Fidelity research also shows that employees in an ESPP are three times more likely to sell ESPP shares for emergency cash rather than take a loan from their 401(k).
More than one-third (34%) of employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) participants paid bills and addressed debt with the proceeds of company stock acquired through their ESPP, a study from Fidelity Investments finds.
Nearly one-fifth (19%) of employees reinvested the proceeds from an ESPP sale—10% used the money to invest in stocks or mutual funds, and another 9% reinvested the proceeds in a retirement savings account.
ESPPs can also help employees protect their retirement savings by reducing the likelihood they will borrow against their 401(k). Fidelity research shows that employees in an ESPP are three times more likely to sell ESPP shares for emergency cash rather than take a loan from their 401(k), and more than half (52%) added that it was “highly unlikely” they would tap their 401(k) if they needed cash.
“Employee stock purchase plans can help workers with their immediate needs and have a positive impact on their overall financial wellness,” says Emily Cervino, vice president, Stock Plan Services at Fidelity Investments.
Nearly one in five (17%) employees are utilizing ESPP proceeds for home needs, with 10% using the money for home improvements and another 7% using ESPP funds for the purchase of a new or second home. Eleven percent put the money in an emergency fund.
The research also showed workers may be overlooking one use for the proceeds from an ESPP—only 5% of employees used the money for college expenses or student loans.
“ESPPs are sometimes overlooked as a workplace benefit. In most cases, as many as two-thirds of eligible employees do not participate in their ESPP. These plans are easy to use and can help workers address a variety of planned, and unplanned, expenses,” adds Cervino.
Last year, we asked about favorite holiday movies, so this year was time for our favorite holiday songs survey. Respondents could select from a list or choose their own.
More than one-quarter (27.3%) of responding readers did choose their own, and among those, Little Drummer Boy had the most responses.
Merry Christmas from the family – Robert Earl Keen
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
Brick House (by the Commodores)
All of the above.
Amazing Grace
Santa’s Beard by The Beach Boys
Little Drummer Boy Duet – David bowie and Bing Crosby
Colorado Christmas by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b3hfepgZxg
Secret Santa by Here Come The Mummies
Please come home for Christmas
Santa Baby — but only if it’s sung by Eartha Kitt
Alleluia Chorus
What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
On This Very Christmas Night
Mary’s Boy Child by Boney M
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Santa’s Coming Tonight
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
The First Noel
Baby It’s Cold Outside
Pretty Paper by Willie Nelson
NEXT: Choices among the list
Among the list, the following song received less than 1% of votes:
Angels We Have Heard on High
Away in a Manger
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Feliz Navidad
Frosty the Snowman
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Here Comes Santa Claus
Here We Come A-Wassailing
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Jingle Bells
Santa Baby
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Silver Bells
Songs that received between 1% and 3% of votes are All I Want for Christmas Is You, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Hannukah Song by Adam Sandler and The Twelve Days of Christmas. Silent Night received 3.4% of reader votes.
Three songs tied for 5th place, with 4.3% of votes each:
Carol of the Bells
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
The Christmas Song ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . .")
And the top four are:
White Christmas" ("I'm dreaming of a . . . ") – 6%;
Do You Hear What I Hear? – 6.8%;
Mary, Did You Know? – 8.5%; and
O Holy Night – 16.2%.
In comments left by readers, many named other songs they love. Some shared memories or other reasons why their favorite is their favorite. Several noted how radio stations start playing them too soon. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “I love Christmas music, but hate that nearly every local radio station plays only Christmas music for 6-8 weeks before Christmas. By the time the holiday finally arrives, I'm sick of it!”
Thank you to everyone who participated in our survey!
Verbatim
I love holiday songs in December, not in October or November when I find them EXTREMELY annoying.
As a kid, I enjoyed my parents 33 LP record of Andy Williams singing Christmas songs. Still the best.
Love them!
Who doesn't like a good drum beat?
Love them, but really sick of them by December 25.
I like Christmas songs in the two weeks prior to Christmas. I do not like Christmas songs in October. Just sayin’.
