Jackson
May 2021 – August 2021
Jackson
May 2021 – August 2021
Jackson
May 2021 – August 2021
Overview
Overview
Engineering a retirement planning calculator for financial advisors to present to their clients
Engineering a retirement planning calculator for financial advisors to present to their clients
While interning at Jackson, I played a key role in developing a retirement expense and income calculator.
The tool helps advisors to identify income gaps in client retirement plans and position annuities as a solution.
It is now a valuable resource used by hundreds of financial professionals in the company.
My Roles
Data Visualization
Interaction Design
Visual Design
User Testing
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Jira
Lean UX
Scrum
Team
Chardae Hawley, PO
Asif Dewji, SM
Brandon Benedict, SWE
Raven Rebb, SWE
Bob Rios, UXD
Jacob Kersh, UX Intern
Overview
Engineering a retirement planning calculator for financial advisors to present to their clients
While interning at Jackson, I played a key role in developing a retirement expense and income calculator.
The tool helps advisors to identify income gaps in client retirement plans and position annuities as a solution.
It is now a valuable resource used by hundreds of financial professionals in the company.
My Roles
Data Visualization
Interaction Design
Visual Design
User Testing
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Jira
Lean UX
Scrum
Team
Chardae Hawley, PO
Asif Dewji, SM
Brandon Benedict, SWE
Raven Rebb, SWE
Bob Rios, UXD
Jacob Kersh, UX Intern
Solution Snapshot
Solution Snapshot
A preview gallery of the final design
A preview gallery of the final design
Solution Snapshot
A preview gallery of the final design
Product Background
Product Background
Product Background
Exploring Jackson's approach to retirement planning
Exploring Jackson's approach to retirement planning
Exploring Jackson's approach to retirement planning
At the beginning of my internship, I participated in onboarding meetings with my team's product owner.
Specifically, I learned how Jackson simplifies retirement planning by helping clients to invest in annuities. This clarified the purpose of what my team was building.
At the beginning of my internship, I participated in onboarding meetings with my team's product owner.
Specifically, I learned how Jackson simplifies retirement planning by helping clients to invest in annuities. This clarified the purpose of what my team was building.
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💰
What Are Annuities?
What Are Annuities?
What Are Annuities?
A financial product that pays out a stream of income to the holder, usually during the years of their retirement.
A financial product that pays out a stream of income to the holder, usually during the years of their retirement.
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Role in Retirement
Role in Retirement
Role in Retirement
Annuities provide steady monthly income, ensuring financial stability and peace of mind for retirees.
Annuities provide steady monthly income, ensuring financial stability and peace of mind for retirees.
📌
📌
Relevance to Project
Relevance to Project
Relevance to Project
The tool being built simplifies the concept of annuities and highlights their value for Jackson's clients.
The tool being built simplifies the concept of annuities and highlights their value for Jackson's clients.
Objective
Objective
Objective
Tasked with creating a tool to showcase the value of annuities for retirees
Tasked with creating a tool to showcase the value of annuities for retirees
Tasked with creating a tool to showcase the value of annuities for retirees
To better understand the project's progress to date, I reviewed my team's list of product deployments in Jira.
Our product owner also tasked me with creating a problem statement. We then compared it to the team's existing statement to ensure they were aligned.
To better understand the project's progress to date, I reviewed my team's list of product deployments in Jira.
Our product owner also tasked me with creating a problem statement. We then compared it to the team's existing statement to ensure they were aligned.
My Problem Statement
My Problem Statement
My Problem Statement
✍️
✍️
Design a calculator that clearly shows clients how purchasing an annuity can help them prevent their retirement expenses from surpassing their income.
Design a calculator that clearly shows clients how purchasing an annuity can help them prevent their retirement expenses from surpassing their income.
Team Problem Statement
Team Problem Statement
Team Problem Statement
🤝
🤝
Create a retirement planning tool that enables financial professionals to showcase the benefits of Jackson annuities in bridging income gaps for future retirees.
Create a retirement planning tool that enables financial professionals to showcase the benefits of Jackson annuities in bridging income gaps for future retirees.
Target Audience
Target Audience
Target Audience
Becoming familiar with the unique roles of financial advisors and their clients
Becoming familiar with the unique roles of financial advisors and their clients
Becoming familiar with the unique roles of financial advisors and their clients
Once I grasped the project's objective, I familiarized myself with the target audience—financial advisors and their clients.
The personas derived from this audience had entirely different roles when interacting with the calculator. As a result, each required tailored testing processes.
