SEI Appoints Jeff Benfield as Chief Product Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) appointed Jeff Benfield as Chief Product Officer effective Jan. 8, 2026. Reporting to Chief Technology Officer Zach Womack, Benfield will lead enterprise product strategy and the full product lifecycle to align solutions with business goals, regulatory needs, and client requirements. He previously led platform strategy and operations for SEI's Asset Management business and has 18+ years in financial services, with prior roles at Vanguard, Pershing/Albridge, and Axa Advisors.

Key Figures

Industry experience More than 18 years Jeff Benfield’s experience in financial services

Market Reality Check

$86.77 Last Close

Volume Volume 529,563 is below the 20-day average of 627,213. normal

Technical Trading above the 200-day MA at 83.78, with price at 87.51 pre-announcement.

Peers on Argus

SEIC was down 0.57% pre-news. Peers were mixed: BEN up 0.4%, while IVZ, EQH, NTRS, and TROW declined between roughly 1–3%, indicating stock-specific rather than broad sector-driven dynamics.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 17	Dividend increase	Positive	+0.5%	Raised semi-annual cash dividend to $0.52 per share from $0.49.
Dec 17	Leadership transition	Positive	+0.1%	Founder retires as Executive Chairman, becomes Chairman Emeritus with new Chair.
Dec 04	Operational update	Positive	+0.2%	Reported sustained wealth management momentum with multiple implementations and projects.
Dec 03	Strategic investment	Positive	+1.3%	Completed first stage of Stratos Wealth investment for majority ownership structure.
Nov 18	Client partnership	Positive	-0.7%	Syverson Strege chose SEI to migrate $1B AUM to the SEI Wealth Platform.

Pattern Detected

Recent news, including dividends, strategic deals, and operational updates, has generally seen modestly positive price alignment, with only one notable divergence on partnership news.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, SEI has combined capital returns, strategic transactions, and operational execution updates. A higher semi-annual dividend of $0.52 per share and the founder’s transition to Chairman Emeritus on Jan. 1, 2026 drew small positive reactions. Strategic growth steps included a roughly $544 million investment for a majority stake in Stratos Wealth and wealth platform wins like a $1 billion AUM migration. Against this backdrop, today’s product leadership appointment fits a broader strategy of scaling technology-led wealth and asset management capabilities.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights SEI’s focus on centralized product strategy by appointing a Chief Product Officer with more than 18 years of industry experience. Set against recent milestones like strategic investments, dividend growth, and wealth platform wins, the role underscores an emphasis on scalable, technology-driven solutions. Investors may watch for future disclosures that tie this leadership change to measurable outcomes in client adoption, platform innovation, and long-term growth initiatives.

Key Terms

Certified Financial Planner™ financial

"and is a Certified Financial Planner™."

A Certified Financial Planner™ is a professional designation granted to people who have met education, exam, experience and ethics requirements to provide comprehensive personal financial advice. For investors, it signals a higher level of training and a pledge to act in the client’s best interest—like hiring a certified guide for your money—helping reduce the chance of poor decisions and better aligning investment choices with financial goals.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Centralized Product Development Accelerates Enterprise Innovation and Delivery

OAKS, Pa., Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SEI^® (NASDAQ:SEIC) today announced the appointment of Jeff Benfield as Chief Product Officer. Reporting to Zach Womack, Chief Technology Officer, Benfield will lead SEI's enterprise product strategy, development, and execution. In this new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the full product lifecycle—from ideation and creation to execution and optimization—and ensuring alignment with SEI's business goals, growth opportunities, regulatory requirements, and the evolving needs of clients.

Benfield previously served as Head of Platform Strategy and Operations for SEI's Asset Management business. In that role, he led the strategic vision, roadmap, and execution of the investment and technology suite of solutions for SEI's independent advisor, institutional, and private wealth management businesses, with a focus on tools used by client-facing professionals at financial advisory firms.

Commenting on Benfield's appointment, Womack said:

"Jeff's proven ability to drive product innovation and his deep understanding of the financial technology landscape will help us deliver solutions that not only meet but anticipate our clients' needs. His leadership will be instrumental in shaping our product vision and ensuring that SEI remains at the forefront of industry transformation.

"Building efficient, scalable, and client-centric products enables us to deliver greater value and drive long-term growth. Jeff will add tremendous value to our technology and product organization as we continue to set new standards for quality, reliability, and innovation."

Benfield added:

"Technology is fundamentally reshaping how firms operate and serve clients. We have a unique opportunity to lead this change by delivering innovative, scalable solutions that set new benchmarks for the industry. I look forward to working alongside our talented teams to enhance user experiences and drive product strategy that positions SEI for long-term growth and success."

Benfield first joined SEI in 2014 in a strategy, transformation, and product management role for the company's global Private Banking business. He has more than 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, serving in a range of product management and program management roles over his career—including positions at Vanguard, BNY Mellon's Pershing/Albridge, and Axa Advisors. He holds a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University, an MBA degree from Texas A&M University, a Certificate in Financial Planning from Wake Forest University and is a Certified Financial Planner™.

About SEI^®
SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) is a leading global provider of financial technology, operations, and asset management services within the financial services industry. SEI tailors its solutions and services to help clients more effectively deploy their capital—whether that's money, time, or talent—so they can better serve their clients and achieve their growth objectives. As of Sept. 30, 2025, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.8 trillion in assets. For more information, visit seic.com.

Company Contact:                                                                            Media Contact:

Alicia Rudd                                                                                          Eric Hazard

SEI                                                                                                       Vested

+1 610-676-3887                                                                                +1 917-765-8720

arudd@seic.com                                                                                 eric@fullyvested.com

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SOURCE SEI Investments Company

FAQ

Who is Jeff Benfield and what role did SEI announce on January 8, 2026 (SEIC)?

Jeff Benfield was named Chief Product Officer at SEI on Jan. 8, 2026.

To whom will Jeff Benfield report as Chief Product Officer at SEI (SEIC)?

He will report to Zach Womack, SEI's Chief Technology Officer.

What responsibilities will Jeff Benfield have as SEI's Chief Product Officer (SEIC)?

He will lead enterprise product strategy, oversee the full product lifecycle, and align products with business goals, regulatory requirements, and client needs.

What was Jeff Benfield's prior role at SEI before becoming Chief Product Officer (SEIC)?

He served as Head of Platform Strategy and Operations for SEI's Asset Management business.

What is Jeff Benfield's industry experience and education mentioned in SEI's Jan. 8, 2026 announcement (SEIC)?

He has over 18 years in financial services and held roles at Vanguard, Pershing/Albridge, and Axa Advisors; he holds a bachelor's from Lehigh, an MBA from Texas A&M, a Certificate in Financial Planning from Wake Forest, and is a Certified Financial Planner.