The Guide is designed to help investment managers understand and compare a broad range of potential investment vehicles so they can target additional growth opportunities in light of investors' increasing demand for flexible product packaging options.

SEI created the Guide with the help of several respected distribution consultants and legal experts in the U.S. and Europe. The Guide details the key features of a wide range of investment vehicles, including the regulatory, operational, and distribution requirements of each. Among the vehicles outlined are U.S. mutual funds; exchange-traded funds (ETFs); undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS); private funds, including those available only to qualified purchasers; collective investment trusts (CITs); separate accounts; closed-end funds; Irish qualified investment funds (QIF); and U.K. open-end investment companies (OEIC).

The Guide's inspiration stems from a trend SEI has labeled the Era of the Investor(SM). The Era of the Investor represents a shift in power from investment managers to investors and their representatives, and is reflected in the fact that investor input has significantly increased how managers package their investment strategies.

"In the 'Era of the Investor,' managers are focused more than ever on alpha generation activities and are becoming agnostic as to how their investment expertise is packaged," said Phil Masterson, a Managing Director in SEI's Investment Manager Services division. "This Guide is intended to help managers begin the decision process on what product packages will best help them meet investor needs while targeting new growth opportunities. In addition, the Guide is consistent with SEI's approach of providing clients with solutions regardless of how they package their investment strategies."