Here's what an employee needs to know about how they can benefit from the growth of their company through these plans, as well as info on accumulation, vesting and distribution. Editor’s note: This is part two of a six-part series in which Peter Newman, CFA, of Peak Wealth Planning, explains the benefits of employee ownership for the U.S. workforce. There are more than 6,500 Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs, in the U.S. covering almost 14 million employees. Part one is Five Key Advantage