Graphical_calculators_and_modellers

Awards triumph for AHC Pacific modeller

AHC Pacific is celebrating after one of its innovations won a major national communications award.

The communication agency’s ‘On Track’ modeller for Australian super fund Sunsuper triumphed in the ‘Electronic campaign of the year’ category at the ASFA 2009 Communication Awards in Sydney on 30 July 2009.

AHC developed the interactive modeller to allow the member to project their income from super, their spouse’s super and the Government age pension. The online calculator was designed to support Sunsuper members in planning for their retirement, integrating with a strategic marketing campaign to target the over–45s. It allows users to enter their current salary, personal details and financial aspirations for retirement to trial different scenarios, using tools that are intuitive and easy to use. This innovative technology also has video help, instead of the standard text instructions, to enhance the user experience.

The ASFA Communications Awards highlight cutting–edge campaigns and initiatives that have pushed creative boundaries and are judged by the super industry for the super industry. According to ASFA, AHC Pacific won the judges’ votes because "they felt Sunsuper’s On Track Modeller was a well thought out product. They were impressed by the stepped approach, which they felt made it easy to understand and use".

AHC Pacific CEO Tony Hodges said: "I am delighted that this project with Sunsuper has been recognised by experts in the industry. Sunsuper is forward-thinking in its marketing campaigns and customer focus, while AHC Pacific uses its super industry experience and creativity to produce the best and most innovative financial modelling tools available.

"Our 12-year history in modellers means we are able to deliver expertise with a bespoke solution to this area of financial education. We worked hard with the Sunsuper team to explore the financial planning needs of the late baby boomers and how they like to process information. A review of behavioural research and our conversations led us to build the ‘On Track’ modeller. We had no idea that an informal discussion at the ASFA Conference in 2007 would lead to such a successful project and an award."

Not only has the ‘On Track’ modeller won industry acclaim, but it was also featured on Channel 9’s Brisbane Extra programme as a ground-breaking tool for helping people plan for their retirement. Sunsuper members have also welcomed the modeller, with comments such as:

"I tried the retirement modeller – very easy to use....great idea to incorporate spouse’s income...and including the government pension will probably give people a degree of comfort they probably need right now."

The ASFA award is the latest accolade for AHC Pacific since opening its Sydney office in 2008.

Notes to editors