Once I grasped the project's objective, I familiarized myself with the target audience—financial advisors and their clients.
The personas derived from this audience had entirely different roles when interacting with the calculator. As a result, each required tailored testing processes.
Ready-To-Retire Rae
Ready-To-Retire Rae
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💼
Role
Role
Role
Rae is approaching retirement and is curious about how annuities can help her manage her money.
She engages with the tool by absorbing information about her projected retirement finances.
Rae is approaching retirement and is curious about how annuities can help her manage her money.
She engages with the tool by absorbing information about her projected retirement finances.
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🔍
Needs
Needs
Needs
Tailored advice for managing her retirement expenses and potentially buying an annuity.
Tailored advice for managing her retirement expenses and potentially buying an annuity.
Financial Femi
Financial Femi
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💼
Role
Role
Role
Femi is a financial advisor who is dedicated to simplifying retirement planning for Jackson's clients.
He interacts with the tool by navigating its UI to showcase how annuities can secure financial futures.
Femi is a financial advisor who is dedicated to simplifying retirement planning for Jackson's clients.
He interacts with the tool by navigating its UI to showcase how annuities can secure financial futures.
🔍
🔍
Needs
Needs
Needs
A user-friendly tool that visually models the benefits of annuities in client retirement scenarios.
A user-friendly tool that visually models the benefits of annuities in client retirement scenarios.
Methodology
Methodology
Methodology
Adapting Scrum framework to integrate principles of Lean UX
Adapting Scrum framework to integrate principles of Lean UX
Adapting Scrum framework to integrate principles of Lean UX
Before fully integrating with the team, I learned how they modified traditional Scrum framework by weaving Lean UX into their biweekly sprint cycles.
My team also implemented a staggered sprint structure. This involves designers working a sprint ahead of developers, allowing for incremental product deployment.
Before fully integrating with the team, I learned how they modified traditional Scrum framework by weaving Lean UX into their biweekly sprint cycles.
My team also implemented a staggered sprint structure. This involves designers working a sprint ahead of developers, allowing for incremental product deployment.
Overlay Lean UX principles
Show other responsibilities
Timeframe
Timeframe
Timeframe
Mapping the journey from concept to completion
Mapping the journey from concept to completion
Mapping the journey from concept to completion
My internship spanned eight two-week sprints and was rooted in the team's modified Scrum framework.
Product demos were presented to stakeholders every four weeks. Aside from working on the project itself, I was also assigned a few intern-related duties.
Note that the team completed foundational work on the calculator and deployed the first step prior to my arrival.
My internship spanned eight two-week sprints and was rooted in the team's modified Scrum framework.
Product demos were presented to stakeholders every four weeks. Aside from working on the project itself, I was also assigned a few intern-related duties.
Note that the team completed foundational work on the calculator and deployed the first step prior to my arrival.
Show additional duties
Show other responsibilities
Studying similar retirement planning tools & interviewing target audience members
Competitor & User Research
Development Preparation
Planning integration of predictive financial analytics database & mapping task flow
Demonstrating current and future monthly retirement expenses
Step 1: Calculating Expenses
Pre-Deployed Product Milestones
Completed before internship
Assessing retirement income shortfall
Step 2: Gap Analysis
Step 3: Proposed Gap Solution
Presenting annuities as a solution to bridging retirement income gap
Compiling tailored client reports
Step 4: Client Reports
Internship Product Milestones
Completed during timeframe
Project Progression
Project Progression
Notable product milestones
Notable product milestones
Because we deployed this tool incrementally, my team was able to track the completion of major product milestones.
The timeline below highlights these milestones—including those completed before my internship began and the end product available on Jackson's website.
Competitor & User Research
Competitor & User Research
Pre-Deployed Milestone
Studied similar tools and their use of predictive retirement planning analytics. Conducted user interviews with financial advisors and clients.
Studied similar tools and their use of predictive retirement planning analytics. Conducted user interviews with financial advisors and clients.
Completed February 2021
Design Preparation
Design Preparation
Pre-Deployed Milestone
Defined UX requirements to facilitate integration of predictive analytics. Established visual style guide and mapped advisor-client task flows.
Defined UX requirements to facilitate integration of predictive analytics. Established visual style guide and mapped advisor-client task flows.
Completed March 2021
Step 1: Calculate Expenses
Step 1: Calculate Expenses
Pre-Deployed Milestone
Developed interface enabling advisors to guide clients through retirement expense forecasting while accounting for future inflation.
