2008 will be a challenging year for the financial services industry. In addition to providing the industry's most relied upon data for benchmark compensation trends, McLagan is the source for up-to-date information on industry practices regarding compensation administration, industry trends and business results, and other topics to assist you in your decision making throughout 2008.

Note: Not all studies are conducted in every region. Where studies are conducted, some timing differences may occur.

In a year when many organizations are reducing headcount, McLagan’s Severance Study will assess how firms handle severance packages, including salary, bonus, long-term awards, benefit packages and accounting treatment.

Additional coverage for this global analysis will include personal loan administration and garden leave policies.

As firms adjusted their deferral programs to meet year-end pay pressures, the topic of Equity Deferral Plans is of more interest than ever.

This study includes both quantitative and qualitative information on how firms defer pay into equity plans, including deferral rates, thresholds, vesting and delivery, forfeiture provisions, retirement treatment and a variety of other metrics, including LTIP practices, sign-on bonuses, bonus buyouts and bonus guarantees.

Emerging Markets are playing an increasingly large role in financial markets, and this study will give clients a high level overview of movement of pay on a “same-stores” basis, along with trend information on business developments and regional growth. A second installment will be delivered later in the year, with updated information.

Topics include cost of living allowances, non-cash services provided (moving costs, cross-cultural training), school and housing allowances, home visit policy, tax equalization and other expatriate management practices.

This study provides an overview of pay levels and practices for Bachelor Graduate Analysts in Investment Banking. Information contained in this report covers current and historical practices of the bulge bracket investment banks. Other information provided includes class size trends, overtime eligibility practices, relocation expenses, internal promotion procedures, summer intern programs, recruiting policies and offer package practices.

This study includes a roundtable meeting with peer organizations.

Firms are building and increasing structure regarding graduate programs for infrastructure staff; this study captures how these programs are managed, and the associated pay rates. Specific topics include applicant background, interview process, offer practices, class size, rotations and post-program position assignments.

This extensive study reviews health & welfare, retirement, and paid time off benefit programs as well as, relocation and personnel practices throughout the market.

Highlights include information on prevalence of plan types, elements of plan design, cost of individual benefit programs, employee contribution costs and co-pays, employee participation rates, employee contribution rates, and commissioned staff benefits.

Aligning pay to performance continues to be a hot topic in HR. We will look at performance measurement strategies across a variety of roles (sales/trader/infrastructure, etc.), how firms management performance tracking, and then offer clients the option of having us assess the effectiveness of their pay for performance strategy, utilizing our benchmarking data and proprietary analysis models.

Promotion rates by business and title are reviewed, as well as promotion processes, methods of curbing title inflation, and best practices in managing a promotion cycle. This study is delivered in September, in time for firms beginning their promotion process.

Results of this study cover salary data, including current year budgets, salary structures, and practices around exempt/non-exempt designations, and are delivered in October, when firms begin salary reviews.

This study reports the schedule of firms’ year-end compensation calendars, including communication dates and payout dates.

This study reviews paid-time off practices. Specific topics include, vacation, sick & personal time policies, maternity & paternity policies, adoption & surrogate policies, disability policies, garden leave policies, sabbaticals and other programs for compensated absence.

This report includes financials for more than 30 of the top firms, including revenue, compensation & benefits ratios, business analytics, and insightful commentary. It is delivered on a quarterly basis, throughout the year, and multiple times through the fall, as new intelligence is available.

The fall updates include projected compensation changes, as well as a wealth of business trends and statistics. Clients receiving this report are invited to a Trends Presentation, where McLagan product experts present the information, and field questions from the attendees.