When it comes to choosing a trusted partner to simplify operations, elevate client engagement, and drive sustainable growth, financial advisors have no shortage of options. However, few providers offer the depth, stability, and flexibility that SEI brings to the table. With more than 56 years of consistent leadership and innovation, SEI’s vertically integrated approach redefines what it means to partner with a turnkey asset management program (TAMP), providing advisors the tools to scale their businesses without sacrificing their independence or brand identity.
In an interview with The Wealth Advisor’s Scott Martin, Erich Holland, Executive Managing Director and Head of Advisor Strategy and Experience at SEI, discussed how the firm empowers advisors through a unique combination of custody, technology, investment management, and wealth solutions—all delivered with the flexibility, efficiency, and stability today’s evolving landscape demands.
Flexibility at the Core: Empowering Advisors to Build Their Way
At the heart of SEI’s value proposition is a deep respect for advisor independence and entrepreneurial spirit. “What we help advisors and firms do is simplify the complex to help them elevate the advice that they deliver to clients every day,” Holland states.
The firm’s platform serves ambitious advisors who seek the infrastructure of a large institution while maintaining control over their brand and client experience. “We best serve growth-minded advisors and firms that value the efficiency that we can deliver of a vertically integrated solution that includes custody, technology, investment management, and wealth solutions,” Holland says.
SEI’s platform is designed to complement advisors’ existing strengths, not overshadow them. “The most important thing is the flexibility to run their own brand and their business in the view that they view is important for their own brand,” Holland says. “One of the things that we’re delivering with confidence is that stability, that continuity. We believe that it shouldn’t be advisors’ jobs or firms’ jobs to try and figure out how to best piece together an operation or a tech stack or an investment process. We can put all of that bundle, and you can flex in or flex out of using the different component parts that are important to you.”
Advisors are empowered to remain true to their vision while leveraging the operational excellence that SEI provides—a critical advantage in an industry increasingly pressured by commoditization and consolidation.
For those seeking to future-proof their practices, SEI’s commitment to independence and flexibility ensures they remain the architect of their own success.
Independence and Stability in an Era of Industry Upheaval
The independent advice model is not just a niche for SEI—it’s a mission. For decades, SEI has been fiercely committed to serving advisors who value autonomy and client-centric service above all else. “We are vociferously focused on the independent advice market,” Holland says. “We have been in the three decades that we’ve been serving advisors.”
In a marketplace where volatility and uncertainty have become the norm, SEI’s steadfast foundation stands out. “I’m fortunate to represent an organization that’s been around for over 56 years,” Holland says. “We’ve never been bought, never been sold, never been anything but SEI since our founding in 1968.”
That long-term stability resonates with advisors who need a partner capable of weathering market storms without compromising service quality or operational reliability. As advisors face accelerated change—mergers, acquisitions, regulatory shifts—partnering with an institution that delivers consistency alongside innovation becomes more vital than ever.
SEI’s unwavering independence ensures that financial advisors are supported by a firm that can both meet their short-term needs and support their long-term vision.
Efficiency and Scale Backed by Institutional-Grade Technology
Rather than offering isolated services, SEI delivers a full ecosystem designed for scale and efficiency. The platform’s strength lies in its foundation: institutional-grade custody and technology developed for some of the largest banks and asset managers globally.
“We are fortunate to have a platform that powers eight of the 20 largest banks and 43 of the hundred largest money managers on planet Earth,” Holland says.
SEI’s infrastructure allows independent advisors to access the same R&D investments, cybersecurity protections, and operational scale that top-tier institutions enjoy—without the complexity and overhead that typically come with building out an internal technology stack.
Real-world results further validate SEI’s impact. “About 44% less time than the Cerulli-based average was being spent on investment management activities,” Holland says, referring to internal studies that show advisors leveraging SEI spend significantly less time on non-client-facing work. That saved time translates directly into growth opportunities. “They are, on average, spending about 18% more time on client focused activities,” he adds.
Financial advisors looking to regain control over their calendars and refocus on growth will find that SEI delivers not just promises but measurable results.
A Real Solution for Growth, Not a Temporary Fix
Many advisors seeking a TAMP partner today are not looking to patch a hole—they are seeking a strategic advantage. Holland articulates the distinction clearly: “Where we really help advisors is around three core areas. They’re looking to fix something in terms of scale or efficiency, they’re looking to put growth into their hands and solve that challenge of lack of growth, and then the third is around transition.”
Transition readiness has become critical. With broker-dealer mergers accelerating and RIA consolidations increasing, advisors need a partner that can handle change without disruption. Holland drives the point home: “While it’s almost impossible to use the G word, guarantee, in the space, I will guarantee that the pace of that change is not going to slow down.”
SEI is built to support advisors through transition events with a combination of operational excellence, strategic counsel, and dedicated teams ready to ensure a smooth process. Whether preparing for a shift, responding to industry consolidation, or scaling to meet new opportunities, firms gain both mitigation against volatility and the tools to capitalize on transformation.
True Open Architecture and Advisor-Centric Customization
While many TAMPs tout open architecture, SEI has transformed its offering into something truly advisor-driven. “What used to be a largely closed infrastructure investment offering is now completely open architecture,” notes Holland.
Advisors can now build models from SEI’s proprietary strategies, third-party managers, or even their own investment philosophies, all supported by robust tax management and advanced rebalancing capabilities within a unified managed account (UMA) structure. “If you want to run models based out of your own investment IP and you want to leverage our rebalancing software, tax harvesting software, fee processing software, cash management software—and run the TAMP that you desire to run—that’s a whole new marketplace that we’re operating in for advisors today,” he explains.
Strategic flexibility means that entrepreneurial advisors are not constrained by the platform—they are empowered by it. SEI’s approach allows advisors to fine-tune every aspect of their investment process, from product selection to tax strategy, ensuring alignment with client needs and business goals.
Custody and Technology—Integrated for Maximum Advisor Advantage
Custody is not an afterthought at SEI—it’s the foundation of the entire ecosystem. The firm’s custody structure, operated through SEI Private Trust Company, is designed to provide maximum client asset protection. Unlike bank or brokerage custody models, SEI does not blend client assets, ensuring an additional layer of security that advisors can confidently present to their clients.
Safety is paramount, but so is functionality. SEI Connect, the firm’s integrated advisor platform, offers a complete technology suite, including an advisor portal, an investor portal with document vault and account aggregation, advanced performance reporting, and proposal generation systems—all seamlessly connected to SEI’s custody platform.
“When we say vertically integrated in the entirety of the ecosystem, we truly mean it,” Holland says. Advisors benefit from single-point accountability, eliminating the finger-pointing and delays that come from managing multiple vendors.
SEI’s techstodian℠ model bridges custody and technology into one cohesive experience, delivering real-time value to advisors and their clients alike.
A Partner for the Future
SEI’s value is not confined to products or processes; it is built into the relationships the firm fosters with its advisors. Financial advisors seeking a TAMP provider today must look beyond superficial offerings, choosing instead a partner who can adapt with them, anticipate challenges, and provide meaningful support at every stage of their growth. SEI’s commitment to flexibility, stability, scalability, and relationship-driven service positions it as a uniquely powerful ally in an increasingly complex industry.
For advisors ready to reclaim their time, sharpen their competitive edge, and thrive amid industry disruption, SEI is not just an option. It is a catalyst for long-term success.
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