DEF: SEI Investments Company's 2026 Proxy Statement Highlights

SEI Investments Company releases its 2026 Proxy Statement detailing the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders, director elections, executive compensation, and financial performance.

Summary

• This document is the 2026 Proxy Statement for SEI Investments Company, outlining key proposals for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for May 27, 2026.
• Shareholders will vote on electing three directors, approving executive compensation on an advisory basis, and ratifying the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditors.
• The statement provides details on the company's performance in 2025, highlighting record revenue, operating income, and earnings per share, alongside significant assets under management and administration.
• It also details the company's corporate governance structure, director compensation, and executive compensation philosophy and practices.
• The filing includes information on shareholder engagement, risk oversight by the Board, and forward-looking statements regarding the company's strategy and opportunities.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing positively due to the reported record financial performance in 2025 and the company's strategic focus on growth and technology investment, despite some minor administrative reporting issues.

Positives

• SEI reported record total revenue, operating income, and earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2025.
• Net sales events also reached a record in 2025.
• The company maintained a strong balance sheet and returned approximately $740 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in 2025.
• Assets under management (AUM) reached $555 billion and assets under administration (AUA) reached $1.2 trillion as of December 31, 2025.
• The company's horizontal operating model is showing benefits, with a focus on investing in talent, AI, and technology.
• The Board has added two highly-qualified independent directors, strengthening expertise in financial markets and digital technologies.
• Shareholder support for executive compensation was strong in the previous year, with 88.4% of votes in favor of the Say-on-Pay proposal.

Negatives

• Several directors and officers had late filings for Section 16(a) reports in 2025, including Mr. McCabe, Mr. Peterson, Mr. West, Ms. McCarthy, and Mr. Warner.
• The company's insider trading policy prohibits hedging transactions, which could limit certain risk management strategies for insiders.
• The pay ratio between the CEO and the median employee is significantly high (95.3:1), although this is a common characteristic in the industry.

Risks

• Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control or subject to change.
• The company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, contains a 'Risk Factors' section that details potential challenges.
• The Board's risk oversight is delegated to committees, with the Legal and Regulatory Oversight Committee overseeing compliance with legal and regulatory obligations, indicating potential risks in this area.

Future Outlook

The company's strategic direction is clear, with a business model built to adapt and scale. Investments are focused on talent, AI, technology, and capabilities to enhance outsourcing, advice, and asset management services, while maintaining prudent capital allocation and balance sheet management. The company anticipates continued growth and evolution.

Management Comments

• "Als vision, values and commitment to innovation provide a strong foundation for SEIs continued growth and evolution."
• "I have been impressed with how CEO Ryan Hicke and the leadership team at SEI have built upon this legacy of entrepreneurism and transformation to drive significant shareholder value over the past several years."
• "Our 2025 performance reflects the strength of this foundation and the opportunities that lie ahead."
• "SEI delivered another year of meaningful progress marked by broad-based revenue and margin expansion, reflecting a business that is positioned for sustainable long-term growth."
• "I am proud of SEIs transformation towards our goal of a fully-integrated enterprise."
• "Our achievements in 2025 are early signs of the power of our evolving horizontal operating model, which is central to our strategic ambitions."
• "We are focused on investing with purpose in talent, AI, technology and capabilities to scale our advantages in outsourcing, advice and asset management, while maintaining a prudent approach to capital allocation and balance sheet management."
• "SEI has a clear strategic direction and a business model built to adapt and scale."

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that SEI's focus on technology, operations, and asset management aligns with broader industry trends of financial services firms seeking to leverage technology for efficiency and enhanced client offerings. The company's scale in AUM/AUA and processing capacity positions it as a significant player in the wealth management and investment processing sectors.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The company's revenue growth and EPS performance in 2025 are presented against industry index TSR, which includes NASDAQ US Asset Managers and Custodians and NASDAQ US Software.
• For 2025, SEI's TSR was 152.47% compared to the industry index TSR of 202.43%.
• The company's executive compensation practices, including stock ownership policies and clawback provisions, are designed to align with industry best practices and shareholder interests.
• The use of a third-party compensation consultant and a peer group analysis for executive compensation is standard practice in the financial services industry.

Management Changes

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• No related party transactions with any director or executive officer have occurred or are proposed since January 1, 2025.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Voting on director elections, executive compensation, and auditor ratification; benefit from capital returns and potential share price appreciation based on company performance.
• Employees: Subject to compensation policies, equity grants, and potential severance arrangements; benefit from company growth and investments in talent and technology.
• Management: Subject to compensation plans, stock ownership policies, and potential severance/change of control benefits.
• Auditors (KPMG LLP): Appointment subject to shareholder ratification; provides independent audit services.
• Creditors: Benefit from the company's strong balance sheet and prudent financial management, including no long-term debt as of year-end 2025.

Next Steps

• Shareholders are urged to vote and submit their proxies in advance of the Annual Meeting.
• The Board will oversee the execution of strategy, capital allocation, and risk management.
• The company will continue to innovate and invest in talent, AI, and technology.
• The Compensation Committee will evaluate any significant shareholder concerns regarding executive compensation.
• The Audit Committee will consider shareholder ratification of KPMG LLP as independent auditors.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The filing indicates strong financial performance in 2025 with record revenues and earnings, alongside strategic investments in technology and a clear growth path. However, the upcoming shareholder meeting focuses on routine governance matters (director elections, compensation approval, auditor ratification) rather than significant new strategic initiatives or M&A activity that would warrant a stronger recommendation. The company's consistent performance and shareholder returns suggest a 'hold' position is appropriate pending further strategic developments.

Keywords

SEI Investments Company, Proxy Statement, Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Executive Compensation, Director Elections, KPMG LLP, Corporate Governance, Financial Reporting, SEC Filings, Shareholder Vote