New system is meant to help advisors whose clients have complex portfolios. Manager of managers and investment processor SEI has launched a new customized proposal generator for independent advisors.

"As client needs get more complex, it's nearly impossible for advisors to spend the time necessary to research and present a proposal that separates them from the crowd," says Stephen Onofrio, senior managing director of SEI Advisor Network. "This is another step in giving advisors some relief to pursue new clients who require more complicated portfolios."

All that and a board game

SEI recently completed a three-month, 35-advisor beta test of its Proposal System earlier this year. Now there are over 1,000 advisors using the System. SEI says that more than 6,500 independent advisors use its investment platforms.

By accessing SEI's full range of investment products on a single proposal system, advisors can streamline their internal processes and deliver better customer service. Advisors can create goals-based proposals and transferring the outcome of an "Goals Game Board" -- something that's been kicking around SEI Wealth Network for several years already -- to proposals and coming up with specific investment strategies that fit the client's time line, resources and risk tolerance.

SEI is backing the technology component of its proposal initiative with a 20-member case-support team. "Every advisor works differently, so we wanted to offer options for working with SEI that work for them," says Onofrio. "Some advisors want us to do it all for them, while others just need that extra edge - in this case, a tool we provide that they can use on their own. That's what the coupling of technology and live help does."

The support team provides detailed competitive analysis, coaches advisors through presentations and role-play scenarios, and discusses tax transition strategies for new customers. -FWR

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