All designs are created by me
Some featured works may be conceptual.
© 2026 Daniel PARISI. All Rights Reserved
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
Finary brings personal finance, savings, and investments into a single platform. Yet behind its strong adoption and engaged community, one pattern stood out: while most trial users converted to paid, the majority of new users never even started a trial.
They stayed on the free plan, and never experienced the full product.
During a 2-week design challenge with 10 designers, I explored what was happening in those first sessions, where curiosity was high but commitment faded. By analyzing the onboarding journey and early interactions, I uncovered how missing guidance and unclear value quietly slowed adoption, and how a more intentional experience could change that trajectory.
Finary brings personal finance, savings, and investments into a single platform. Yet behind its strong adoption and engaged community, one pattern stood out: while most trial users converted to paid, the majority of new users never even started a trial.
They stayed on the free plan, and never experienced the full product.
During a 2-week design challenge with 10 designers, I explored what was happening in those first sessions, where curiosity was high but commitment faded. By analyzing the onboarding journey and early interactions, I uncovered how missing guidance and unclear value quietly slowed adoption, and how a more intentional experience could change that trajectory.
Finary brings personal finance, savings, and investments into a single platform. Yet behind its strong adoption and engaged community, one pattern stood out: while most trial users converted to paid, the majority of new users never even started a trial.
They stayed on the free plan, and never experienced the full product.
During a 2-week design challenge with 10 designers, I explored what was happening in those first sessions, where curiosity was high but commitment faded. By analyzing the onboarding journey and early interactions, I uncovered how missing guidance and unclear value quietly slowed adoption, and how a more intentional experience could change that trajectory.
Role
Role
Role
Research & Design
Research & Design
Research & Design
Team
Team
Team
1 product designer
1 product designer
1 product designer
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
2 Week challenge
2 Week challenge
2 Week challenge
Insights
Insights
Insights
You can’t trust a product you don’t understand.
You can’t trust a product you don’t understand.
You can’t trust a product you don’t understand.
To understand why new users rarely activated the free trial, I interviewed five first-time users and paired their insights with a full onboarding audit. A clear pattern emerged:
• (8/10) Motivation to improve finances was high
• (6/10) Confidence in app before use remained moderate
• 70% felt overwhelmed or unsure during onboarding
They weren’t disengaging because they disliked Finary.
They were disengaging before ever understanding its value.
The real friction appeared early: long onboarding flows, unclear profile questions, generic projections, and an unpersonalized paywall failed to connect users’ inputs to meaningful outcomes, turning curiosity into hesitation instead of confidence.
To understand why new users rarely activated the free trial, I interviewed five first-time users and paired their insights with a full onboarding audit. A clear pattern emerged:
• (8/10) Motivation to improve finances was high
• (6/10) Confidence in app before use remained moderate
• 70% felt overwhelmed or unsure during onboarding
They weren’t disengaging because they disliked Finary.
They were disengaging before ever understanding its value.
The real friction appeared early: long onboarding flows, unclear profile questions, generic projections, and an unpersonalized paywall failed to connect users’ inputs to meaningful outcomes, turning curiosity into hesitation instead of confidence.
To understand why new users rarely activated the free trial, I interviewed five first-time users and paired their insights with a full onboarding audit. A clear pattern emerged:
• (8/10) Motivation to improve finances was high
• (6/10) Confidence in app before use remained moderate
• 70% felt overwhelmed or unsure during onboarding
They weren’t disengaging because they disliked Finary.
They were disengaging before ever understanding its value.
The real friction appeared early: long onboarding flows, unclear profile questions, generic projections, and an unpersonalized paywall failed to connect users’ inputs to meaningful outcomes, turning curiosity into hesitation instead of confidence.
Solution 1
Solution 1
Solution 1
Secure the relationship before friction appears.
Secure the relationship before friction appears.
Secure the relationship before friction appears.
To reduce early drop-off, I redesigned the onboarding so users create an account before entering the personalization flow.
Previously, new users faced 9 consecutive questions with no progress indicator or clear payoff. Many dropped out, and without an account, Finary had no way to re-engage them.
The new flow now:
• Moves account creation upfront
• Condenses 9 questions into 3 focused screens
• Adds a visible cue (“Personalisation in progress 1/3”)
This shifts onboarding from a long, uncertain form into a short, purposeful journey. Instead of losing motivated users halfway, Finary now captures intent early and guides users toward completion with clarity and confidence.
To reduce early drop-off, I redesigned the onboarding so users create an account before entering the personalization flow.
Previously, new users faced 9 consecutive questions with no progress indicator or clear payoff. Many dropped out, and without an account, Finary had no way to re-engage them.
The new flow now:
• Moves account creation upfront
• Condenses 9 questions into 3 focused screens
• Adds a visible cue (“Personalisation in progress 1/3”)
This shifts onboarding from a long, uncertain form into a short, purposeful journey. Instead of losing motivated users halfway, Finary now captures intent early and guides users toward completion with clarity and confidence.
To reduce early drop-off, I redesigned the onboarding so users create an account before entering the personalization flow.
Previously, new users faced 9 consecutive questions with no progress indicator or clear payoff. Many dropped out, and without an account, Finary had no way to re-engage them.
