Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

SEI Investments Company (the Company), a Pennsylvania corporation, provides investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions to financial institutions, financial advisors, institutional investors, investment managers and ultra-high-net-worth families in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe and other various locations throughout the world. Investment processing solutions consist of application and business process outsourcing services, professional services and transaction-based services. Revenues from investment processing solutions are recognized in Information processing and software servicing fees on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, except for fees earned associated with trade execution services.

Investment management programs consist of mutual funds, alternative investments and separate accounts. These include a series of money market, equity, fixed-income and alternative investment portfolios, primarily in the form of registered investment companies. The Company serves as the administrator and investment advisor for many of these products. Revenues from investment management programs are recognized in Asset management, administration and distribution fees on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Investment operations solutions offer investment managers support for traditional investment products such as mutual funds, collective investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, and institutional and separate accounts, by providing outsourcing services including fund and investment accounting, administration, reconciliation, investor servicing and client reporting. These solutions also provide support to managers focused on alternative investments who manage hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds, across registered, partnership and separate account structures domiciled in the United States and overseas. Revenues from investment operations solutions are recognized in Asset management, administration and distribution fees on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and entities in which it holds a controlling financial interest. The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest either by its decision-making ability through voting interests or by the extent of the Company’s participation in the economic risks and rewards of the entity through variable interests. The Company’s principal subsidiaries are SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SIDCO), SEI Investments Management Corporation (SIMC), SEI Private Trust Company (SPTC), SEI Trust Company (STC), SEI Global Services, Inc. (SGSI) and SEI Investments (Europe) Limited (SIEL). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company accounts for investments in unconsolidated entities that are 20 percent to 50 percent owned or are 20 percent or less owned and have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the entity under the equity method of accounting. Under this method of accounting, the Company’s interest in the net assets of unconsolidated entities is reflected in Investment in unconsolidated affiliates on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet and its interest in the earnings or losses of unconsolidated entities is reflected in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company has involvement with various variable interest entities (VIE or VIEs). These VIEs consist of LSV Employee Group III, LLC (LSV Employee Group III) and investment products established for clients created in the form of various types of legal entity structures. Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted the amendments contained in Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (ASU 2015-02) which amends the current guidance for both the VIE and the voting interest entity (VOE) consolidation models. This guidance rescinds the indefinite deferral of the VIE guidance for investment companies that permitted application of the risks and rewards based approach. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not have any affect on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures (See Note 3).

Management’s Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s principal sources of revenues are: (1) asset management, administration and distribution fees earned based upon a contractual percentage of net assets under management or administration; (2) information processing and software servicing fees that are either recurring and primarily earned based upon the number of trust accounts being serviced or a percentage of the total average daily market value of our clients' assets processed on our platforms, or non-recurring and based upon project-oriented contractual agreements related to client implementations; and (3) transaction-based fees for providing trade-execution services.

The Company’s revenues are based on contractual arrangements. Revenues are recognized in the periods in which the related services are performed provided that persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. Cash received by the Company in advance of the performance of services is deferred and recognized as revenue when earned. Reimbursements received for out-of-pocket expenses incurred are recorded as revenue. Certain portions of the Company’s revenues require management’s consideration of the nature of the client relationship in determining whether to recognize as revenue the gross amount billed or net amount retained after payments are made to suppliers for certain services related to the product or service offering. For the majority of our services, we are the primary obligor responsible for fulfilling the performance obligations of the contract. In addition, we retain full discretion in establishing the price charged to the customer, control the nature, type, characteristics or specifications of the performance obligations identified in the contract, and assume all credit risk associated with the client. Based on the foregoing, fees received from our clients for these services are recorded as gross revenues and vendor costs are recorded as gross expenses. However, we are also party to certain arrangements whereby we are not the primary obligor responsible for fulfilling the performance obligations of the contract. Fees received for those arrangements are reported net of costs associated with the provision of those services.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers investment instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include $374,760 and $448,957 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, primarily invested in SEI-sponsored open-ended money market mutual funds. The SEI-sponsored mutual funds are considered Level 1 assets.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash includes $3,000 and $5,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, segregated for regulatory purposes related to trade-execution services conducted by SIEL. Restricted cash also includes $500 at December 31, 2016 and 2015 segregated in special reserve accounts for the benefit of SIDCO customers in accordance with certain rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for broker-dealers.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts. The Company’s estimate is based on historical collection experience and a review of the current status of trade accounts receivable.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and trade receivables. Cash equivalents are principally invested in short-term money market funds or placed with major banks and high-credit qualified financial institutions. Cash deposits maintained with institutions are in excess of federally insured limits. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to our receivables are limited due to the large number of clients and their dispersion across geographic areas. No single group or customer represents greater than ten percent of total accounts receivable.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized and minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Construction in progress includes the cost of construction and other direct costs attributable to the construction. When property and equipment are retired or disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations for the respective period. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives using the straight line method for financial statement purposes. No provision for depreciation is made for construction in progress until such time as the relevant assets are completed and put into service. The Company uses other depreciation methods, generally accelerated, for tax purposes where appropriate. Buildings and building improvements are depreciated over 25 to 39 years. Equipment, purchased software and furniture and fixtures have useful lives ranging from 3 to 5 years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

Marketable Securities

The classification of investments in marketable securities is determined at the time of purchase and reevaluated at each balance sheet date. Debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value as determined by the most recently traded price of each security at the balance sheet date. Unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, are reported as a separate component of comprehensive income. SIDCO, the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary, reports changes in fair value of marketable securities through current period earnings due to specialized accounting practices related to investments by broker-dealers. The Company records its investments in funds sponsored by LSV on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses from the change in fair value of these securities are recognized in current period earnings. The specific identification method is used to compute the realized gains and losses on all of the Company’s marketable securities (See Note 6).

