Confident Retirement

RiverSource

a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial

Calculate your retirement needs!

I worked as the UX Designer and Information Architect on the RiverSource agile team for two years. Over that time we implemented ongoing improvements, and launched several new features, including a new calculator for their SecureSource annuity rider product.

MY ROLES
- UX Designer
- Information Architect

KEY BUSINESS NEEDS FOR CALCULATOR
- Add new math to compare a protected and unprotected annuity.
- Update calculator with new branding guidelines.
- Assure that all math meets regulation standards.

KEY USER NEEDS FOR CALCULATOR
- Easier to understand with new visualizations.
- Easier to use with simplified interface.
- Provide a dynamic report that shows calculator results.

RESULTS
- The SecureSource calculator is the most used of all RiverSource calculators.
- Advisors compliment the calculator’s ease of use and updated design.

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EXTERNAL LINKS

RiverSource Life Insurance Company

RiverSource SecureSource 4 Calculator

Ameriprise Financial

RiverSource Insurance offers both insurance and annuity products through Ameriprise Financial Advisors.

We partnered with the RiverSource business team to help identify needs and improvements. To support this analysis, I periodically created a map to provide an overview of the site architecture and where assets were being used.

We helped to conceive and design a new calculator for advisors to demonstrate how the SecureSource 4 rider can protect a client’s annuity income. I translated the calculator’s requirements into several prototypes to validate user needs, test interaction, and refine our visualization.

Play this movie to see an early version.

Our designer translated the prototypes and sketches into a clean, open interface that met branding guidelines. The “Report” button generates a custom PDF report for the user to review the calculator’s results.

As we progressively tested our prototypes, we sketched new ideas to challenge our assumptions. When our approach solidified, I documented key features, behavior rules, and edge cases.

To help RiverSource stakeholders define new business needs, I periodically created competitive studies. I consolidated the site studies into comparative tables to provide an overview, and reveal patterns.

For some efforts, I facilitated content ideas with our stakeholder teams. We defined information components and mapped them into journeys, relationships, and priorities. This gave us a structure to brainstorm new interaction designs.