SEI Quick Poll: Pure Investment Returns Are Not the Key to Client Satisfaction

Investors Look to Attainment of Life Goals as Measure of Investment Success

OAKS, Pa., May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Clients want to know they're on their way to achieving their life goals, not just investment performance, says a survey conducted by SEI (Nasdaq: SEIC), a leading global provider of outsourced asset management, investment processing and investment operations solutions. A recent SEI Advisor Network Quick Poll revealed that fifty percent of independent financial advisors responding said that client satisfaction with regard to investment performance is most heavily influenced by progress against tangible life goals, not by how their portfolio is performing against the market or index benchmark.

More than a quarter of respondents (twenty-eight percent) stated that absolute return was a driving factor in client satisfaction, while less than ten percent cited performance against market benchmarks as a key driver.

"Clients want to understand how financial results impact their lives, not just their wallets," said Steve Onofrio, Senior Managing Director, Sales and Support, SEI Advisor Network. "Promising pure investment returns is no longer the key to client satisfaction - if two percent above benchmark returns still falls short of the ability to send a child to college, for example, that's not going to satisfy any client."

Research indicates that as consumer confidence indices continue to decline, investors are looking to their advisors for reassurance that their goals will be achieved. According to the Financial Services Consumer Panel(1), there is a disconnect in the advisor-client conversation relative to financial risk. SEI warns this confusion could harm satisfaction levels.

The SEI Advisor Network Quick Poll was conducted as part of the business unit's ongoing effort to help advisors grow their firms and increase profitability. It was comprised of data gathered from more than 100 independent financial advisors from around the world.

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 Network 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.SEIAdvisorNetwork.com.

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, 2007, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI administers $382.4 billion in mutual fund and pooled assets and manages $190.0 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.

    (1) Investment Risk Rating - Consumer attitudes towards risk

    Company Contact:                     Media Contact:
    Dana Grosser                         Caralyn Gilotti
    SEI                                  Braithwaite Communications
    610-676-2459                         215-564-3200 x12
    dgrosser@seic.com                    cgilotti@braithwaitepr.com

SOURCE SEI

Released May 22, 2007