22) Stock Compensation Plans and Retirement Plans

 

Stock Compensation Plans

 

The Company has three active equity incentive plans (the “2013 Plan”, the “2014 Director Plan” and the “2022 Plan” or “the Plans”).

 

Stock Options

 

Stock based compensation expense for stock options issued of $1,281,569 and $794,654 has been recognized under these Plans for 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included in personnel expenses on the consolidated statements of earnings. As of December 31, 2025, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to the stock options issued was $1,681,944, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining vesting period.

 

The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model. The Company estimates the expected life of the options using the simplified method. Future volatility is estimated based upon the weighted historical volatility of the Company’s Class A Common Stock over a period equal to the expected life of the options. The risk-free interest rate for the expected life of the options is based upon the Federal Reserve Board’s daily interest rates in effect at the time of the grant.

 

The following table summarizes the assumptions used in estimating the fair value of each stock option granted along with the weighted-average fair value of the stock options granted.

Schedule of Assumptions Used

 

          Assumptions 
Grant Date  Plan 

Weighted-Average

Fair Value

of Each Option

  

Expected

Dividend

Yield (1)

  

Underlying

stock FMV

  

Weighted-Average

Volatility

  

Weighted-Average

Risk-Free

Interest Rate

  

Weighted-Average

Expected

Life (years)

 
December 5, 2025  All Plans  $1.93    5%  $8.53    35.93%   3.71%   5.23 
                                                                                            
March 21, 2025  All Plans  $3.17    5%  $12.82    38.26%   3.98%   5.31 
                                  
January 9, 2025  All Plans  $3.04    5%  $11.93    38.44%   4.43%   5.31 
                                  
December 26, 2024  All Plans  $3.01    5%  $11.87    38.41%   4.38%   5.31 
                                  
December 6, 2024  All Plans  $3.17    5%  $13.08    38.17%   4.00%   5.12 
                                  
January 12, 2024  All Plans  $2.01    5%  $8.35    37.51%   3.81%   5.31 
                                  
January 8, 2024  All Plans  $2.16    5%  $8.93    37.50%   3.93%   5.31 

 

 

(1) Stock dividend

 

 

SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024

 

22) Stock Compensation Plans and Retirement Plans (Continued)

 

The activity of the Plans is summarized as follows:

Schedule of Activity of Stock Option Plans

 

  

Number of

Class A

Shares

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price (2)

  

Number of

Class C

Shares

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price (2)

 
Outstanding at December 31, 2023   833,570   $4.91    1,520,062   $5.57 
Adjustment for the effect of stock dividends   38,724         76,005      
Granted   59,200         330,000      
Exercised   (267,491)        (201,667)     
Cancelled   (17,409)              
                     
Outstanding at December 31, 2024   646,594   $5.63    1,724,400   $6.87 
Adjustment for the effect of stock dividends   27,898         80,571      
Granted   284,707         674,343      
Exercised   (162,467)        (113,023)     
Cancelled   (35,894)              
                     
Outstanding at December 31, 2025   760,838   $6.85    2,366,291   $7.54 
                     
Exercisable at end of year   494,756   $5.89    1,691,948   $7.13 
                     
Available options for future grant   1,903,835         4,207      
                     
Weighted average contractual term of options outstanding at December 31, 2025   6.71 years         6.99 years      
                     
Weighted average contractual term of options exercisable at December 31, 2025   5.09 years         5.89 years      
                     
Aggregated intrinsic value of options outstanding at December 31, 2025 (1)  $1,822,785        $4,717,929      
                     
Aggregated intrinsic value of options exercisable at December 31, 2025 (1)  $1,702,761        $4,404,475      

 

 
(1) The Company used a stock price of $9.01 as of December 31, 2025 to derive intrinsic value.
(2) Adjusted for the effect of annual stock dividends.

 

The total intrinsic value (which is the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of an option on the exercise date) of stock options exercised during 2025, and 2024 was $1,503,525 and $3,104,163, respectively.

 

 

SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024

 

22) Stock Compensation Plans and Retirement Plans (Continued)

 

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)

 

Stock based compensation expense for RSUs issued of $38,928 and $6,166 has been recognized under these plans for the 2025 and 2024, respectively, and is included in personnel expenses on the consolidated statements of earnings. As of December 31, 2025, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to the RSUs issued was $26,626, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining vesting period.

