SEI, Carlyle Partner to Expand Private Markets Access for Wealth, Retirement Investors

SEI and Carlyle have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at expanding access to private market investments for individual investors across wealth management and retirement platforms, reflecting growing demand for alternatives beyond traditional public markets.

Under the collaboration, SEI, a provider of financial technology and investment solutions, will work with Carlyle, a global alternative asset manager, to develop a range of investment offerings, including model portfolios that incorporate private market strategies. The firms also plan to deliver solutions tailored to defined contribution retirement plans, a segment that has historically had limited exposure to private assets.

The initiative is designed to simplify access to private equity, private credit, and other alternative strategies for financial advisors and plan sponsors seeking diversified investment options.

“One of the most common questions we hear from clients is how to allocate to private markets,” said Michael Lane, head of asset management at SEI. “Our objective with Carlyle is to provide more streamlined access to a broader set of strategies and help investors integrate private assets more effectively into portfolios.”

Rising Demand for Private Market Exposure

The partnership comes amid increasing interest from wealth managers and retirement plan sponsors in incorporating private markets into investment portfolios. As public market volatility and return expectations shift, institutional-style strategies are gaining traction among individual investors.

SEI has been expanding its capabilities in alternatives, including the launch of an investment marketplace within its SEI Access platform. The platform provides research, fund selection tools, and subscription capabilities designed to facilitate access to alternative investments.

At the same time, regulatory and policy discussions have accelerated interest in bringing private market exposure into defined contribution plans, which represent a significant portion of retirement savings in the United States.

Industry data suggests that plan sponsors are increasingly open to the idea. A recent survey indicated that more than one-third of retirement plan sponsors are actively exploring ways to incorporate private assets through structures such as target-date funds and managed accounts.

Carlyle Expands Distribution Strategy

For Carlyle, the partnership aligns with a broader effort to expand distribution of private market strategies to a wider investor base. The firm has been developing new channels to reach individual investors, including collaborations with financial platforms and asset managers.

In recent months, Carlyle has pursued initiatives aimed at combining public and private market exposures and integrating its strategies into model portfolio frameworks. These efforts reflect a broader industry trend toward product innovation designed to make private assets more accessible and easier to implement within traditional investment structures.

“This partnership reflects the increasing role of private markets across the wealth and retirement landscape,” said Jeff Nedelman, co-president and global head of client business at Carlyle. “SEI brings deep expertise in this ecosystem, and together we aim to support greater participation in private markets.”

Industry-Wide Shift Toward Access and Integration

The SEI-Carlyle collaboration is part of a broader wave of partnerships across asset managers, fintech firms, and investment platforms seeking to democratize access to private markets.

Historically limited to institutional investors, private equity, private credit, and other alternative strategies are increasingly being packaged into structures suitable for wealth clients and retirement savers. These include evergreen funds, separately managed accounts, and model portfolios that blend public and private exposures.

On the retirement side, new product formats such as collective investment trusts and target-date funds are being explored as potential vehicles for incorporating private assets into long-term savings strategies.

Recent industry initiatives have underscored the pace of innovation, with firms launching hybrid investment solutions that combine traditional asset classes with private market components. These developments are reshaping how investors access and allocate capital across asset classes.

Outlook

As private markets continue to grow and evolve, partnerships like the one between SEI and Carlyle are expected to play a key role in bridging the gap between institutional investment strategies and individual investors.

The collaboration reflects a structural shift in the asset management industry, where access, scalability, and integration are becoming central to product development. For wealth managers and retirement plan sponsors, the ability to incorporate private market exposure may increasingly become a standard component of diversified portfolios.

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