SEI Quick Poll: Advisors Cite Outside Influences - Legislation, Industry Scandals - Among Biggest Threats to Firm Revenue
Media Hype Continues to Disrupt Meaningful Dialogue with Clients.
OAKS, Pa., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to a recent SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC) survey, advisors consider external factors like legislation and ongoing industry scandals a significant threat to their ability to restore firm revenues. In the poll entitled "How Are You Restoring Your Firm's Revenue?" participants were asked to indicate what they felt to be the biggest threat to their efforts to restore firm revenue (other than market performance). While an inability to attract new clients was the number one response (33.3 percent), the threat of legislation and industry scandals came in a close second with 29.8 percent.
"The fact is that the equity markets' negative returns already have investors panicked, so these factors only compound those fears," said Stephen Onofrio, Senior Managing Director, SEI Advisor Network. "That's why it's even more important for advisors to focus on keeping an open, proactive dialogue with clients to offset external pressures."
The survey also explored the effect of the media on the client relationship process. More than 54.3 percent of advisors stated that many of their clients had raised issues about their investments specifically citing something they'd seen in the news. Additionally, 21.8 percent responded that clients who typically cited media in discussions continued to do so.
Also with regard to the media's effect on client discussions, 39.1 percent of advisors agreed it led to clients "being more panicked than ever," while 24.4 percent felt clients were beginning to doubt the media or question its credibility. Further, 19.3 percent of advisors feel time spent explaining what media stories mean is making their conversations less productive. In contrast, 11.7 felt the media actually helped make conversations more constructive, while only 5.6 percent felt the media had no effect at all.
"The flood of information from so many different places is incredibly confusing for clients," said Chuck Carrick, ChFC of DMJ Advisors in Greensboro, North Carolina. "As trusted advisors, the best thing we can do is proactively communicate, educate clients about the facts, and advise them on any implications to their own portfolios."
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; trust, banking, and institutional services; 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 15 years. As of March 31, 2009, SEI works with more than 6,100 advisors and has over $25 billion in advisors' assets under management. 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 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 March 31, 2009, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers $354 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages $123 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.
Company Contact: Media Contact:
Dana Grosser Caralyn Gilotti
SEI Braithwaite Communications
610-676-2459 215-564-3200 x112
dgrosser@seic.com cgilotti@gobraithwaite.com
SOURCE SEI
Released May 7, 2009