I LOVE holiday songs, though I find many of them a little disturbing and try not to think about it (Mom cheating; mom dying; hit and run grandma's death; and, a guy who hasn't learned 'no means no.')
"Brick House" by the Commodores is a great holiday song because it is equally appropriate for any holiday. And that's a fact!
The traditional Christmas hymns are what make the season for me.
I LOVE ALL CHRISTMAS SONGS!!!!!!
It's really a tie among many of these and other songs, but I could only choose one.
Verbatim (cont.)
I love to sing along with all of these songs so I can't pick just one.
Men's Acapella
Love Jordan Smith's (winner of the Voice) version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"
What can I say - a great song by one of the most mismatched pairs in duet history
I honestly love them all (except for that dang Christmas Shoes song - nothing says Merry Christmas like mama dying on Christmas Day)
favorite song has always remained little drummer boy: favorite rendition was always Bing Crosby and David Bowie but recently the version by Pentatonic is fast becoming the favorite!
The holiday season doesn't start at our house until we play Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" for the first time.
I love Christmas music, but hate that nearly every local radio station plays only Christmas music for 6-8 weeks before Christmas. By the time the holiday finally arrives, I'm sick of it!
I especially recommend listening to Pentatonic (acapella group) covering Mary, Did You Know? and other holiday songs.
Holiday songs are my favorite types of songs to sing. They bring back wonderful memories of holidays past each year.
Of course every time I turn on the TV, there is the commercial for the US Postal service and can't get the I want a hippopotamus for Christmas song out of my head!
Verbatim (cont.)
You forgot to put "Jingle Bell Rock" on the list and it is a far superior song than "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree"
Radio stations start playing them TOO early, then immediately stop of 12/26, whereas many families are still celebrating Christmas in the subsequent days.
So many precious memories of singing O Holy Night but I think my favorite was one year at a party of coworkers I surprised everyone with an acapella rendition. You could hear a pin drop and then clapping all around. Brought us all together in peace and joy.
The holidays really are the most wonderful time of the year.
I know it is not a Christmas song, but it is often erroneously played during the Christmas season. It remains one of my top two songs - the other is Silent Night.
I enjoy them about a week prior to Christmas. Anything earlier makes me resentful.
It is beautifully sung with the Transiberian Orchestra and reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. But my second favorite has no lyrics, just music: the Charlie Brown Christmas Dance. That song just makes me happy every time I hear it. My son (26 yrs old) and I must break into the Peanuts dance whenever and wherever we hear it.
Little Drummer Boy - love the version by David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Perhaps you could have a survey of Christmas Songs we hate or are tired of hearing?
It is so hard to pick just one favorite. I listen to them from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas. I love this time of year!
I always look forward to the day after Thanksgiving when they start playing on the radio. This year I noticed stations beginning before Thanksgiving...that's rushing it a bit.
Verbatim (cont.)
I'm a baby boomer and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree brings back so many great memories of growing up with my older brother and sisters, who are still my best friends.
Maybe it's the singer in me, but I love the dynamics in O Holy Night. It always gives me chills whether listening to or singing it.
Other top favorites: Little Drummer Boy, Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird
I picked O Holy Night but Silent Night in English and German, especially in consideration of events that supposedly occurred during the World Wars with fraternization between opposing soldiers
Now that it's politically incorrect to gorge shop on Thanksgiving night and frankly, unsafe to shop on black Friday, I'd wager, sooner than later, they (holiday songs) will start right after Labor Day - trick r' treat that.
I am in a church choir and we start practicing our Christmas Program in August. I do not mind at all because I love Christmas music so much!
The movie "White Christmas" makes the song that much more meaningful especially if you remember the scene where they are singing it in the midst of the battle.
It's hard to pick just one!
Tough picking just one song.
I like all the Christmas music, but in recent years, I have really enjoyed the resurgence of an old one from the 50's called "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" by Gayla Peevey. It is just so cute! Google it if you haven't heard it! 🙂
Santa Baby is my least favorite and I have the song, I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, stuck in my head, since I saw it on the Macy's day parade. I have to start watching more Christmas movies and listening to the radio to get a new song in my head.
NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.