More Than Half of Schemes to Re-Evaluate Their Consultant Relationship Following FCA Market Study

LONDON, July 27, 2017 -- According to a survey released today by SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC), more than half of pension schemes are planning to re-evaluate their relationship with their investment consultant in the wake of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Asset Management Market Study, according to a poll of trustees, representing over £42 billion of assets.

SEI’s poll was completed in late June and early July 2017 by 35 U.K. pensions professionals, including Trustees, Chair of Trustees, Financial Directors, and Head of Pensions overseeing defined benefit pension schemes ranging in asset size from £20 million to £6 billion. The poll did not include any clients of SEI. The survey follows a pledge by the FCA to consult on its provisional view to reject consultants’ undertakings in lieu to avoid referral to the Competition and Markets Authority, and reveals that 54 percent of trustees are planning to re-evaluate their relationship with their investment consultant.

More than 87 percent of respondents said they will review their consultant in 2018 or 2019. The survey also found that 60 percent of respondents would consider a different model for their pension scheme outside the traditional consulting model.

Commenting on the survey findings, Patrick Disney, Managing Director of SEI’s Institutional Group, EMEA said:

“The FCA’s final report again highlighted the inherent conflicts of interest in the investment consulting business model, and revealed the regulator’s preference to continue with its original proposal to refer the sector to the CMA.

While that view is currently open to public consultation, our survey clearly indicates that the majority of trustees we polled have become concerned enough about the issues raised in the report to re-evaluate their relationship with their consultant and consider an alternative to the traditional investment consulting model.

SEI has long recognised the conflicts of interest that arise from offering both an advisory and fiduciary management business model in one firm. We sold our global investment consultancy business, in 1995 to focus on fiduciary management. Our primary goal is delivering better outcomes to pension schemes, and it is clear that trustees have begun to recognise that the traditional investment consulting model may be far too compromised to deliver the same commitment.”

About SEI
SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) is a leading global provider of investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions that help corporations, financial institutions, financial advisors, and ultra-high-net-worth families create and manage wealth. As of June 30, 2017, through its subsidiaries and partnerships in which the company has a significant interest, SEI manages, advises or administers $809 billion in hedge, private equity, mutual fund and pooled or separately managed assets, including $307 billion in assets under management and $497 billion in client assets under administration. For more information, visit seic.com.

About SEI’s Institutional Group
SEI’s Institutional Group is one of the first and largest global providers of outsourced investment management services. The company delivers integrated retirement, healthcare and nonprofit solutions to more than 480 clients in 13 countries. Our solutions are designed to help clients meet financial objectives, reduce business risk and fulfill their due diligence requirements through implemented strategies for the management of defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, endowments, foundations and board designated funds. For more information visit: seic.com/institutions.

About Fiduciary Management
SEI’s Institutional Group is the first and largest global provider of Fiduciary Management services. The company began offering these services in 1992 and currently manages over 475 accounts for fiduciary management clients worldwide. SEI became the first to offer a fiduciary management solution that integrates assets, liabilities and overall organisational finances by incorporating risk management, investment advice, implementation, oversight, trust/custody, and a unique modelling process.

Notes to editor

Material provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. No offer of any security is made hereby.

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Whilst considerable care has been taken to ensure the information contained within is accurate and up-to-date, no warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information and no liability is accepted for any errors or omissions in such information or any action taken on the basis of this information.

Issued by SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd (“SIEL”),1st Floor, Alphabeta, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1BR.  SIEL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Company Contact:	
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SEI
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