Syverson Strege chooses SEI Wealth Platform to unify custody, advisory tech, and client growth strategy

Syverson Strege, a fee-only wealth advisory firm managing over $1 billion in assets, has selected SEI Investments Company (NASDAQ: SEIC) to overhaul its investment custody, operational technology, and portfolio infrastructure. The Iowa-based registered investment advisor will transition to the SEI Wealth Platform in a strategic move that combines digital modernization with client-centric growth.

The decision marks a major shift in how Syverson Strege intends to scale its financial planning services, bringing operational efficiency, investment tools, and open-architecture custody services under one platform. The transition follows a year-long search for a provider that could meet the firm’s increasing need for integration, transparency, and robust client engagement tools.

Founded on the belief that financial advice should be objective, personalized, and transparent, Syverson Strege has built a strong client base across high-net-worth individuals and families by emphasizing clarity and financial empowerment. The firm’s collaboration with SEI Investments Company reflects the growing trend among independent RIAs to adopt unified platforms that go beyond piecemeal tech stacks.

Why Syverson Strege moved to SEI’s integrated platform after a year-long review

Chief Investment Officer Jason Gunkel confirmed that Syverson Strege undertook nearly twelve months of due diligence across several custodial and technology platforms before choosing SEI Investments Company. The deciding factor, he said, was the strength of SEI’s infrastructure, its ability to simplify back-office operations, and the digital experience it offers to end clients.

SEI Investments Company, headquartered in Oaks, Pennsylvania, has developed the SEI Wealth Platform as a modular, fully integrated offering that spans investment management, custody, and digital operations. Its open-architecture design enables advisory firms to scale operations while maintaining a personalized client service model. For Syverson Strege, this meant a pathway to modernize without compromising on fiduciary values or planning depth.

The platform will enable Syverson Strege to streamline account management, optimize tax strategies, support personalized income planning, and enhance long-term financial modeling for its clients. As part of the transition, SEI’s Business Transition team will oversee the migration of client accounts and operational workflows.

Jason Gunkel noted that SEI Investments Company also matched Syverson Strege’s client-first ethos. He emphasized that SEI’s track record in service delivery and account security aligns with the advisory firm’s core principles of fiduciary responsibility and long-term relationship building.

How SEI is positioning its Wealth Platform in a shifting advisory market

SEI Investments Company has spent the past few years repositioning itself from a traditional investment services firm into a full-stack infrastructure partner for RIAs, banks, and wealth managers. The SEI Wealth Platform is central to this strategy, offering end-to-end integration that combines portfolio construction, trading, custody, compliance, and client engagement tools.

According to executives at SEI, the platform is designed not merely as a collection of services but as a unified framework that enables advisory firms to scale, innovate, and deepen their impact. Gabriel Garcia, Head of RIA Client Strategy and Experience at SEI, stated that Syverson Strege’s emphasis on holistic planning and education made them a natural fit for the platform.

Garcia described the partnership as a strategic win, adding that SEI Investments Company sees independent RIAs as key growth partners in the ongoing transformation of wealth management services. He further noted that SEI’s ecosystem allows firms to consolidate service vendors, streamline compliance, and free up more advisor time for client-facing work.

SEI Investments Company, as of September 30, 2025, manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.8 trillion in assets. Its recent push into the RIA segment builds on growing demand for platforms that deliver both digital scale and advisory flexibility.

What the transition means for Syverson Strege clients and operations

Clients of Syverson Strege will begin seeing the benefits of SEI’s platform through upgraded digital interfaces, enhanced planning tools, and streamlined service interactions. The transition is expected to be seamless, with existing advisory relationships maintained and augmented by new operational capabilities.

The firm emphasized that clients will continue to work with their current advisors, but will now benefit from a broader set of integrated planning tools, better data access, and more efficient account servicing. The SEI Wealth Platform includes capabilities for tax-advantaged income generation, cash flow forecasting, and multi-generational wealth planning.

