Dale Stevens, APA: ESOP Trustee Services for the Inland Northwest

Qualified & Experienced ESOP Expert

With more than 30 years experience in working with ESOPs and other qualified retirement plans, Dale Stevens has an experienced working knowledge of ERISA, Internal Revenue Service Tax Code (as it applies to Qualified Retirement Plans), Business Valuation and Appraisal, Corporate Governance, Transaction Mechanics and ESOP Mechanics.

Dale has worked with and for employers ranging from 1 to 5,000 employees. He can clearly communicate various business strategies and has the ability to translate technical jargon into easily understood language.

Dale is an Accredited Pension Administrator (APA) with the National Institute of Pension Administrators. He is also a managing member of Break-Thru Benefits, LLC, located in Spokane, Washington. Break-Thru Benefits, LLC, provides ESOP recordkeeping and compliance administration for small- to mid-sized employers.

Dale is a member of the ESOP Association, the National Center for Employee Ownership and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.

Contact Dale

Is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan right for your business?

If you are a profitable:

  • Private corporate owner who wants to cash out tax-deferred or tax-free and perhaps remain part of the company.
  • Management group that wants to buy a corporation or division with pre-tax dollars.
  • Company that wants to deduct the cost of acquisitions.
  • Corporate owner who wants to sell some or all of the firm to its employees cost-free.
  • Corporation that wants to deduct principal on an existing or new loan to finance growth.
  • Company owner who is contemplating business succession strategies.
  • Corporate owner who wants to enhance estate planning by becoming more liquid.
  • Corporation owner who wants to benefit charitable causes.

You may be an ESOP candidate!

FAQs

Explore the advantages of an ESOP:

  • ESOPs can motivate employees simply by giving them a piece of the pie. However small, an increase in the company’s stock value results in an increase to the participant’s account value. This can provide motivation unmatched by a paycheck. Indirectly, the company belongs to its employees and their performance can impact its value.
  • Like any other qualified plan, the ESOP allows transfer of assets (usually cash) in a manner that results in a current deduction for the company but without immediate inclusion in the participant’s income.
  • Subject to limits described elsewhere, tax deductions are available (indirectly) for payments of debt, including principal.
  • Unlike other qualified plans, ESOPs can incur debt to acquire their holdings, and can do so by borrowing from the sponsoring corporation.
  • For certain C corporation shareholders, gain can be deferred from sale of shares to an ESOP, thereby allowing the shareholder to diversify holdings dollar for dollar, instead of net tax. This is a great asset protection vehicle, especially for those shareholders nearing retirement.
FAQs