Developed interface enabling advisors to guide clients through retirement expense forecasting while accounting for future inflation.
Read the synopsis
Step 2: Gap Analysis
Step 2: Gap Analysis
Sprint Duration: 1–2
Designed interface allowing advisors to identify and illustrate gap between projected client retirement income and forecasted expenses.
Designed interface allowing advisors to identify and illustrate gap between projected client retirement income and forecasted expenses.
Explore the process
Step 3: Proposed Gap Solution
Step 3: Proposed Gap Solution
Sprint Duration: 3–6
Crafted interface presenting annuities as a solution to client income gap. Articulated differences between annuity risk profiles.
Crafted interface presenting annuities as a solution to client income gap. Articulated differences between annuity risk profiles.
Explore the process
Step 4: Client Reports
Step 4: Client Reports
Sprint Duration: 7–8
Created interface for advisors to generate client reports. Devised report information architecture and sample visuals for stakeholder review.
Created interface for advisors to generate client reports. Devised report information architecture and sample visuals for stakeholder review.
Explore the process
End Product
End Product
Post-Deployed Milestone
Finished report content and mobile optimization. Presented final design to stakeholders. End product deployed after conclusion of internship.
Finished report content and mobile optimization. Presented final design to stakeholders. End product deployed after conclusion of internship.
View the live version
Project Progression
Notable product milestones
Because we deployed this tool incrementally, my team was able to track the completion of major product milestones.
The timeline below highlights these milestones—including those completed before my internship began and the end product available on Jackson's website.
Competitor & User Research
Pre-Deployed Milestone
Studied similar tools and their use of predictive retirement planning analytics. Conducted user interviews with financial advisors and clients.
Completed Feb. 2021
Design Preparation
Pre-Deployed Milestone
Defined UX requirements to facilitate integration of predictive analytics. Established visual style guide and mapped advisor-client task flows.
Completed Mar. 2021
Step 1: Calculate Expenses
Pre-Deployed Milestone
Developed interface enabling advisors to guide clients through retirement expense forecasting while accounting for future inflation.
Read the synopsis
Step 2: Gap Analysis
Sprint Duration: 1–2
Designed interface allowing advisors to identify and illustrate gap between projected client retirement income and forecasted expenses.
Explore the process
Step 3: Proposed Gap Solution
Sprint Duration: 3–6
Crafted interface presenting annuities as a solution to client income gap. Articulated differences between annuity risk profiles.
Explore the process
Step 4: Client Reports
Sprint Duration: 7–8
Created interface for advisors to generate client reports. Devised report information architecture and sample visuals for stakeholder review.
Explore the process
End Product
Post-Deployed Milestone
Finished report content and mobile optimization. Presented final design to stakeholders. End product deployed after conclusion of internship.
View the live version
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Learning, growth & industry accolades
Learning, growth & industry accolades
Learning, growth & industry accolades
During my final days at Jackson, I reflected on my experience working with Lean UX, iterative development, and user testing in an agile environment.
The final calculator was deployed shortly after my internship ended and quickly became a resource for over 700 financial professionals within the company.
The tool also earned Jackson acclaim from major financial publications and nomination as a finalist in the 2022 Wealth Management Industry Awards.
I'm eager to apply all that I learned from this internship to future UX roles and challenges.
During my final days at Jackson, I reflected on my experience working with Lean UX, iterative development, and user testing in an agile environment.
The final calculator was deployed shortly after my internship ended and quickly became a resource for over 700 financial professionals within the company.
The tool also earned Jackson acclaim from major financial publications and nomination as a finalist in the 2022 Wealth Management Industry Awards.
I'm eager to apply all that I learned from this internship to future UX roles and challenges.
Case Study Collection
Case Study Collection
Case Study Collection
Check out more of my recent work
Check out more of my recent work
Get in touch with me 📤
Want to delve deeper into my work? Feel free to email me at jkersh07@gmail.com or message me on any other platform. I love meeting new people.
Designed & developed by Jacob Kersh © 2024.
Get in touch with me 📤
Want to delve deeper into my work? Feel free to email me at jkersh07@gmail.com or message me on any other platform. I love meeting new people.
Designed & developed by Jacob Kersh © 2024.
Get in touch with me 📤
Want to delve deeper into my work? Feel free to email me at jkersh07@gmail.com or message me on any other platform. I love meeting new people.
Designed & developed by Jacob Kersh © 2024.