 

The activity of the RSUs is summarized as follows:

Schedule of Activity Restricted Stock Units

 

  

Number of

Class A Shares

  

Weighted

Average

Grant Date

Fair Value

 
Non-vested at December 31, 2023   2,245   $7.72 
           
Granted   12,353      
Vested   (1,785)     
           
Non-vested at December 31, 2024   12,813   $12.90 
Granted   14,481      
Vested   (9,726)     
           
Non-vested at December 31, 2025   17,568   $9.33 
           
Available RSUs for future grant   489,706      

 

Retirement Plans

 

The Company has three 401(k) savings plans covering all eligible employees which include employer participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plans allow participants to make pretax contributions up to a maximum of $23,500 and $23,000 for the years 2025 and 2024, respectively or the statutory limits. The Company matched 100% of up to 3% of an employee’s total annual compensation and matched 50% of 4% to 5% of an employee’s annual compensation. The match was in Company stock. The Company’s contribution for 2025 and 2024 was $811,622 and $768,288, respectively under the plan.

 

The Company has a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. Under the terms of the Plan, the Company will provide deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Board has appointed a Committee of the Company to be the Plan Administrator and to determine the employees who are eligible to participate in the plan. The employees who participate may elect to defer a portion of their compensation into the plan. The Company may contribute into the plan at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company’s contribution for 2025 and 2024 was $503,654 and nil, respectively under the plan.

 

 

SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024

 

22) Stock Compensation Plans and Retirement Plans (Continued)

 

In June 2024, the Board members approved a motion to extend the Chief Executive Officer’s employment agreement, dated December 4, 2012, for an additional six-year term ending December 31, 2030. In the event of disability, the Chief Executive Officer’s salary would be continued for up to five years at 75% of its current level of compensation. In the event of a sale or merger of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer is not retained in his current position, the Company would be obligated to continue paying the Chief Executive Officer’s current compensation and benefits for seven years following the merger or sale. The agreement further provides that the Chief Executive Officer is entitled to receive annual retirement benefits beginning (i) one month from the date of his retirement (to commence no sooner than age 65), (ii) five years following complete disability, or (iii) upon termination of his employment without cause. These retirement benefits are to be paid for a period of twenty years in annual installments in the amount equal to 75% of his then current level of compensation. If the Chief Executive Officer dies prior to receiving all retirement benefits thereunder, the remaining benefits are to be paid to his heirs. The Company adjusted the accrual by $1,479,348 and $340,557 during 2025 and 2024, respectively, to cover the present value of anticipated retirement benefits under the employment agreement. The liability accrued was $8,695,154 and $7,215,806 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

 

The Company also has an employment agreement with its former Vice President of Mortgage Operations and President of SecurityNational Mortgage, who retired from the Company on December 31, 2015. Under the terms of the employment agreement, this individual is entitled to receive retirement benefits from the Company for a period of ten years in an amount equal to 50% of his rate of compensation at the time of his retirement, which was $267,685 for the year ended December 31, 2015. If this individual dies prior to receiving all his retirement benefits under his employment agreement, the remaining benefits will be made to his heirs. The company has paid monthly installments that equal an annual payment of $133,843 to this individual each year since 2016. The liability accrued was nil and $133,843 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively and is included in other liabilities and accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

 

SECURITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 16, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 31, 2025
2023Mar 29, 2024
2022Mar 31, 2023
2021Mar 31, 2022
2020Mar 31, 2021
2019Mar 30, 2020
2018Mar 29, 2019
2017Apr 2, 2018
2016Mar 31, 2017
2015Mar 30, 2016

About Stock Compensation Disclosures

Stock-based compensation disclosures detail the equity awards granted to employees and executives — including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares — along with the valuation methods and assumptions used to expense them. This section reveals the true cost of talent retention and the alignment between management incentives and shareholder interests.

Key signals: total unrecognized compensation expense and its expected recognition period signal future earnings headwinds from already-granted awards. For stock options, examine Black-Scholes assumptions — expected volatility, risk-free rate, and expected term — as understating any of these reduces reported compensation expense. Compare stock compensation expense as a percentage of revenue against peers to assess dilution cost. Watch vesting schedules for acceleration clauses tied to change-of-control events. Performance-based awards with undemanding targets may indicate weak governance. Add back stock compensation to operating cash flow to calculate a more conservative free cash flow figure.