SEI Quick Poll: Advisors Won't Make Knee-Jerk Reactions to Client Portfolios in Tough Markets

Increased Communication and Long-term Goal Reassessment Ease Client Concerns.

OAKS, Pa., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Although studies report investor confidence is down, SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC) announced today that a survey of some of its most successful advisor clients revealed that most advisors will resist client urges to move assets. According to the most recent SEI Advisor Network Quick Poll, when faced with client pressures, only a combined 12 percent of advisors would move assets when pressured. Of that 12 percent, four percent would choose to adopt a more conservative asset allocation and eight percent would move investments to cash / money market instruments.

The survey also found that more than 46 percent of advisors choose to work with clients to reevaluate goals and assess risk tolerance, while 31 percent meet with clients more frequently to address concerns.

According to SEI, numerous factors, such as a client base experiencing life changing events, pending retirement age, and varying income needs, could drive advisors' decisions to make significant changes to client portfolios. In general, however, advisors are looking to their providers to help educate and inform clients about market trends and analysis.

"For the most part, we're seeing advisors counsel clients to stay the course and not panic. People rely on their advisor's advice and their trusted relationship for guidance," said Stephen Onofrio, Senior Managing Director, SEI Advisor Network. "It's natural for clients to be inquisitive and anxious to make some type of move during market downturns. Where advisors face real challenges, however, is in helping clients understand why they're advising them to hold tight."

Throughout the industry, there have been competing views about how responsive advisors should be to client anxieties when it comes to adjusting their portfolios, which is somewhat aligned with poll results. Although roughly 78 percent of advisors said their clients were generally accepting of their advice, almost 22 percent said clients had questioned, resisted or even refused to heed advice, with some advisors expressing that clients have insisted they make changes.

The poll was administered by the SEI Advisor Network at its Select Advisor Council annual meeting and was completed by more than 250 independent financial advisors from around the country.

About the SEI Advisor Network

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 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, 2008, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers $424 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages $185 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 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@braithwaitepr.com

SOURCE SEI

Released June 12, 2008