CASE STUDY 02
Launched a 0–1 Planning Platform
Built a real-time platform that helped advisors and clients align goals and take action.
The Challenge
Advisors were using a mix of disconnected tools to help clients plan their goals — but what they really needed was one streamlined experience built for real-time collaboration.
We set out to solve problems like:
4+ tools used in a single meeting
No shared view for clients and advisors
Too manual to adjust plans in real time
Need MVP in under 6 months
Design excluded from strategy
No trust in design leadership
Old UI Snapshot — rigid, spreadsheet-style layout made it hard for advisors to guide planning conversations or connect life goals to funding strategies.
My Role
Lead Designer
Led UX from discovery through delivery — aligning user needs with product and business goals. Advocated for users in roadmap planning and strategic discussions.
Collaborative Partner
Worked closely with product and engineering to shape scope, balance tradeoffs, and guide prioritization across teams and timelines.
Mentor and Coach
Supported designers through reviews, problem solving, and feedback — helping the team grow while keeping delivery on track.
What I Did
Discovery Alignment & Research
We kicked off with a series of hands-on workshops to align on business goals, user needs, pain points, and what success actually looked like. Every stakeholder came in with their own mental model — but nothing had been documented, and priorities kept drifting. This process helped us surface hidden misalignments, build shared language, and agree on an MVP roadmap.
I partnered closely with our research specialist to validate how advisors talked about planning and what language resonated most with them.
Discovery Workshops — surfaced hidden misalignments and gave the team a shared view of goals, users, and priorities.
Defined Task Flows & Navigation Logic
Designed dynamic workflows and navigation that adapted to new and returning users — allowing advisors to start, skip, revisit, or edit sections based on where they were in the planning process.
This diagram became a key artifact throughout the project — helping teams step back from feature-level details to align on the end-to-end journey and core navigation requirements.
Early Task Flow Sketches — explored how users could skip, revisit, or adjust steps during planning conversations.
Wireframed, Prototyped & Validated with Advisors
Created low-fidelity wireframes and prototypes to explore onboarding and planning flows. Tested designs with advisors to validate direction, uncover usability issues, and refine interaction patterns and content.
Early Prototypes — tested with advisors to improve task flow clarity and fine-tune language.
Final UI Collaboration & Delivery
Worked closely with our visual designer to polish the final experience — ensuring layouts, flows, and language were clear, accessible, and responsive. I led UX direction and collaboration, guiding decisions that aligned with real advisor conversations. These final screens became a shared reference point across teams — helping us stay aligned on the end-to-end journey, even when deep in the details
Goal Comparison + Risk Alignment—A side-by-side view of outcomes and investment fit helps simplify tradeoffs and drive confident decisions.
Financial Plan Comparison Chart— Clear, visual comparisons of initial vs. proposed plans help advisors guide better financial decisions.
Multi-Device View — Responsive design across desktop, tablet, and mobile — ensuring advisors can work seamlessly on any screen.
The Outcome
In 6 months we launched the MVP—and live demos proved the platform resonated: fast, intuitive, and immediately useful.
90% preferred it over legacy tools
Built one holistic planning tool in 6 months
Plans updated live in under 30 seconds
3 stakeholder demos got MVP approval
Product doubled investment after launch
Live demos sparked real buzz across teams
Live demo at an advisor conference — real conversations helped validate direction and shape MVP priorities.
© 2025 Bill Varga