The new Equity Compensation Plan Participant Survey from Charles Schwab shows that 30% of the net wealth of the 1,000 survey participants came from equity in their company stock plans (mostly stock options, restricted stock, and ESPPs). For millennials, the percentage was 41.5%, probably because younger workers have had less time to build other assets. Thirty-two percent of respondents owned stock in their company in their 401(k) plans as well, and another 41% own stock in their company outside retirement plans. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said that equity compensation was the main reason (18%) or one of the main reasons (21%) they took the job, but 60% of millennials said equity compensation was a key driver.

The participants were in companies served by Schwab’s stock plan services, many of whom are in the technology sector. The report does not indicate the demographics of participants other than age, so it is not possible to generalize these findings to the broader population.