We believe that compensation paid to our named executive officers should be closely aligned with our performance on a continuing and long-term basis and, thereby, with the interests of our stockholders. Toward this end, the Stock Incentive Plan provides for the granting of various types of stock awards. Under the Stock Incentive Plan, we have historically granted stock-based compensation to our named executive officers in the form of restricted stock units that vest and are settled over approximately four years. Other than such restricted stock units, our named executive officers do not hold any outstanding equity awards. Since the inception of the Stock Incentive Plan, it has been our practice to make dividend equivalent payments on unvested stock awards consistent with dividends that are paid with respect to our common stock. Although we retain the flexibility to grant different types of stock awards, it is not currently anticipated that we will grant, as part of executive compensation, stock appreciation rights or other forms of equity-based compensation under the Stock Incentive Plan.
Pursuant to policies set by our Compensation Committee, base salary increases, cash bonuses and stock awards shall be awarded annually, following an evaluation of each named executive officer’s individual performance and the Company’s performance for the year.
Compensation for Named Executive Officers During 2024
Our Compensation Committee determines compensation for all employees, including our named executive officers. Our named executive officers for the 2024 fiscal year were Mr. Thomas Peterffy, our Chairman; Mr. Earl H. Nemser, our Vice Chairman; Mr. Milan Galik, our Chief Executive Officer and President; Mr. Paul J. Brody, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary; and Dr. Thomas A. Frank, our Executive Vice President.
The Compensation Committee has traditionally set Mr. Peterffy’s compensation as salary only, capped at 0.2% of IBG LLC’s net income. During 2024, Mr. Peterffy was paid a salary of $575,000 by IBG LLC and no bonus or equity awards, in accordance with historical practices. During 2025, Mr. Peterffy will be paid a salary of $590,000 by IBG LLC. We believe that the ownership by Mr. Peterffy and his affiliates, through their direct and indirect ownership in Holdings, of a significant amount of the equity in IBG LLC aligns his interests with those of our common stockholders.
Mr. Earl H. Nemser has historically been compensated for his employment as Vice Chairman, reflecting contributions as legal counsel, as head of the IBG LLC Internal Audit Committee, as a member of the Company’s Steering Committee, in his role at ForecastEx, as a director of many of the Company’s subsidiaries, and, since 2023, as Chairman of Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited. The Compensation Committee has made its determination based on the assessments described above under “Setting Executive Compensation.” During 2024, Mr. Nemser was paid a salary of $755,000 by IBG LLC (inclusive of $180,000 of IBG LLC director fees) and a cash bonus of $1,000,000 in accordance with these practices. Mr. Nemser also received a stock award under the Stock Incentive Plan valued at $1,425,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. During 2025, Mr. Nemser will be paid a salary of $770,000 by IBG LLC (inclusive of $180,000 of IBG LLC director fees).
Messrs. Galik and Brody and Dr. Frank have historically been compensated in accordance with the policies discussed above under “Setting Executive Compensation” with a mixture of base salary, cash bonus, and stock awards under the Stock Incentive Plan. Mr. Galik’s, Mr. Brody’s and Dr. Frank’s 2024 base salary was $575,000. Each received an individual performance-based bonus. In addition to performance evaluations, consideration was given to the benefits derived from each individual’s existing direct or indirect ownership of membership interests in Holdings. Messrs. Galik and Brody and Dr. Frank received stock awards under the Stock Incentive Plan valued at $12,525,000, $3,295,000, and $1,210,000, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The contributions of each of our named executive officers that the Compensation Committee considered included: Mr. Galik has a key role in the management of the Company over the execution of its strategy and in the ongoing development of software and systems for our electronic brokerage platform, driving the growth of the business. The Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Galik’s performance and contribution to the achievement of the Company’s financial goals merited a higher bonus in 2024 than the other named executive officers of the Company. Mr. Brody made ongoing efforts with respect to building and maintaining strong financial and operational controls, a prudent liquidity management program, banking relationships, credit ratings and interaction with domestic and foreign financial regulators. Dr. Frank continued to enhance the Company’s risk management and global technical infrastructure. Their 2025 base salary has been increased to $590,000. Each of Messrs. Galik and Brody and Dr. Frank is expected to receive a stock award under the Stock Incentive Plan in 2025 based on each executive’s anticipated