Proposal Topic and Speaker FAQs
Proposal Submission FAQs
Do I have to submit my proposal via the website?
All proposals must be submitted via the RFP website. With typically more than 150 proposals submitted for consideration, it is critical that we receive them in an orderly manner. Our proposal submission website ensures that your proposal includes all the information needed to evaluate your submission. We will not consider proposals that are not submitted via the website.
What do I do if I'm having trouble logging into the website?
It is not necessary to log into the NASPP website to submit a proposal. You may access the Proposal Submission Website from the NASPP home page, but it is not necessary to log into the NASPP website to complete your submission. Once you have accessed the main page of the Proposal Submission Website simply click the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page to begin a submission. Once you have started a submission, you will receive an email with instructions on how to update it. The email instructions will contain a specific link that will allow you to directly access your proposal. Please maintain the email and link until the end of the proposal submission process in order to update your proposal.
Why is there a limit on the number of proposals that can be submitted?
Each company is limited to a maximum of three (3) proposal submissions. This restriction is necessary due the limited number of presentation slots that are available at each Annual Conference. Experience has shown that three (3) submissions from a single company are sufficient to allow the NASPP to fill the available presentation slots and also allows to the company to focus their proposals on the topics they are most interested in presenting on.
Are there any exceptions to the limitation on proposals submissions?
There will be no exceptions to the policy limiting companies to a maximum of three (3) proposals. However, it is important to note that if you are included as a speaker on a proposal submitted by another company, that proposal does not count against your company's limitation. Additionally, foreign subsidiaries and branches will be counted as separate companies from their domestic counterparts for purposes of the limitation. Presentations scheduled in any of the pre-conference activities or as part of the CompensationStandards.com Executive Compensation Conference also do not count towards the limitation.
What information will I need to complete my proposal submission?
There are five sections to the proposal submission process. In order to complete your proposal, you will need to provide the title and description of your presentation, a brief narrative on the audience benefit and a description of your presentation in the format of a minimum of six (6) talking points (you can submit up to ten (10)). Additionally, you will be required to designate your presentation's discipline (e.g. plan administration, taxation, etc.) and education level. For each participating speaker/panelist, you will be required to submit contact information, a biography and information on past speaking experience.
What if I misplace the email instructions on how to update my proposal?
If you misplace the email instructions and related link, please send an email with your name, company, email address and presentation ID to rfp@naspp.com.
How do I know my proposal submission is complete?
At any point during the proposal submission process you will have access to the "Progress Checklist." By clicking on this link, you can easily see which of the five sections are complete and which require further information. When all sections are complete, you will be prompted to submit your proposal and you will receive the following confirmation message: "You have SUCCESSFULLY submitted your presentation proposal for the NASPP Annual Conference. Your CONFIRMATION NUMBER is XXXXX. Please PRINT THIS PAGE for your records."
Once my proposal is complete and I have a confirmation number, can I still make changes to it?
Prior to the deadline, any proposal submitted via the website can be updated or changed.
When is the last possible date and time I can submit a proposal?
Proposals will be accepted via the website until 11:59 PM PT on the day of the deadline which is located on the introductory page of the RFP Website. We begin evaluating proposals as soon as the submission period closes, so we cannot make any exceptions to the deadline, no matter how dire the circumstances. We encourage you to plan accordingly.
Will the date and location of the Annual Conference be announced before proposals are due?
The Conference dates and location will be announced in the next few months. We encourage anyone interested in speaking to submit a proposal, even if you cannot firmly commit until we've announced the Conference dates and location. Submitting a proposal does not commit you to speak at the Conference; you will have an opportunity to confirm your participation if your proposal is accepted.
Proposal Topic and Speaker FAQs
How many proposals are submitted and how many do you accept?
We generally receive approximately 150 proposals and accept between 35 and 40.
Do I have to be a member of the NASPP to submit a proposal or participate in a presentation?
