Following SEC amendments to Rule 10b5-1 in 2022, many public companies were left to assess the impact of the new rules on their insider trading policies and compliance practices. This whitepaper explores how public companies have adapted to the new regulations. Conducted in partnership with Morgan Stanley at Work, the research surveyed 202 professionals responsible for administering or approving 10b5-1 plans at publicly traded companies with active equity compensation programs.

The study set out to understand how organizations are managing regulatory risk, evolving governance practices, and supporting insiders in light of current SEC requirements. Respondents spanned HR, Legal, Risk, and Compliance functions across small, mid, and large cap firms.

Key findings include:

• Widespread use and institutionalization of 10b5-1 plans—97% of companies reported insider use, up from 74% in 2021.
• Regulatory changes are prompting action—most companies are increasing oversight and tightening plan amendment and termination policies.
• Broader access—companies are expanding eligibility beyond executives to non-directors and those outside the C-suite.
• Education matters—65% of companies provide holistic planning support to executives, and nearly half consider training a vital service offered by plan providers.

The results demonstrate that 10b5-1 plans are becoming an integral part of corporate equity compensation strategies and executive financial planning.

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