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At a time when only 29% of 55–59-year-olds say they have a clear plan for their retirement, and a staggering 17% don’t even know they have to make any choices1, Mercer’s Retirement Planner is helping to buck the trend. Mercer has taken significant strides in making retirement planning more accessible and user-friendly. The result has seen usage nearly triple over the past year.2
A user-centric approach that delivers results
At the heart of the Retirement Planner is a commitment to design around the needs of the user, developed through direct feedback and user testing. Recognising that many individuals felt overwhelmed by the complexities of pension planning, Mercer has broken things down into bite-sized, manageable segments. This ‘micro-journey’ approach allows users to navigate their retirement options with ease, making the process feel intuitive, straightforward and requiring minimal effort.
“When redesigning our planner, we set ourselves a range of member-driven principles”, explains Mercer Master Trust head of proposition Stephen Coates. These included: breaking things down into bite-sized portions, a focus on income rather than pot sizes, minimal data input, no graphs and, above all, a focus on presenting an optimistic picture rather than a pessimistic one.
“As part of our testing process, we identified that many individuals were unsure of what their pension pot size truly meant for their future. In response, we shifted the focus from pot size to monthly income, addressing the primary concern of members: “How much money will I have to live on in retirement each month?” We also linked the income figure to Pension UK’s Retirement Living Standards to give individuals context. This change has resonated well with members, helping them to easily see the impact of any updates they make in the planner.”
Real-time impact visualisation
One of the standout features of the Retirement Planner is its ability to allow users to see the real-time impact of their choices and trade-offs. The simple design enables users to immediately understand the impact of a particular action on their income.
“You’re far more likely to use a planning tool that offers the prospect of an optimistic future than one that tells you it’s all hopeless,” continues Coates. “Taking account of other pensions, State Pension, Final Salary income, continued employment and then using a drawdown model that front-loads pre–State Pension income, gives both a realistic but optimistic projection. It makes the act of planning seem worthwhile”
Supporting member engagement
To support and guide members through each micro journey, specific communications have been created to educate and encourage action. And it’s working. Notably, there have been twice as many Mercer Master Trust members actively selecting a retirement age3, compared to our benchmark, demonstrating a growing understanding of the importance of aligning anticipated retirement dates with their real-life plans.
Inspiring action
Mercer’s Retirement Planner prioritises user experience and engagement. Listening to what members need has driven the choices Mercer has made. And, surprise surprise, it works. With visits nearly tripling, it clearly pays to listen. By focusing on income rather than pot size, breaking down complex information into micro-journeys, and providing real-time visualisation of retirement outcomes, Mercer has created a tool that not only informs but also inspires action. As members navigate their retirement planning with greater confidence and understanding, they are better equipped to secure their financial futures.
1Planning and Preparing for Later Life – GOV.UK
2Mercer usage statistics
3MMT Benchmark data as at Q1 2025. This compares the MMT’s performance against a member data sample of over 500,000 master trust members, provided by two of the largest pension providers in the UK
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