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Vernon P. "Vern"
Saper

  • Partner Emeritus
vsaper@wnj.com
Grand Rapids
T 616.752.2116
M 616.485.9913
F 616.752.2500

Vern Saper focuses his practice in employee benefits law, representing public, privately held and professional corporations, partnerships and individuals. For many years he has specialized in the legal aspects of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). He has extensive experience in design and preparation of ESOPs and ESOP transactions of all types.

  • Prepared first ESOP in Michigan in 1974.
  • Implemented more ESOPs than any other attorney in State of Michigan.
  • Established ESOPs for companies with employee population of 15 to several thousands.
  • Representing ESOP companies, trustees and other fiduciaries in both purchase and sale transactions of employer stock.
  • Assisting ESOP companies and ESOP fiduciaries successfully resolving Department of Labor examinations and IRS audits of ESOPs.
  • Designing and drafting all types of qualified retirement plans.
  • Specializing in design of qualified retirement plans to benefit executives and key management employees.
  • Assisting employers with IRS submissions to correct retirement plan operational errors.
  • Prepared first ESOP in Michigan in 1974.
  • Implemented more ESOPs than any other attorney in State of Michigan.
  • Established ESOPs for companies with employee population of 15 to several thousands.
  • Representing ESOP companies, trustees and other fiduciaries in both purchase and sale transactions of employer stock.
  • Assisting ESOP companies and ESOP fiduciaries successfully resolving Department of Labor examinations and IRS audits of ESOPs.
  • Designing and drafting all types of qualified retirement plans.
  • Specializing in design of qualified retirement plans to benefit executives and key management employees.
  • Assisting employers with IRS submissions to correct retirement plan operational errors.
  • Assisting employers with design and implementation of non-qualified deferred compensation plans and executive incentive plans, including phantom stock.
  • Advisor in all matters concerning ESOPs, safe harbor 401(k) plans, defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans of all types.
  • Counsel for non-qualified retirement plans and other executive compensation programs for numerous publicly held and private corporations.
  • Extensive experience in analyzing and writing all types of qualified retirement plans for numerous financial institutions, medical corporations, manufacturers and other businesses. throughout Michigan and surrounding region.
  • Highly regarded for introducing innovative and lucrative retirement plans designs for maximizing benefits to clients.
  • “ABC’s of ESOPs,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, March 23, 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • “The ‘Perfect’ Retirement Plan for Small Businesses,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • “The PPA and Defined Contribution Plans,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, May 10, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • ESOP Half-Day Workshop, cosponsored with The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Western Michigan Chapter, October 15, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care)?,” December 12, 2007, Southfield, Michigan
  • “ABC’s of ESOPs,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, March 23, 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • “The ‘Perfect’ Retirement Plan for Small Businesses,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • “The PPA and Defined Contribution Plans,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, May 10, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • ESOP Half-Day Workshop, cosponsored with The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Western Michigan Chapter, October 15, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care)?,” December 12, 2007, Southfield, Michigan
    • “Employee Stock Ownership and Estate Planning for the Business Owner”
    • “The Advantages of an ESOP to a Closely Held Corporation and Its Shareholders”
    • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care?)”
    • “Using Your ESOP to Acquire Another Company”
    • “401(k) + ESOP = KSOP, A Winning Formula”
    • “Do You Really Save Money Using a Prototype Retirement Plan”
    • “Explanation of Different Types of Qualified Retirement Plan Documents”
    • “Getting More for Less Through Innovative Defined Contribution Plan Design”
    • “How to Avoid Return of Excess 401(k) Contributions”
    • “New and Improved 401(k) Safe Ha
    • “Employee Stock Ownership and Estate Planning for the Business Owner”
    • “The Advantages of an ESOP to a Closely Held Corporation and Its Shareholders”
    • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care?)”
    • “Using Your ESOP to Acquire Another Company”
    • “401(k) + ESOP = KSOP, A Winning Formula”
    • “Do You Really Save Money Using a Prototype Retirement Plan”
    • “Explanation of Different Types of Qualified Retirement Plan Documents”
    • “Getting More for Less Through Innovative Defined Contribution Plan Design”
    • “How to Avoid Return of Excess 401(k) Contributions”
    • “New and Improved 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan”
    • “New Benefits Law — Again!”
    • “Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans”
    • “Participant Directed Retirement Plans Under Section 401(k)”
    • “Retirement Plans for the 21st Century”
    • “Use of Qualified Retirement Plans in Business Acquisition”
    • “What’s New and Important in Employee Benefits”
    Image for Vernon P. Saper

    Vernon P. "Vern"
    Saper

    • Partner Emeritus
    vsaper@wnj.com
    Grand Rapids
    T 616.752.2116
    M 616.485.9913
    F 616.752.2500
    Biography|
    Credentials

    Vern Saper focuses his practice in employee benefits law, representing public, privately held and professional corporations, partnerships and individuals. For many years he has specialized in the legal aspects of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). He has extensive experience in design and preparation of ESOPs and ESOP transactions of all types.

    • “ABC’s of ESOPs,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, March 23, 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • “The ‘Perfect’ Retirement Plan for Small Businesses,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • “The PPA and Defined Contribution Plans,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, May 10, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • ESOP Half-Day Workshop, cosponsored with The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Western Michigan Chapter, October 15, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care)?,” December 12, 2007, Southfield, Michigan
    • “ABC’s of ESOPs,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, March 23, 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • “The ‘Perfect’ Retirement Plan for Small Businesses,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, September 11, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • “The PPA and Defined Contribution Plans,” Warner Human Resources Seminar, May 10, 2007, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • ESOP Half-Day Workshop, cosponsored with The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Western Michigan Chapter, October 15, 2008, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care)?,” December 12, 2007, Southfield, Michigan
      • “Employee Stock Ownership and Estate Planning for the Business Owner”
      • “The Advantages of an ESOP to a Closely Held Corporation and Its Shareholders”
      • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care?)”
      • “Using Your ESOP to Acquire Another Company”
      • “401(k) + ESOP = KSOP, A Winning Formula”
      • “Do You Really Save Money Using a Prototype Retirement Plan”
      • “Explanation of Different Types of Qualified Retirement Plan Documents”
      • “Getting More for Less Through Innovative Defined Contribution Plan Design”
      • “How to Avoid Return of Excess 401(k) Contributions”
      • “New and Improved 401(k) Safe Ha
      • “Employee Stock Ownership and Estate Planning for the Business Owner”
      • “The Advantages of an ESOP to a Closely Held Corporation and Its Shareholders”
      • “What is an ESOP (and Why Should I Care?)”
      • “Using Your ESOP to Acquire Another Company”
      • “401(k) + ESOP = KSOP, A Winning Formula”
      • “Do You Really Save Money Using a Prototype Retirement Plan”
      • “Explanation of Different Types of Qualified Retirement Plan Documents”
      • “Getting More for Less Through Innovative Defined Contribution Plan Design”
      • “How to Avoid Return of Excess 401(k) Contributions”
      • “New and Improved 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan”
      • “New Benefits Law — Again!”
      • “Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans”
      • “Participant Directed Retirement Plans Under Section 401(k)”
      • “Retirement Plans for the 21st Century”
      • “Use of Qualified Retirement Plans in Business Acquisition”
      • “What’s New and Important in Employee Benefits”