Industry analysts tracking the RIA space believe that Syverson Strege’s transition reflects a larger pivot among advisory firms toward digitized infrastructure that supports deeper client insights without compromising the human element. For mid-sized RIAs, especially those exceeding $500 million in assets under management, such partnerships offer a viable way to compete with larger firms without losing operational control.

SEI’s infrastructure also addresses increasing regulatory demands for data transparency, auditability, and client communication. This is especially relevant for firms like Syverson Strege that operate on a fiduciary model and require scalable compliance systems as their business grows.

Why analysts believe SEI’s RIA momentum could accelerate in 2026

Analysts watching the custodial and wealthtech segments see the Syverson Strege partnership as a validation of SEI’s RIA strategy. While major custodians like Charles Schwab and Fidelity continue to dominate market share, SEI’s approach offers a full-suite solution with embedded business transition support.

Experts suggest that SEI Investments Company could gain further traction among RIAs looking to reduce vendor complexity and integrate planning, investment, and compliance services into a single ecosystem. The flexibility of the SEI Wealth Platform makes it attractive to firms with boutique positioning, particularly those looking to deliver more tailored experiences to clients without scaling overhead costs.

From a market perspective, the deal signals confidence in SEI’s ability to execute in the competitive advisory infrastructure space. For Syverson Strege, it provides the tools to support growth in both client volume and advisory depth, while reinforcing its core mission of helping clients achieve financial clarity and long-term freedom.

Investor interest in SEI Investments Company has remained stable over the past month, with shares trading in line with broader sector benchmarks. Some institutional holders have increased exposure to wealthtech and custody platforms ahead of anticipated advisor platform upgrades across North America.

What key onboarding, client experience, and platform adoption metrics will determine the success of the Syverson Strege and SEI partnership in the coming months?

Going forward, institutional watchers will likely assess how quickly Syverson Strege can complete its onboarding and whether client satisfaction scores reflect the expected digital improvements. The RIA segment remains highly competitive, and the ability to marry technology with fiduciary service will define growth opportunities over the next few years.

SEI’s ability to attract similar-sized RIAs and increase the wallet share of existing platform users will also be a key indicator of platform stickiness. Syverson Strege’s decision, if successful in execution, could set a precedent for other firms evaluating multi-function wealthtech platforms over single-service custodians.

While the financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, the implications for both firms extend beyond operations. For Syverson Strege, the move could define its next phase of growth in the Midwest advisory market. For SEI, it reinforces the strategic bet that wealth management’s future lies in integrated ecosystems rather than fragmented service models.

What are the key takeaways from Syverson Strege’s transition to SEI Wealth Platform?

• Syverson Strege, an Iowa-based fee-only RIA managing over $1 billion in assets, has selected SEI Investments Company’s Wealth Platform to consolidate custody, technology, and investment management services.

• The decision followed a year-long evaluation of custodians and platform providers, with SEI chosen for its operational strength, modern digital interface, and values alignment with fiduciary-focused advisors.

• Through the SEI Wealth Platform, Syverson Strege aims to deliver enhanced planning services, including tax optimization, income strategies, and long-term financial goal alignment.

• Clients will continue working with their existing advisors but will benefit from upgraded digital tools and integrated account management features.

• SEI’s Business Transition team will oversee a smooth migration of client assets, ensuring minimal service disruption and consistent advisor access.

• SEI Investments Company, which administers or manages approximately $1.8 trillion in assets, is expanding its RIA footprint by offering full-stack digital infrastructure for scalable growth.

• Market analysts expect other mid-sized advisory firms to follow suit, especially those seeking to reduce vendor complexity while maintaining high-touch service.

• Institutional sentiment toward SEI remains stable, with investors watching for future onboarding success, client retention, and RIA segment expansion.

• The deal reflects broader trends in the wealth management industry toward unified, digitally enabled ecosystems that support both compliance and client personalization.

• If successfully executed, the partnership may become a reference case for RIAs seeking strategic custody and tech upgrades without compromising fiduciary independence.