SEI Investments

Office address: 1 Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456
Website: seic.com
Year established: 1968
Company type: financial services
Employees: 5,000+
Expertise: financial technology, investment processing, asset management, wealth management, fund administration, investment operations outsourcing, retirement solutions, regulatory compliance, business process outsourcing, data management
Parent company: N/A
Key people: Ryan Hicke (CEO); Sean Denham (CFO); Sneha Shah, Michael Lane, Michael Peterson, Amy Sliwinski, and Sandra Ewing (EVPs)
Financing status: corporation

SEI Investments is an Oaks-based financial services company with around 5,000 employees. The firm offers asset management, investment processing, and wealth management to banks and institutions. As of Sept. 30, 2025, SEI handles roughly $1.8 trillion in assets.

History of SEI Investments

SEI Investments was founded in 1968 when Alfred P. West Jr. created Simulated Environments Inc. in Pennsylvania with a bold vision for banking. He developed the first computer-based commercial credit simulator to train bank loan officers across the country.

SEI grew steadily over the next two decades as it built expertise in financial technology.

Building a full-service platform

The late 1980s marked a turning point for SEI Investments as it expanded into new territory. In 1989, the firm began offering mutual fund accounting and distribution services for bank-sponsored proprietary funds.

SEI then launched its investment advisors business in 1992 and created the Turnkey Asset Management Platform for independent advisors. By 2003, the firm helped pioneer goals-based investing, a philosophy that would shape many of its future solutions.

The rise of SEI Wealth Platform

SEI Investments took its technology global in 2007 with the launch of the SEI Wealth Platform in the UK. Four years later, 80 advisors became the first to migrate onto the platform in the US.

The company also grew through key acquisitions, including Archway Technology Partners in 2017 and Huntington Steele in 2018. By 2019, over 7,400 independent advisors had fully migrated onto the SEI Wealth Platform.

A new chapter of growth

SEI Investments entered a new era in 2022 when Ryan Hicke became CEO and the company launched its first ETFs. The firm also partnered with Snowflake that year to introduce SEI Data Cloud for advanced data integration.

By the end of 2025, SEI paid $441 million to acquire 57.5 percent of Ohio-based Stratos Wealth Holdings. The deal expands SEI's reach with access to Stratos' 350 advisors and over $37 billion in client assets across 29 states.

SEI Investments' products and services

SEI combines financial technology, operations, and asset management into services for four main client groups:

For asset managers

• fund administration: back-office, accounting, and admin support for funds
• investment operations outsourcing: operational platform built around business needs
• investment manager technologies: integrated tools to unify business processes
• regulatory and compliance services: global compliance reporting and guidance
• SEI Trust Company: collective investment trusts for US retirement plans

For banks and wealth managers

• SEI Wealth Platform: integrated technology and operations for wealth management
• investment solutions: strategies aligned with client goals and risk profiles
• professional services: consulting and support to drive growth
• SEI Data Cloud: managed platform with real-time data and analytics

For financial advisors

• advisor technology: unified platform powering major banks and institutions
• integrated custody: custodial foundation focused on asset safety
• investment solutions: curated portfolios based on client preferences
• practice management: consulting to help advisors think like business owners

For institutional investors

• outsourced CIO: discretionary OCIO model with over 30 years of results
• unbundled OCIO: customizable alternative and sustainable investment strategies
• SEI Novus: flexible analytics and total portfolio visibility tools

SEI Investments also provides managed IT services covering cybersecurity, network operations, and cloud infrastructure. These offerings help clients across all segments strengthen their technology and scale their operations.

Culture and corporate values

SEI Investments says it values strong ties across its teams, industry, and communities. The firm's culture is shaped by six values:

• courage
• integrity
• collaboration
• inclusion
• connection
• fun

The company states its benefits support daily life and major milestones. US employees have access to several programs:

• health and wellness: medical plans, FSA, disability and life insurance, wellness incentives
• savings and retirement: 401(k), stock purchase plan, employee investment programs
• education support: tuition assistance, learning resources, and professional development programs
• time off and family: PTO, onsite Family Center at Oaks, life management programs
• employee assistance: mental health services, family support, elder care, financial guidance
• onsite amenities: corporate concierge, car care, dry cleaning, personal services, fitness centers

SEI Investments supports inclusion through nine employee resource groups, including the SEI Women's Network. The network hosts an annual Leadership Summit to educate and connect its members.

The firm was also a main sponsor for the 2024 InvestmentNews Women to Watch Awards, held in New York. Shauna Mace, head of practice management, represented SEI Investments at the fifth annual ceremony honoring women leaders in finance.

About CEO Ryan Hicke and key people

Ryan P. Hicke is CEO of SEI Investments and serves on the company's board of directors. Hicke spent 27 years at SEI in asset management and technology, serving as chief information officer and UK managing director. He earned his finance degree at Saint Joseph's University.

Hicke works alongside several executives who lead SEI Investments' major business areas:

• Sean Denham serves as CFO and COO, overseeing the company's financial operations and daily business functions
• Sneha Shah is EVP and head of SEI Next, driving innovation and future-focused growth initiatives at SEI
• Michael Lane is EVP and head of asset management, leading SEI's investment management business and client solutions
• Michael Peterson is EVP and general counsel, managing legal affairs and corporate compliance for SEI Investments
• Amy Sliwinski is EVP and chief people and culture officer, leading HR, talent development, and workplace culture programs
• Sandra Ewing is EVP and head of strategic corporate programs, overseeing key corporate initiatives and strategic projects firmwide

SEI's leadership team focuses on clear direction and long-term goals. They work to turn strategy into results that move the firm forward.

The future at SEI Investments

In 2024, CEO Ryan Hicke was included in InvestmentNews' Hot List of top US financial professionals. The annual list honors top US financial professionals who stood out amid market swings and regulatory shifts. This nod to Hicke shows SEI's continued leadership in wealth management and fintech.

SEI is also shaping industry dialogue on RIA mergers and acquisitions. In December 2025, Gabriel Garcia, head of RIA client strategy, said that many smaller deals fly under the radar. He expects this "quiet consolidation" to pick up in 2026, giving SEI Investments a chance to guide clients through the shift.

The latest SEI Investments news