There is not a requirement that you be an NASPP member to submit a proposal or participate in a presentation. We welcome submissions from both NASPP members and non-members, but proposals from NASPP members receive preference.
The NASPP does not offer speaking opportunities in exchange for exhibiting and sponsoring at the Conference. To maintain the integrity of the Conference, our number one consideration when evaluating speaking proposals has to be the content of the proposal and qualifications of the speakers. We have around 60 exhibitors every year, far more than the number of speaking slots we have available, therefore we cannot guarantee a speaking slot to every exhibitor. We do, however, look at past and current exhibition and sponsorship commitments, and other past contributions to the NASPP (both financial and in-kind), when we evaluate speaking proposals. For example, if we have two equally compelling proposals in terms of content and speaker qualifications, we would give preference to the proposal submitted by firm that is a consistently strong supporter of the NASPP.
The area of international stock plans is where we receive the most proposals and is also an area where we are offering fewer workshops than in the past due to a decline in workshop attendance. Both of these factors make this area very competitive. To increase the possibility of acceptance for a proposal on any topic, please review the Top Ten Tips for Creating a Successful Proposal. Proposals that include clients are more likely to be accepted than those that do not. Additionally, a proposal that combines a domestic as well as a global topic-in other words, a proposal where the international considerations are just part of a larger topic might also have a greater opportunity of success.
What other topics do you receive a lot of proposals on?
We receive a significant number of proposals focused on accounting related topics (FAS 123(R)) as well as topics in the area of plan design. These are all areas where we will offer a number of workshops. However, because we do receive many proposals in these areas, there is also a lot of competition for these workshop slots. Proposals that take a unique approach to the topic and that include clients are most likely to be accepted.
Do I need to include a well-known speaker on my panel?
It isn't necessary to include well-known speakers or partners on your panel. Our focus is to find the best qualified individuals to speak at the conference. If we feel that a panel needs an industry luminary, we will work with you to make the required addition.
A proposal submission is not complete until the names and biographies of all panelists are included. Proposals that do not include this information for participating clients will be evaluated as if the panels do not include clients/issuer representatives.
Do I have to put together a panel for my proposal?
Almost all of our workshops are panels; we accept very few proposals from single presenters. However, we still encourage you to submit your proposal even if you don't have a panel. Although we are unlikely to accept your proposal as submitted, we often combine these types of proposals with similar proposals to form a panel.
Is there a limit to the number of panelists I can have?
We request that you limit participation in a panel presentation to a maximum of four panelists. This limitation is imposed for a variety of reasons, most important of which is the need to allow each panelist sufficient time to present his/her material. With each presentation slot being only 75 minutes in length, having more that four presenters has proven ineffective.
You can do this, but we don't recommend it. To keep the Conference fresh, we repeat only a minimal number of presentations from year to year. Even where we present the same topics in multiple years, we often change the focus of the presentation and/or the speakers for that topic. Thus, to increase the likelihood that one of your proposals will be accepted, we recommend that you use your three submissions for new topic ideas.
During our selection process, we review topics presented at recent NASPP Conferences to determine if we want to present those same topics again. We know which topics you presented at past Conferences, how well the sessions were attended, and how well they were received. If we want you to present on the same topics again this year, we will reach out to you regardless of whether you have submitted a proposal on the topic.
If my proposal is accepted, what benefits do I receive for being a speaker?
As a speaker at the Annual Conference you will receive complimentary Conference registration. Unfortunately we cannot reimburse speakers for hotel, meal or other travel expenses.
If my proposal is accepted, when will my final presentation materials be due?
Once your proposal is accepted you will be notified of the exact deadline for submission of your materials; we currently expect that materials will be due in July.
What if my materials require changes after they are submitted but before the Annual Conference?
It is not a problem to make changes to conference materials subsequent to the submission deadline; however, there is a chance that your changes will not be reflected in the printed Conference materials. In this instance we would ask that you bring copies to of the revised materials to the presentation for distribution to the attendees.