The Company evaluates the realizable value of its marketable securities on a quarterly basis. In the event that the carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis for the investment is established. Some of the factors considered in determining other-than-temporary impairment for equity securities include, but are not limited to, significant or prolonged declines in the fair value of the investments, the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period sufficient to allow the value to recover, and the financial condition of the investment. Some of the factors considered in determining other-than-temporary impairment for debt securities include, but are not limited to, the intent of management to sell the security, the likelihood that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost, and management’s expectation to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security even if there is no intent to sell the security.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value hierarchy describes three levels of inputs that may be used by the Company to measure fair value:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities without adjustment. The Company’s Level 1 assets primarily include investments in mutual funds sponsored by SEI that are quoted daily.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 financial assets consist of Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) mortgage-backed securities, Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and other U.S. government agency short-term notes and investment grade commercial paper. The investments in GNMA mortgage-backed securities were purchased for the sole purpose of satisfying applicable regulatory requirements imposed on our wholly-owned limited purpose federal thrift subsidiary, SPTC. The investments in FHLB and other U.S. government agency short-term notes and investment grade commercial paper were purchased as part of a cash management program requiring only short term, top-tier investment grade government and corporate securities.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment by management. The Company had no Level 3 financial assets at December 31, 2016 or 2015.

The fair value of an asset or liability may include inputs from more than one level in the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of significant inputs used to value the asset or liability determines which level the asset or liability is classified in its entirety. Transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy are reported at fair value as of the beginning of the period in which the transfers occur.

See Note 5 for information on related disclosures regarding fair value measurements.

Capitalized Software

Costs incurred for the development of internal use software to be offered in a hosting arrangement is capitalized during the development stage of the software application. These costs include direct external and internal costs to design the software configuration and interfaces, coding, installation, and testing. Costs incurred during the preliminary and post-implementation stages of the software application are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with significant enhancements to a software application are capitalized while costs incurred to maintain existing software applications are expensed as incurred. The capitalization of software development costs requires considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, technological and economic feasibility, and estimated economic life. Amortization of capitalized software development costs begins when the product is ready for its intended use. Capitalized software development costs are amortized on a product-by-product basis using the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the product or enhancement.

The Company capitalized $50,392, $29,416 and $34,877 of software development costs during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company's capitalized software development costs primarily relate to the further development of the SEI Wealth Platform^SM(the Platform). The Company capitalized $39,785, $24,515 and $34,877 of software development costs for significant enhancements to the Platform during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016, the net book value of the Platform was $280,359. The Platform has an estimated useful life of 15 years and a weighted average remaining life of 5.5 years. Amortization expense for the Platform was $45,047, $42,401 and $38,357 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in Amortization expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company currently expects to recognize approximately $48,166 in amortization expense related to the Platform each year from 2017 through 2021.

The Company also capitalized $10,607 and $4,901 of software development costs during 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to a new application for the Investment Managers segment. Capitalized software development costs in-progress at December 31, 2016 associated with the application were $15,508. The application is not yet ready for use.

The Company evaluates the carrying value of capitalized software development costs when circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The review of capitalized software development costs for impairment requires significant assumptions about operating strategies, underlying technologies utilized, and external market factors. External market factors include, but are not limited to, expected levels of competition, barriers to entry by potential competitors, stability in the target market and governmental regulations. During 2015, the Company determined that specific functionality within the Platform was no longer in use and wrote off $5,533 of previously capitalized software development costs reported under the Private Banks and Investment Advisors business segments. The expense associated with the write off is included in Facilities, supplies and other costs on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges related to its capitalized software development costs in 2016 or 2014.

Income Taxes

The Company applies the asset and liability approach to account for income taxes whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities and results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the foreign subsidiary’s local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities have been translated into U.S. dollars using the rates of exchange at the balance sheet dates. The results of operations have been translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded as a separate component of comprehensive income.

Transaction gains and losses from exchange rate fluctuations are included in the results of operations in the periods in which they occur. There were no material gains or losses from exchange rate fluctuations in 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to SEI Investments common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to SEI Investments common shareholders by the combination of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive potential common shares, such as stock options, outstanding during the period.

