A little over two years ago, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a $5.25 million settlement with GreatBanc Trust Co., resolving allegations that GreatBanc had violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act in its management of the Sierra Aluminum Co. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
GreatBanc and its insurers agreed to pay almost $500,000 in civil penalties, with the rest of the settlement being paid into the Sierra Aluminum ESOP.
Southard Financial wants you to know what’s at stake.
On August 2, the IRS proposed sweeping new changes in the treatment of valuation discounts — discounts that are used to reduce burdensome estate and gift taxes by transferring valuable property into special entities such as family-owned partnerships or corporations.
If the proposed Section 2704 regulations go into effect as written, high-net-worth families will lose a powerful estate-planning technique that has been used for decades to protect assets that are transferred as gifts or bequests to heirs.
“Individuals and organizations that are good, react quickly to change. Individuals and organizations that are great create change.”
— Robert Kriegel Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers
At Southard Financial, we get it.
Your company is constantly dealing with change — in the industry, in the marketplace, within your customer base.
Maybe you’re looking to seek out new partners and/or capital for expansion and growth. Perhaps it’s time to add to, or sell off, part of your portfolio. Or this might be the time to acquire a new company, or sell yours.
As part of our revamped website, this blog is a special space — a sort of town commons, if you like — where we can all discuss topics of interest to our clients and our team. We hope you’ll join us, by reading, commenting, and sharing posts you like so that others can join in the conversation.
Southard Financial was proud to be a Bonze Sponsor of The ESOP Association Annual Conference in 2021, 2022, and 2023
Southard Financial was proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association in 2020 and 2021
Southard Financial was proud to be a Member Bank Sponsor of the Ole Miss Banking & Finance Symposium in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023
Southard Financial was proud to be a Co-Sponsor of the National Center for Employee Ownership ESOP Nuts & Bolts Event in 2018
Southard Financial was proud to be a Corporate Sponsor of the Mid-South Minority Business Council in 2017 and 2018
Dave Harris attended The ESOP Association Annual Conference in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023
Dave Harris attended The ESOP Association Professionals’ Forum in 2019, 2020, 2021 (virtual), and 2024
Dave Harris attended the National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019
Mark Orndorff and Matthew Jakes attended the National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in 2017
Southard Financial attended the National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in 2020 (virtual) and 2021 (virtual)
Mark Orndorff attended The ESOP Association Professionals’ Forum in 2023
Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Flint Hydraulics to Hydraquip, Inc.
Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Memphis' own Cooper Glass Company
David A. Harris and Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the 2019 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association
David A. Harris and Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the 2019 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association held in Orlando, Florida on October 16-17. They gave a presentation titled “Can Employees Really Impact Company Value?”
Southard Financial facilitated the sale of Memphis' own TOPS Bar-B-Q chain
David A. Harris and Matthew L. Jakes spoke at the 2019 Spring Workshop of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association
David A. Harris and Matthew L. Jakes spoke at the 2019 Spring Workshop of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association held in Atlanta, Georgia in February, 2019 on the topic of “Valuation Appraisal Checklist – 10 Things Your ESOP Appraiser Should be Doing”
David A. Harris spoke at The Fall ESOP Forum of the NCEO
David A. Harris spoke at The Fall ESOP Forum of the NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership) held in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October, 2018 on the topic, “Communicating Valuation: Tools, Tips, and Examples”.
Southard Financial negotiated the sale of and was the exclusive financial advisor to Southern Systems, Inc.
David A. Harris spoke at the 2018 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association
David A. Harris spoke at the 2018 Annual Fall Conference of the New South Chapter of The ESOP Association held in Birmingham, Alabama in September, 2018. He led a workshop called “The People’s Roundtable Interactive Workshop – A series of ‘Build to Last’ activities that focus on developing successful communication and team building programs for employee owners of all generations.” Speakers included Dolores Lawrence, Blue Ridge ESOP Associates; Lindsay Baublitz, SCandH Capital; David Harris, Southard Financial LLC
Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the ESOP Nuts & Bolts Seminar of the NCEO
Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the ESOP Nuts and Bolts Seminar of the NCEO (National Center for Employee Ownership) held in Indianapolis, Indiana in August, 2018 on the topic of “What’s Your Company Worth? – ESOP Valuation.”
Southard Financial helps Transnetyx expand with growth capital
Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute
Mark A. Orndorff spoke at the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute 2018 held in Memphis, TN in January, 2018 on the topic of Succession Planning titled “What is Your ‘End Goal’?”
