Archimedes Systems, Inc.

Personalized Retirement Communications

What Are They?

• Tools that allow you to generate personalized retirement planning messages to large numbers of clients, employees, plan participants and other target audiences.

How Do They Work?

These tools contain three components:

1. Template – Consists of the layout, design (including all graphic elements), algorithm and text-file.  The algorithm defines all the calculations that need to be done within the tool and the text-file is the universe of all possible statements that may appear depending on the facts of each case.  The algorithm also contains the conditional logic which determines when specific language and calculation results should appear.
2. Web-Based Ordering System (WBOS).  The WBOS is an efficient tool that allows your home office personnel to enter company and plan level information, indicate what you would like to order, and how it should be delivered.
3. Data Submission Protocol.  This protocol defines the required format of client census information and how it should be submitted.  We combine client and plan level data and follow the rules of the algorithm to create a highly individualized communication for each client whose data has been submitted.

What Are The Benefits?

• Personalized print materials mailed to a person's home can cut through the clutter.  Or they can be delivered electronically (via email, or posted to a secure web location) to save the cost of printing and mailing.
• These messages can serve as a wake-up call to clients.  They focus them on a specific item requiring their attention and then provide an easy way for them to take the next step.
• Next Steps can include requesting additional information, calling a client service number or a specific advisor, requesting a call back from the company, going to a web tool for a more detailed planning do-it-yourself planning exercise or requesting a more detailed analysis or plan from an advisor.

Who Are They For?

• Plan providers with corporate clients who want to communicate various retirement related messages to their employees and plan participants.
• Financial service companies who want to alert their customers to planning problems and opportunities with personalized communications that summarize a client's situation, define the potential problem, identify the alternatives, list pros and cons and suggest next steps.