The new flow now:
• Moves account creation upfront
• Condenses 9 questions into 3 focused screens
• Adds a visible cue (“Personalisation in progress 1/3”)
This shifts onboarding from a long, uncertain form into a short, purposeful journey. Instead of losing motivated users halfway, Finary now captures intent early and guides users toward completion with clarity and confidence.
Solution 2
Solution 2
Solution 2
Seeing your future shouldn’t feel abstract.
Seeing your future shouldn’t feel abstract.
Seeing your future shouldn’t feel abstract.
After onboarding, users see “Personalizing your projection…” and expect something tailored. Instead, they land on a generic number with no clear link to their age, goals, or answers.
With no context or explanation, the screen breaks trust and weakens a key activation moment.
So I redesigned the projection to reflect their inputs and highlight value:
“Based on your age and portfolio…”, a benchmark, and how Finary+ helps reach it faster.
Now the projection proves personalization, builds confidence, and showcases premium value. What users expect is what they receive, turning a simple number into a credible, motivating payoff.
After onboarding, users see “Personalizing your projection…” and expect something tailored. Instead, they land on a generic number with no clear link to their age, goals, or answers.
With no context or explanation, the screen breaks trust and weakens a key activation moment.
So I redesigned the projection to reflect their inputs and highlight value:
“Based on your age and portfolio…”, a benchmark, and how Finary+ helps reach it faster.
Now the projection proves personalization, builds confidence, and showcases premium value. What users expect is what they receive, turning a simple number into a credible, motivating payoff.
After onboarding, users see “Personalizing your projection…” and expect something tailored. Instead, they land on a generic number with no clear link to their age, goals, or answers.
With no context or explanation, the screen breaks trust and weakens a key activation moment.
So I redesigned the projection to reflect their inputs and highlight value:
“Based on your age and portfolio…”, a benchmark, and how Finary+ helps reach it faster.
Now the projection proves personalization, builds confidence, and showcases premium value. What users expect is what they receive, turning a simple number into a credible, motivating payoff.
Testing
Testing
Testing
The One Thing Users Still Hesitated On.
The One Thing Users Still Hesitated On.
The One Thing Users Still Hesitated On.
Even with clearer onboarding and personalized projections, one need remained:
some users still wanted a detailed comparison before committing.
To support that final check, I introduced a comparison table placed exactly where hesitation appears.
With one tap, users can:
• Compare Free vs Finary+ side by side
• Review features in context
• Validate their decision calmly
A simple addition that removes last-minute doubt, supports confident upgrades, and strengthens trust without slowing down motivated users.
Even with clearer onboarding and personalized projections, one need remained:
some users still wanted a detailed comparison before committing.
To support that final check, I introduced a comparison table placed exactly where hesitation appears.
With one tap, users can:
• Compare Free vs Finary+ side by side
• Review features in context
• Validate their decision calmly
A simple addition that removes last-minute doubt, supports confident upgrades, and strengthens trust without slowing down motivated users.
Even with clearer onboarding and personalized projections, one need remained:
some users still wanted a detailed comparison before committing.
To support that final check, I introduced a comparison table placed exactly where hesitation appears.
With one tap, users can:
• Compare Free vs Finary+ side by side
• Review features in context
• Validate their decision calmly
A simple addition that removes last-minute doubt, supports confident upgrades, and strengthens trust without slowing down motivated users.
Results
Results
Results
Clarity changed behavior. Confidence sustained it.
Clarity changed behavior. Confidence sustained it.
Clarity changed behavior. Confidence sustained it.
Users don’t leave financial apps because they lack motivation.
They leave when progress feels unclear and value feels distant.
By simplifying onboarding, restoring personalized payoff, and reframing the premium moment, users now understand why to continue, not just how. Uncertainty turned into direction, and hesitation into confidence.
This two-week challenge sharpened how I prioritize under pressure. With limited time, I focused on the highest-leverage problems first. While deeper research could unlock further opportunities, the outcome validated this approach.
As the jury summarized:
“The quality of your problem-spotting is absolutely on point.”
Earning 3rd place reinforced my ability to deliver meaningful, user-centered solutions under tight constraints.
Users don’t leave financial apps because they lack motivation.
They leave when progress feels unclear and value feels distant.
By simplifying onboarding, restoring personalized payoff, and reframing the premium moment, users now understand why to continue, not just how. Uncertainty turned into direction, and hesitation into confidence.
This two-week challenge sharpened how I prioritize under pressure. With limited time, I focused on the highest-leverage problems first. While deeper research could unlock further opportunities, the outcome validated this approach.
As the jury summarized:
“The quality of your problem-spotting is absolutely on point.”
Earning 3rd place reinforced my ability to deliver meaningful, user-centered solutions under tight constraints.
Users don’t leave financial apps because they lack motivation.
They leave when progress feels unclear and value feels distant.
By simplifying onboarding, restoring personalized payoff, and reframing the premium moment, users now understand why to continue, not just how. Uncertainty turned into direction, and hesitation into confidence.
This two-week challenge sharpened how I prioritize under pressure. With limited time, I focused on the highest-leverage problems first. While deeper research could unlock further opportunities, the outcome validated this approach.
As the jury summarized:
“The quality of your problem-spotting is absolutely on point.”
Earning 3rd place reinforced my ability to deliver meaningful, user-centered solutions under tight constraints.
Want more?
Want more?
Want more?