Advisors Must View Themselves as Business Owners to Achieve Long-Term Success
OAKS, PA–(Marketwired – Nov 30, 2013) - As independent advisors grow their businesses, they often fail to capitalize on the unique characteristics that set them apart from legacy and big-brand competitors, according to a white paper released today by SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC). The paper, titled “Dotting the I’s: How Independence, Integration and Intelligence can Transform your Practice into a Sustainable Business,” offers an in-depth look at the strategies and techniques necessary to successfully manage growth. It highlights the importance of multi-faceted thinking and a holistic approach to expansion.
“The independent RIA segment has experienced incredible growth since 2005 and we don’t see any signs of that pace slowing,” said John Anderson, Head of Practice Management for the SEI Advisor Network. “As such, many advisors have the opportunity to branch out, but seem to be unprepared for what they encounter once they do. However, capitalizing on the very strengths that differentiate their firm — independence, integration, and intelligence — can help them flourish as business owners. Taking stock of these attributes and understanding how to apply them as they evolve is key to advisor business growth.”
Just an Advisor?
A recent SEI poll revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents identified themselves largely as advisors, rather than business owners. This highlights the need for guidance and best practices when it comes to business management. The white paper focuses on leveraging independence, integration, and intelligence to build an advisory firm. According to the paper, the “three I’s” build upon one another to form a pyramid. At the base of the pyramid, independence is an advisor’s most basic asset and allows the advisor to make business decisions that are in the firm’s best interest. Integration is the second tier and is critical to advisor and firm efficiency. At the top of the pyramid, intelligence means leveraging a firm’s intellectual capital and finding the right balance between managing client relationships and making effective decisions.
“Investments are changing, client expectations are changing and to be successful, advisors have to think beyond individual relationships to institutionalized business practices,” said Bill Glubiak, CEO of Cedar Brook Financial Partners of Cleveland, Ohio. “From implementing new client service processes to integrating new technology everyone on the team has to be prepared to adapt. Maintaining a focus on the ‘three I’s’ gives you the framework needed to handle the complex, diverse situations you will face in building a sustainable business.”
To request a copy of the white paper, please visit
www.seic.com/enUS/about/12940.htm?cmpid=ADV-PR-ABO13.
About The SEI Advisor Network
The SEI Advisor Network provides financial advisors with turnkey wealth management services through outsourced investment strategies, administration and technology platforms, and practice management programs. It is through these services that SEI helps advisors save time, grow revenues, and differentiate themselves in the market. With a history of financial strength, stability, and transparency, the SEI Advisor Network has been serving the independent financial advisor market for more than 20 years, has over 5,400 advisors who work with SEI, and $39 billion in advisors’ assets under management (as of September 30, 2013). 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 investment processing, fund processing, and investment management business outsourcing solutions that help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth. As of September 30, 2013, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI manages or administers $529 billion in mutual fund and pooled or separately managed assets, including $219 billion in assets under management and $310 billion in client assets under administration. For more information, visit www.seic.com.