We know that sounds odd but it represents a very real issue for wealthy families. Research shows that today’s affluent are spending more time worrying about their life than actually living it. They are now asking harder questions like: When do I retire?, What is my magic number?, What life events will have the greatest impact? and What do I really want to do now?”

SEI has listened closely to this conversation. Instead of inventing a new investment product, we created an entirely new category – the SEI Wealth Network - a life-centered approach to wealth.

The SEI approach helps people see their life in a whole new way.

If you think for a moment of your wealth as a business to be managed and grown, then think of the SEI Wealth Network as your senior management dream team with you as CEO. A national network of experts that you can tap through a single point person -- at any time, at every life event. The problem is most people run their wealth more like 10 separate businesses with 10 different point people – creating lots of conflicting points of view. That’s what makes wealth hard. The SEI Wealth Network makes wealth easier.

It’s the brainchild of Al West – he’s the founder of SEI, and a financial services visionary. It’s based on his own personal frustrations with what he calls "Siloed Advice Syndrome." That’s the way the individual experts like money managers, brokers, lawyers, insurance professionals and CPAs see your wealth only in the context of their area of expertise. Turns out the average wealthy family uses about six different advisors.

His breakthrough idea is quite simple. To integrate all one’s financial matters with one’s life matters through a single point of contact – that’s the SEI Wealth Network. He developed the idea with the help of experts at Wharton that looked at not only the financial, but the psychological aspects of wealth. That’s part of what makes the experience so different – and so successful.

The SEI approach helps people see their life in a whole new way. It changes the focus from the twist and turns of the market to the twist and turns of their life. And that’s first step in making their wealth a little less hard.