SEI launches portal to help advisers plan succession

SEI has launched the SEI Pathfinder Portal for financial advisers, aimed at helping firms plan across their business lifecycle.

The platform brings together guided support, adviser networking, educational resources, valuation tools and planning functions in one place. It is intended to help advisers assess their firms, identify business opportunities and turn long-term goals into documented plans.

The launch comes as wealth management firms face growing questions around succession, ownership and business continuity. SEI cited industry data showing that about one-third of advisers plan to retire within the next 10 years, while 58% do not have a fully documented succession plan.

That has increased focus on how advisory businesses prepare for ownership changes before a sale or retirement becomes imminent. The portal is designed to support advisers earlier in that process, rather than only at the point of a transaction.

Planning focus

The platform is structured around several areas of business planning, including estimating firm value, identifying the factors behind that value, developing continuity and succession plans, reviewing growth or acquisition options, and setting measurable next steps.

It also includes tools for sensitive research, secure communication and document sharing, as well as the ability to explore potential connections anonymously before deciding whether to engage.

The product sits alongside SEI Growth Lab, another part of the company's adviser support offering. It reflects SEI's broader focus on working with advisers throughout the life of their businesses.

Shauna Mace, head of practice management and independent advisor solutions at SEI, said many firms do not fully understand their value until a potential buyer emerges. "For many advisors, the true value of their firm becomes clear only when a potential buyer comes forward. By then, many of the decisions that shaped that value have already been made. The SEI Pathfinder Portal helps advisors understand the business they are building today, identify opportunities to strengthen it, and plan proactively for growth, continuity, and ownership transitions," Mace said.

She said the aim is to give advisers more structure around decision-making before a major business event forces action. "Our goal is to help advisors make informed, deliberate decisions at every stage of their firm's lifecycle. With greater clarity and earlier planning, advisors can move forward with confidence, maintain control, and preserve the ability to choose what comes next," she said.

Industry pressure

The succession issue has become more pressing as independent advisory firms age and founders consider retirement options. In many cases, firms must weigh internal succession, external sale processes, merger opportunities or continuity arrangements designed to protect clients and staff if an owner exits unexpectedly.

Valuation has also become more prominent in that discussion. Advisers often focus on client growth and service models, but ownership structure, profitability, staff retention and documented planning can also affect how a firm is viewed when transition discussions begin.

SEI's approach points to a push to address those issues earlier, with a platform that combines assessment and planning tools with access to resources and peer connections. The service is positioned as a way for firms to review strategic options on their own timetable, rather than under the pressure of a pending retirement or sale.

SEI operates across financial technology, operations and asset management services for the financial services sector. It manages, advises or administers about USD $2 trillion in assets.