OAKS, PA — SEI® (NASDAQ: SEIC) has announced a strategic partnership and investment in Stratos Wealth Holdings, a move aimed at expanding its footprint in the independent financial advisor space. The $527 million transaction will give SEI a 57.5% equity stake in Stratos, a nationwide network of over 360 financial advisors operating in 26 states.
Stratos will continue to operate under its current leadership and brand, with founder and CEO Jeff Concepcion retaining his position. The firm’s client service model, including existing custodial relationships, will remain intact. SEI’s investment is expected to reinforce Stratos’ offerings through access to broader technology, custody, operations, and asset management resources.
“As we strive to impact advisors’ success, we were seeking a partner that would not only provide investment capital, but also the expertise to help power growth,” said Concepcion. “Working with SEI is a key aspect of our ongoing strategic vision, which provides advisors with the flexibility they need to achieve their goals. We’re excited about this partnership because it strengthens our offerings. SEI’s robust set of solutions and services will enhance our ability to operate at scale, while delivering advisors a highly personalized level of service.”
Concepcion also emphasized the firms’ shared values: “We are closely aligned with their leadership on how to foster independence—a key for advisors in helping clients meet their financial goals. SEI’s breadth of capabilities and its connections across the industry can significantly enhance and advance the services we deliver to make doing business and serving clients more seamless for advisors.”
Ryan Hicke, CEO of SEI, added, “We’re making a strategic investment that reinforces our unwavering belief in financial advisors and their delivery of advice, and Stratos brings an intimate understanding of what adds value to an advisor’s business. Their approach to coaching, building sustainable value, and focusing on client acquisition and service can help advisors scale their businesses, drive more organic growth, and address the industry’s most prevalent challenges.”
He continued, “Partnering with Stratos allows us to build upon our world-class investment management, processing, and operations capabilities with deeper insight into the demands and needs of the end client, so we can continue to enhance the solutions and services we provide across all intermediaries. As we look to the future of wealth management, this partnership enables us to help accelerate growth for advisors and wealth managers, solve succession and business transition challenges, and develop the next generation of professionals delivering advice. We share Stratos’ deep respect for independence and look ahead with excitement as we build a long-standing partnership that can simplify the complex and amplify the value of advice.”
SEI will pay $527 million in cash for its 57.5% equity stake in a newly formed entity that will acquire the operating businesses of Stratos. The remaining 42.5% will be held by certain legacy equity holders and will be subject to put/call rights that could lead to full SEI ownership in the future. Emigrant Partners will exit its investment in Stratos at closing.
The transaction is expected to close in two phases, pending regulatory approval. The U.S. portion, representing about 80% of the deal value, is expected to close in the second half of 2025. The Mexico-based NSC business is projected to close in the first half of 2026.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and Alston & Bird LLP as legal counsel to Stratos. SEI was advised by Wells Fargo and represented legally by Holland & Knight.
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