OAKS, PA — SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC) has introduced a digital platform that allows financial advisors to assess the value of their businesses and prepare for ownership transitions, expanding its practice management services as the wealth management industry faces a growing wave of advisor retirements.
The SEI Pathfinder Portal combines business valuation tools, succession planning resources, educational materials and professional networking capabilities in a single platform, according to the Oaks-based financial technology and investment services company.
The launch comes as advisory firms confront questions about ownership, enterprise value and business continuity. Approximately one-third of financial advisors expect to retire within the next decade, according to an August 2026 report from industry research firm Cerulli.
Separately, a July 2026 Edward Jones survey found that 58% of advisors lack a fully documented succession plan, highlighting the potential for ownership and operational disruptions as experienced advisors leave the industry.
SEI’s platform is designed to address those challenges before firms enter a sale, acquisition or leadership transition.
Advisors can use the portal to estimate their firms’ value, identify factors influencing that valuation and evaluate potential strategies for growth, continuity or succession.
The system also provides tools for developing documented business plans and tracking progress toward longer-term objectives.
Unlike services primarily focused on facilitating transactions, SEI is positioning Pathfinder as a resource for advisors throughout the business lifecycle, including those who are not actively considering a sale.
The portal includes secure document sharing and communications capabilities, along with options for anonymously exploring potential business connections before initiating direct discussions.
Those features are intended to allow advisors to investigate ownership and growth opportunities while retaining control over sensitive business information and the timing of potential transactions.
“For many advisors, the true value of their firm becomes clear only when a potential buyer comes forward,” said Shauna Mace, SEI’s head of Practice Management and Independent Advisor Solutions. “By then, many of the decisions that shaped that value have already been made.”
The platform is intended to encourage earlier evaluation of business performance and succession options, allowing firms to address potential weaknesses before a transaction or leadership change becomes necessary.
For advisory businesses, succession planning can involve more than identifying a replacement owner. It also requires decisions about client relationships, management continuity, ownership structure and the long-term viability of the enterprise.
SEI’s approach combines valuation analysis with planning resources intended to help advisors assess those considerations and develop measurable next steps.
The Pathfinder Portal complements SEI Growth Lab, another component of the company’s practice management offering.
Together, the services extend SEI’s support for independent advisory firms beyond investment and operational functions into business development, ownership planning and long-term continuity.
The new portal also places SEI in a position to deepen its relationships with advisory firms as industry demographics increase demand for succession planning and business transition services.
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