SEI Unveils Resolutions for a Successful Advisor New Year

Advisors Resolve to Get Back to Business Basics, Get More Face Time With Clients

OAKS, PA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/17/12 -- With most financial advisors feeling optimistic about 2013, SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC) today unveiled a set of resolutions to help advisors turn that positive energy into a happy and more successful New Year. The resolutions come on the heels of a recent SEI Quick Poll that revealed the overwhelming majority of advisors (84 percent) believe 2012 was a good year for their businesses while even more (86 percent) believe that 2013 will be the same or better than this year.

When asked to pick their top three New Year's resolutions for 2013, respondents to SEI's Quick Poll identified: "Get Back to Business Basics" (53 percent), "Get More Face Time" (48 percent), and "Ask for Introductions" (43 percent). SEI's poll was completed by more than 275 financial advisors.

"Despite all the talk about the fiscal cliff and the deficit, it's clear that optimism persists among advisors," said John Anderson Head of Practice Management, SEI Advisor Network. "The following list of resolutions provides actionable steps that advisors can take to deliver more value to clients and more profit to their bottom lines. We hope these resolutions serve as a guideline for best business practices in the New Year."

The full list of resolutions is below.

Get Back to Business Basics - Just like any business, it's important for advisors to revisit their everyday procedures and practices to make sure they align with real business goals. By getting back to the basics advisors can focus on delivering the best client experience and achieving long-term business success.

Get More Face Time - Electronic communications may be 'en vogue,' but face-to-face meetings never go out of style. Forty-three percent of the advisors surveyed indicated face-to-face meetings are still the preferred method of communication. Advisors need to get in front of more clients more often to gain a better understanding of expectations, demonstrate greater value, and build stronger long-term relationships.

Ask for Introductions (Make New Friends) - Networking is a key aspect of building any advisor's business. Commit to being more visible and connecting with more prospects and centers of influence as those are the kinds of new friends that will deliver lasting business benefits. Don't just ask for referrals, ask for introductions.

Talk Tax Early and Often - With the fiscal cliff, the topic of taxes has come to the forefront of nearly every political and business conversation. This creates a tremendous opportunity for advisors to discuss tax minimization strategies and options more frequently throughout the year, and demonstrate greater value to clients and prospects on an issue that's top of mind and not going away any time soon.

Be More Social - While communicating through social media is quickly becoming the norm rather than the exception, SEI's poll revealed that most advisors (87 percent) don't feel like they utilized social media effectively in 2012. Advisors must continue to deepen their knowledge of, and commitment to, social media in order to better engage and communicate more often to clients and prospects in the age of new media.

Be a Marketing Maven - The battle for new clients is more intense than ever before. Advisors must look at marketing as an important strategic function and as an investment for their success and not a business expense. Those who implement a systematic and measureable marketing plan with specific programs tied to tangible business goals will best position themselves for success in 2013 and beyond.

Be a Better Listener - Clients want to feel valued and know that they're being listened to. Advisors need to listen more intently and show clients and prospects that they're being heard by addressing their needs and goals with actionable and understandable recommendations.

Stay True to Yourself - The most successful advisors are the ones who identify an ideal client profile and then put a plan in place to find more of them. Don't settle for just any new prospect, stay true to your target segment, and build a roster of clients who will value your wealth management planning and service approach.

Trim the Tech Fat - Advisors are spending more on technology than ever before. Unfortunately, in many cases that means duplicative systems and inefficient processes. 2013 is the time to trim the tech fat by consolidating systems and making sure any new investments address integration and business improvement.

Cut Regulatory Red Tape - It's no secret that regulatory scrutiny has increased exponentially in recent years with the onset of Dodd-Frank and other reforms. But advisors cannot let regulatory red tape rule their businesses. Start fresh in 2013 and seek new processes and technologies that will help minimize the cost and time of regulatory compliance -- and place the focus firmly back on growth.

About The SEI Advisor Network
The SEI Advisor Network provides financial advisors with turnkey wealth management services through outsourced investment strategies, administration and technology platforms, and practice management programs. It is through these services that SEI helps advisors save time, grow revenues, and differentiate themselves in the market. With a history of financial strength, stability, and transparency, the SEI Advisor Network has been serving the independent financial advisor market for more than 16 years, has over 4,900 advisors who work with SEI, and $32.5 billion in advisors' assets under management (as of Sept. 30, 2012). The SEI Advisor Network is a strategic business unit of SEI. For more information, visit www.seic.com/advisors.

About SEI
SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC) is a leading global provider of investment processing, fund processing, and investment management business outsourcing solutions that help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth. As of September 30, 2012, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI manages or administers $448 billion in mutual fund and pooled or separately managed assets, including $195 billion in assets under management and $253 billion in client assets under administration. For more information, visit www.seic.com.

Source: SEI

Released December 17, 2012