SEI and Stratos Wealth Holdings have announced a partnership aimed at helping financial advisors expand their practices. SEI will make a strategic investment in Stratos, which supports financial advisors across various business models.
Based in Beachwood, Ohio, Stratos has a national network of over 360 experienced financial advisors across 26 states. Jeff Concepcion, Founder and CEO of Stratos, will continue to lead the business, which will retain its brand and client service model while benefiting from SEI’s technological and operational capabilities.
SEI will invest approximately $527 million in cash for a 57.5% stake in a newly formed entity that will acquire Stratos’ operating divisions. Current equity holders will retain the remaining 42.5%, subject to put/call rights that could result in SEI owning 100%. Emigrant Partners will exit their investment upon closure.
The deal is expected to close in two stages, pending regulatory approval. The U.S.-based Stratos business is anticipated to close in late 2025, while the Mexico-based NSC business is expected to close in early 2026.
Advisors: Goldman Sachs served as financial advisor to Stratos, and Wells Fargo served as financial advisor to SEI.
KEY QUOTES:
“As we strive to impact advisors’ success, we were seeking a partner that would not only provide investment capital, but also the expertise to help power growth. Working with SEI is a key aspect of our ongoing strategic vision, which provides advisors with the flexibility they need to achieve their goals. We’re excited about this partnership because it strengthens our offerings. SEI’s robust set of solutions and services will enhance our ability to operate at scale, while delivering advisors a highly personalized level of service.
“We have worked closely with SEI for 15 years, and we appreciate their shared commitment to consistently delivering value to our advisors. We are closely aligned with their leadership on how to foster independence—a key for advisors in helping clients meet their financial goals. SEI’s breadth of capabilities and its connections across the industry can significantly enhance and advance the services we deliver to make doing business and serving clients more seamless for advisors.”
Jeff Concepcion
“We’re making a strategic investment that reinforces our unwavering belief in financial advisors and their delivery of advice, and Stratos brings an intimate understanding of what adds value to an advisor’s business. Their approach to coaching, building sustainable value, and focusing on client acquisition and service can help advisors scale their businesses, drive more organic growth, and address the industry’s most prevalent challenges.”
“Partnering with Stratos allows us to build upon our world-class investment management, processing, and operations capabilities with deeper insight into the demands and needs of the end client, so we can continue to enhance the solutions and services we provide across all intermediaries. As we look to the future of wealth management, this partnership enables us to help accelerate growth for advisors and wealth managers, solve succession and business transition challenges, and develop the next generation of professionals delivering advice. We share Stratos’ deep respect for independence and look ahead with excitement as we build a long-standing partnership that can simplify the complex and amplify the value of advice.”
Ryan Hicke, CEO of SEI
