and Bespoke Compensation Design
By Daniel Ryterband, Serdar Sikca
In 2023, at what appeared to be the pinnacle of the ongoing struggle for companies to use customized compensation systems to drive strategy without incurring the wrath of the proxy advisory firms and governance community, I wrote about Bespoke vs. Homogenous Compensation Systems…
A Playbook for Proxy Pushback
Article | Corporate Board Member with FW Cook Thought Leadership by Serdar Sikca, Kenneth Sparling
Facing a challenged executive pay vote? Here’s how your board should approach shareholder engagement.
Equity Compensation in Private vs. Public Companies: Key Differences for Execs
By Lauren Spencer, Jin Fu
Equity compensation for executives is an important tool for rewarding long-term performance and alignment with shareholder interests. Differences between public and private company equity program design are primarily due to differences…
New York Office New Location – Effective April 1st
Alert | Same Great City – New Location
After 10 years at our current office, we are happy to announce our move to a new home starting April 1, 2025.
Post-Election Incentive Pay Planning
Article | Corporate Board Member with FW Cook Thought Leadership by Stephan Bosshard, Rachel Gibbons
Should compensation committees address the potential for regulatory changes, tariffs or geopolitical instability to impact incentive award payouts – and, if so, how?
Executive Compensation Data
With our in-house compensation data analytics, you benefit from the market’s most accurate and comprehensive data…