SEI Advisor Network Makes Statement with Launch of Goals-Based Client Reporting System

New Statements Tie Investments to Goals; Make Reports More Relevant for Clients

OAKS, Pa., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC) today announced the launch of the SEI Statement and Reporting Platform, distributing new reports to the clients of more than 1,000 of its independent financial advisor clients. The new goals-based system recasts investment accounts to illustrate "progress to goals" for investors, an approach SEI Advisor Network research has found to be more meaningful to clients.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080923/NETU095 )

"For too long, client statements haven't really been designed with the client in mind -- this new system changes that," said Kevin Crowe, Senior Managing Director, SEI Advisor Network. "The new statements will make it much easier for clients to understand exactly how their investments are doing and if they're on the right track to achieving their goals. More importantly, it'll effortlessly help advisors better communicate and connect with clients."

The new statements complement SEI's goals-based investment strategy, an approach built on the tenets of behavioral finance. Founded on the premise that individuals have multiple goals weighted differently in their minds, goals-based investing analyzes performance not by traditional benchmarks, but rather by an individual's progress toward goal attainment. To reflect this approach, the new goals-based reporting system breaks down each investor's aggregated investments into buckets for holdings, transactions, asset allocation and performance related to long-term progress to each individual goal. Please view the accompanying image or contact SEI for an example.

To develop the system, SEI consulted with hundreds of investors and advisors, including a designated council of 45 advisors who provided detailed feedback and participated in a beta test.

"The new goals-based statements mirror exactly what I'd discuss in a client meeting. Instead of inundating clients with financial information they can't relate to or understand, this new way of reporting reminds them why they invested in the first place -- to achieve the things in life that are important to them," said John Kim, Kim Financial Advisors, Inc., who participated in the beta test. "By helping focus the client conversation specifically on goals, the new statements promote a more meaningful discussion about where adjustments to the portfolio might need to be made."

The statements include a number of features to help advisors better communicate with clients, including a general market summary, specific investment performance and ongoing account activity. SEI's new system also consolidates clients' monthly transaction statement and Quarterly Performance Report in a single quarterly mailing. An initial roll-out of the system was conducted in August, and the company plans a full roll-out to all clients by end of year.

About the SEI Advisor Network

The SEI Advisor Network provides independent advisors with outsourced wealth management platforms that are designed to meet the demands of a new generation of wealthy clients. In an evolving wealth management industry, the group offers an end-to-end process for successfully transforming their clients' businesses in every critical area, including marketing, practice management, investment strategy and client relationship platforms. The SEI Advisor Network is a strategic business unit of SEI. For more information, visit http://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 June 30, 2008, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers $420 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages $178 billion in assets. SEI serves clients, conducts or is registered to conduct business and/or operations, from more than 20 offices in over a dozen countries. For more information, visit http://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 September 23, 2008