Merrill Lynch’s Benefits Online Platform had fallen behind its competitors, particularly in how it helped users visualize their retirement savings and future income projections. The existing retirement projection tool was cited as a key contributor to this decline, as users found it difficult to interpret and less engaging than competitors’ tools. Merrill Lynch needed to enhance the platform to remain a market leader, improve user engagement, and meet evolving user expectations.
Merrill Lynch Retirement Planner Visual Competitive Analysis
To kick off the project, I conducted a thorough audit of the existing platform and reviewed previous user research. I also carried out a visual competitive analysis of leading platforms like TIAA-CREF and Vanguard. This research showed that Merrill Lynch’s retirement projection tool was lacking visual clarity and emotional resonance, making it a key focus area for the redesign.
Working closely with the BOL team at Merrill Lynch, I led the conceptualization of multiple design approaches to revamp the retirement projection tool. We explored various creative visual metaphors to represent financial growth over time, including:
These concepts aimed to break away from traditional charts and graphs, but after testing and iteration, the team decided on a simplified chart that clearly demonstrated how current contributions could project into future retirement income. The focus was on delivering a tool that was intuitive, visually appealing, and user-centric.
Merrill Lynch Retirement Planner Design Exploration
Merrill Lynch Retirement Planner Design Exploration
To ensure stakeholders had a clear understanding of how users would engage with the new retirement projection tool, all design concepts were presented in UXPin with real-time interactions. This allowed stakeholders to experience the proposed user flows firsthand, simulating how participants would interact with the tool in a live environment. By incorporating interactive prototypes, we were able to gather valuable feedback early in the design process, refine the user interface based on actual user behaviors, and demonstrate the tool’s responsiveness across different devices. This approach significantly improved stakeholder buy-in, as it provided a tangible, immersive way to visualize the final product and its potential impact on user engagement.
In addition to the projection tool, the project included a complete overhaul of the platform’s navigation and homepage components. This redesign ensured that the platform aligned with Bank of America’s branding guidelines, provided a consistent user experience, and was optimized for both desktop and mobile users.
I worked with the development team to provide a detailed style guide that outlined the visual elements, typography, and interaction patterns, ensuring consistency across the platform. We also created user stories to guide the development process and ensure alignment with the UX vision.
Merrill Lynch Brand and UI Exploration
The updated retirement projection tool and platform overhaul helped Merrill Lynch compete more effectively with its rivals in the retirement space. By prioritizing usability and aligning the design with the Bank of America brand, the platform delivered a more engaging user experience for participants and plan sponsors alike. The project set the stage for future enhancements, ensuring the platform could adapt to changing user needs while maintaining its competitive edge.
I'm open to work, so If you like what you see and want to collaborate or share a position you think I'd be a good fit for, please, get in touch!
bethany.hunter.ux@gmail.com
%2C%20Color%3DNegative.png)
