Introduction
You’ve poured months—maybe years—into your startup. You’ve pitched investors. You’ve sweated over prototypes. Now you need capital. Two paths lie ahead: government-backed schemes or specialist advisors. In plain terms: SEIS vs wealth management. Which one fits your needs?
Let’s break it down.
What Is SEIS?
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is a UK government programme. Its aim? To make early-stage investing less scary. SEIS offers tax reliefs for those who back new businesses.
Key perks:
- Up to 50% income tax relief on investments.
- Tax-free growth on gains after three years.
- Loss relief if things go south.
At its core, SEIS is simple. You find a qualifying startup. You invest. You get a chunk of your tax bill knocked off. It’s like a deposit match from the government—only better.
What Is Specialist Wealth Management?
Think of a wealth management firm as a personal trainer for your money. They map out your financial goals. They balance portfolios. They may dabble in SEIS, EIS, VCTs, pensions, ISAs, you name it.
Strengths:
- Holistic planning across assets.
- Access to private deals and funds.
- Ongoing advice and reports.
But there are trade-offs. Fees. Often tiered and opaque. Entry points can be high (£100k+). Some advisers favour big clients over micro-businesses. And many are not laser-focused on early-stage tax incentives.
Comparing SEIS vs wealth management
When you line them up, it boils down to a few areas:
- Cost
- Expertise
- Accessibility
- Focus
SEIS vs wealth management in a nutshell:
- Cost
- SEIS schemes: no up-front fees for investors under SEIS.
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Wealth management: advisory and performance fees.
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Expertise
- SEIS: the scheme itself is a tax wrapper; you source deals.
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Wealth management: broad financial advice, not always startup-centric.
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Accessibility
- SEIS: open to anyone meeting criteria.
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Wealth management: often gated by minimum investment.
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Focus
- SEIS: early-stage, high-growth potential.
- Wealth management: diversified across all asset classes.
Why SEIS vs wealth management matters
If you’re a founder, your time is precious. You want speed and clarity. You don’t want hidden fees. You need an ally who lives and breathes SEIS.
Traditional advisers can feel like a maze. They juggle pensions, property, inheritance tax. They might gloss over the finer points of SEIS. Worse, they might see your £50k raise as “too small”.
Here’s the thing: you deserve a platform that speaks your language. Where the rules of SEIS aren’t a side note but the main event.
How Oriel IPO bridges the gap
Enter Oriel IPO. We’re a commission-free, SEIS-focused investment marketplace. We connect founders with angel investors. No tricky fees. No sales jargon. Just a transparent platform built for you.
What sets us apart:
- Commission-free funding: We don’t take a cut of funds raised. You keep more.
- Curated, tax-efficient investments: Only SEIS-eligible deals make the cut.
- Educational resources: Guides, webinars and templates to help you tick every box.
- Subscription model: A clear, predictable cost. No surprises.
- Maggie’s AutoBlog: Our high-priority AI tool that automatically generates SEO and GEO-targeted content. Nifty, right?
With Oriel IPO, there’s no wrestling with paperwork or second-guessing eligibility. It’s SEIS vs wealth management—with a bias towards simplicity.
A closer look: SEIS vs wealth management fees
Let’s talk money. If you raise £200k:
- On a commission-based platform (or adviser) you might see 5%–10% fees. That’s £10k–£20k gone.
- With Oriel IPO’s subscription model, fees are fixed. You can budget. And you know what you get.
Example:
Jane raises £150k. Platform A charges 7%, netting £10.5k. Jane receives £139.5k.
On Oriel IPO? She pays a transparent monthly fee—say £500. Annual cost £6k. Jane nets £144k. Simple maths.
Step-by-step: Setting up your SEIS round
- Verify your business against SEIS requirements.
- Create a pitch on Oriel IPO.
- Upload your documents.
- Share with our investor network.
- Track commitments in real time.
- Issue SEIS compliance certificates post-raise.
It’s a breeze. No need for multiple calls with different advisers. No hidden paperwork. It’s all under one roof.
Case Study: SEIS vs wealth management in action
Meet Tom, a SaaS founder. He needed £100k seed capital. He spoke to a private bank. They offered a generic pitch deck template. They wanted 2% of his raise. Tom ended up more confused than before.
Then Tom found Oriel IPO. Within two weeks:
- His pitch was live.
- He onboarded three angel investors.
- He saved over £1,500 in fees.
- He got step-by-step SEIS compliance guidance.
Tom nailed his raise—and he’s already hitting his next milestone.
Pitfalls to avoid
Even the best schemes have traps:
- Ignoring advance assurance. Always apply with HMRC.
- Overlooking investor minimums. Some SEIS investors expect a certain amount.
- Mixing up EIS and SEIS rules. They differ on company age and funding caps.
Oriel IPO’s resources flag these pitfalls. Our guides are updated with the latest HMRC changes. No guesswork.
Final thoughts
Choosing between SEIS vs wealth management doesn’t have to be a debate. If you’re raising early-stage capital, a specialist SEIS platform like Oriel IPO makes sense. You get:
- Clear, commission-free pricing.
- Dedicated SEIS expertise.
- A community of angel investors.
Ready to see how it works?