The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2016, 2015 and 2014 are:



	2016		2015		2014
Net income	$	333,817	$	331,655	$	318,713
Shares used to compute basic earnings per common share	161,350,000		165,725,000		168,246,000
Dilutive effect of stock options	3,081,000		3,873,000		4,319,000
Shares used to compute diluted earnings per common share	164,431,000		169,598,000		172,565,000
Basic earnings per common share	$	2.07	$	2.00	$	1.89
Diluted earnings per common share	$	2.03	$	1.96	$	1.85

Employee stock options to purchase approximately 10,632,000, 10,730,000 and 10,166,000 shares of common stock, with an average exercise price per share of $35.02, $33.99 and $30.00, were outstanding during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because either the performance conditions have not been satisfied or would have been satisfied if the reporting date was the end of the contingency period or the option’s exercise price was greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock and the effect on diluted earnings per common share would have been anti-dilutive (See Note 8).

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. The amount of stock-based compensation expense that is recognized in a given period is dependent upon management’s estimate of when the vesting targets are expected to be achieved. If this estimate proves to be inaccurate, the remaining amount of stock-based compensation expense could be accelerated, spread out over a longer period, or reversed (See Note 8).

New Accounting Pronouncements

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The updated standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The FASB has recently issued several amendments to the standard, including principal versus agent guidance and identifying performance obligations. ASU 2014-09 currently becomes effective for the Company during the first quarter 2018.

The Company continues to assess the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on its revenue arrangements with completion, including selecting a transition method, expected by the third quarter of 2017. The majority of the Company’s services are bundled together and provided and completed for the client on a monthly basis. The Company expects revenue for these services to continue to be recognized monthly because of the continuous transfer of control to the client. Therefore, the adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the recognition of revenue for the majority of the fees recognized for the services provided. However, the Company believes the adoption of the new standard may affect the timing of the recognition of implementation fees recognized in Information processing and software servicing fees as well as fund conversion fees and other ancillary fees recognized in Asset management, administration and distribution fees. Transaction-based and trade execution fees are based on current period activity and is not expected to be affected by the adoption of ASU 2014-09. Due to the complexity of certain of our agreements, the actual revenue recognition treatment required under the standard will be dependent on contract-specific terms, and certain aspects may vary in some instances from recognition ratably over the contract term.

The new standard also modified some of the principal and agent considerations which may result in changes to gross or net treatment of revenue and expenses but would not affect final net income. The Company is also evaluating its sales commission programs. Previously, sales commission costs were expensed at inception of a sales agreement but under the new standard will generally need to be capitalized and amortized over the period of contract performance.

The new standard provides companies with alternative methods of adoption and the Company is in the process of determining the method of adoption, which depends in part upon completion of the evaluation of the remaining revenue arrangements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU 2016-01) that will significantly change the income statement impact of equity investments held by an entity, and the recognition of changes in fair value of financial liabilities when the fair value option is elected. ASU 2016-01 becomes effective for the Company during the first quarter 2018. The Company is continuing to assess all potential impacts the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Management currently believes the most significant impact will be the requirement to recognize all changes in fair value of available-for-sale equity securities in current period earnings. Previously, these changes in fair value were recognized as a separate component of comprehensive income.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASU 2016-02) requiring lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with the exception of short-term leases. For lessees, leases will continue to be classified as either operating or finance leases in the income statement. Lessor accounting is similar to the current model but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model. Lessors will continue to classify leases as operating, direct financing or sales-type leases. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition and requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The updated standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the transition method that will be elected and the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09) requiring an entity to record all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as an income tax benefit or expense in the income statement when stock awards vest or are settled. In addition, ASU 2016-09 eliminates anticipated windfalls and shortfalls that were included in the calculation of assumed proceeds for computing the dilutive effect of share-based payment awards in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. Cash flows related to excess tax benefits will be recorded as an operating cash flow rather than a financing activity and an entity may elect to either estimate the number of forfeitures or account for forfeitures as they occur. ASU 2016-09 became effective for the Company during the first quarter of 2017.

The Company believes the primary impact of adoption will be the requirement to recognize all tax effects related to share-based payments in the provision for income taxes in the income statement rather than paid-in capital as well as additional amendments to the accounting for income taxes. This may increase volatility of the Company’s income tax expense. In addition, the dilutive effect from stock options outstanding will increase as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09. No adjustment to prior period reported diluted earnings per share amounts is permitted. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur when determining the amount of compensation cost to be recognized in each period as well as retroactively reflecting all tax benefits or deficiencies from stock option exercises as an operating activity for the periods prior to the date of adoption. The amendments to accounting for income taxes and the change in the policy for accounting for forfeitures will require an adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2017, where the cumulative effect of these changes are required to be recorded.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13) which requires that expected credit losses relating to financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. ASU No. 2016-13 limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and also requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. ASU 2016-13 becomes effective for the Company during the first quarter of 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control (ASU 2016-17) which amends the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. ASU 2016-17 became effective for the Company during the first quarter of 2017. The Company does not believe the adoption of ASU 2016-17 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (ASU 2016-18) which requires restricted cash and cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Under this guidance, the statement of cash flows should explain the total change in cash balances, including amounts described as restricted. ASU 2016-18 becomes effective for the Company during the first quarter of 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the guidance in ASU 2016-18 but does not believe it will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.