SEI Roundtable Research: Financial Executives Look for Answers to Critical Pension Questions

Plan Sponsor Research Identifies Critical Issues and Provides Guidance

OAKS, Pa., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ongoing investment volatility, asset losses, lower funded levels and increased focus on fiduciary obligation have created unprecedented difficulties for financial executives managing pension plans, according to research released by SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC). In a white paper released today, SEI used feedback from financial executives to determine the most critical and commonly misunderstood topics currently on the minds of plan sponsors.

In recent months, SEI hosted a series of interactive roundtable meetings in a variety of US cities to uncover areas of concern facing defined benefit plans. The paper, entitled, The Pension Tension: 7 Critical Questions Weighing on the Minds of Financial Executives, is a result of several recurring themes and challenges raised during the roundtable meetings. The questions are primarily focused on the benefits of funding relief, strategies for businesses that lack cash for required contributions, how investment processes are changing and long-term strategies for pensions.

"Plan sponsors currently have an enormous appetite for information that can help them answer some of the pension related questions they have," said Jon Waite, Director, Investment Management Advice and Chief Actuary for SEI's Institutional Group and facilitator for the roundtables. "These forums provide an opportunity for them to learn best practices, hear from pension and finance executives at other local organizations and narrow the information gap. This paper is an extension of the issues that attendees have most wanted to discuss."

Started in 2004, SEI's Pension Management Research Panel is an independent panel of more than 350 executives handling their organizations' defined benefit plan. The panel looks to conduct research in an effort to provide its members with best practices and tactical, real-world strategies for dealing with the critical issue of managing defined benefit pension plans. The panel is hosting seven additional roundtable events around the country in the next few months. For more information, please visit www.seic.com/roundtables.

The white paper is available by emailing seiresearch@seic.com.

About SEI's Institutional Group

SEI's Institutional Group delivers integrated retirement, healthcare and nonprofit investment solutions to over 500 global institutional clients (of which 340 are U.S. based) in six different countries. SEI enables clients to meet financial objectives, reduce business risk, and fulfill their due diligence requirements through implemented strategies for the management of defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, endowments, foundations and other balance sheet assets. For more information, visit www.seic.com/institutions.

About SEI

SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC) is a leading global provider of outsourced asset management, investment processing and investment operations solutions. The company's innovative solutions help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and affluent families create and manage wealth. As of June 30, 2009, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers $360 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages $136 billion in assets. SEI serves clients, conducts or is registered to conduct business and/or operations, from numerous offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.seic.com.

SOURCE SEI

Released August 11, 2009