14 / 15

Content strategy

App content strategy for MetLife's first-ever personal finance app

In collaboration with Oliver Wyman, we developed a launch content strategy and content governance process for a global corporate initiative

Client
MetLife
Project
Upwise
Industry
Financial Services
Services
Content Strategy, Content Production, Content Ops
Year
2022
Upwise app screens on a purple field — spending graphs, a monthly budget dial, and the "From MetLife" sign-in
Upwise, MetLife’s personal finance app
Client testimonial

“Steve struck the perfect balance between leaning in and challenging conventional thinking—always with a calm demeanor and a “yes and” approach.”

Paul Ricard Partner, Oliver Wyman Paul Ricard, Partner at Oliver Wyman

01 — The brief

We were brought on as lead content strategists for a two-year, multi-agency collaboration to help MetLife develop its first-ever personal finance app, Upwise. The goal was to create an educational content ecosystem to support the robust functionality of the app, and that could both engage users and position MetLife as a trusted, forward-looking voice in financial wellbeing. Working alongside researchers, strategists, and MetLife executives, we were tasked with building a unified content strategy, workflow, and governance model for hundreds of in-app learning experiences.

Three Upwise app screens asking "How do you feel about your finances?", each Money Mood dial set to a different state
Upwise, the Money Mood check-in

02 — The approach

We started by collaborating with the brand team to define how Upwise should sound, feel, and educate — developing a distinct brand voice that could translate complex financial concepts into clear, supportive language. From there, we mapped the user journey, aligned content to key behavioral moments, and built the full content production and governance infrastructure — including editorial workflows, accreditation protocols, and content review processes. As managing editors, we planned, assigned, and edited hundreds of pieces of original content, ensuring every element reflected both the brand’s tone and the app’s user experience.

A content ecosystem diagram laying strategy, editorial, experience design and operating model across Why, What and How tiers
The content ecosystem model

03 — The outcome

The result was a comprehensive content strategy and editorial system that powered the successful launch of Upwise. The framework gave MetLife a repeatable model for creating and managing educational content at scale, while the new voice and guidelines allowed internal teams to confidently write, edit, and publish in the Upwise style. Ultimately, the project positioned both MetLife and the agency as leaders in digital product content strategy and innovation — demonstrating how strong voice, structure, and storytelling can make financial wellness feel personal and actionable.

A user-flow board of Upwise onboarding screens, branching on whether an access code is recognised
Upwise, onboarding flow
Next case · 15 / 15 Article Group — Content marketing Working as the Head of Content, we developed a multi-channel strategy that reached tens of thousands of brand decision makers with original content and resources that helped them make better creative marketing decisions. Brand strategy Creative Services