Employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) and business valuations often play a key role in succession and continuity planning. BKD's Cara Benningfield and Shaun Duffin join host Damien Martin to explain what ESOPs and valuations are and break down the impact of the current environment to include the pandemic, uncertainty in the economy, and possible tax changes. Here's what they cover:

• What's a business valuation and why are they done? [02:22]
• What's an ESOP and what role can they play in planning? [03:57]
• ESOP fit and good candidates for one [05:52]
• The intersection of ESOPs and valuations [07:26]
• Effect of COVID-19 on valuations [11:18]
• The role of projections in valuations and navigating uncertainty in the economy and the market [19:08]
• Current trends in ESOP transactions and valuations [20:19]
• Effect of potential tax changes [22:25]
• ESOPs and the talent war [26:25]
• "It takes a village" [34:40]
• Takeaways and closing thoughts [39:17]

Learn more about our guests and get additional resources at www.bkd.com/simplytax.

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