Maximizing Yields, Minimizing Risk: Structured Retirement Product

Background

When Save® launched in 2018, it was the first of its kind: a market-based savings platform. Its founder Michael Nelskyla and president Adam Watts have decades of banking experience. But as they looked at the savings landscape, they believed something was missing. They wanted to build products that offered market upsides without all the risks.

Their innovative savings accounts did just that—earning market returns instead of interest. Take their Market Savings product as an example. It’s an FDIC-insured account with 1-to-5-year terms. A customer chooses an investment portfolio, then depending on market performance may get returns up to 9.07% variable APY¹.

Market Savings was different from any other savings account at the time. And customers loved it. They could get market upsides while minimizing risk. As customers embraced the new model, Save® kept growing.

“The Gainbridge® partnership represents an extension of our existing framework. Instead of a bank, we’re working with a digital platform offering insurance products. As a result, we expect to expand our capabilities and deliver even more investments and features to our customers.”
– Adam Watts, President and COO at Save®

‍

The Problem

Save® had a successful new model to help individuals build wealth. But they weren’t stopping there. They wanted to expand their product suite with the potential for high-yields, while providing principal-protection. To do that, they needed a scalable solution—and the right partner.

It wasn't enough to find a partner who could help them reach more customers. They needed a partner who understood their challenges. A partner who could work with them to build and launch best-in-class products. Most importantly, a partner who shared their vision and wanted to help them grow.

‍

Why Gainbridge®?

For Save®, finding the right partner wasn’t as simple as ticking off a few boxes. They had specific needs and high standards. Their team went through an extensive vetting process with several insurance carriers. And ultimately, Gainbridge® was the right fit.

1. Principal Protection Gainbridge® annuities combine upside potential with downside protection. This means a higher yield plus the peace of mind that comes with guaranteed principal. Save® simply couldn’t get that with other carriers.
2. Frictionless, Digital-First Enrollment Traditionally, clients purchase annuities face-to-face through an advisor. This can be incredibly time-consuming, sometimes taking up to 30 days. Gainbridge®’s digital enrollment removes that friction, so Save® didn’t have to compromise on user experience.
3. Agility and Speed-to-Market Gainbridge®’s speed and agility made the whole process seamless. From building the product to launching it, Gainbridge® was there every step of the way. So instead of dealing with hassles, the Save® team got to focus on creating a great customer experience.
4. Partnership and Expertise Save® needed a true partner who shared their vision and could help them make it a reality. Gainbridge®’s financial expertise and technological proficiency made them a perfect fit. It's not easy to launch products usually sold face-to-face to a direct-to-consumer format. But Gainbridge® understood the challenges involved. More importantly, they knew how to overcome these challenges and set Save® up for success.

“A classic problem that innovative companies face is the diffusion of innovation. We’ve all heard of things going viral, and that’s certainly the goal. But with new products, attracting early adopters is usually a slow process—especially for more innovative products. Once it’s accepted by the marketplace, things scale far more rapidly. If you're working with a product that fits that profile, the partnership needs to be a longterm commitment. Everybody has to manage their expectations accordingly. That’s where Gainbridge® has been the greatest, no question about it.”
– Adam Watts, President and COO at Save®

‍

The Solution: An Agile Insurtech Partner

Ultimately, Gainbridge® empowered Save® to carry out their vision. Together, they built Market Trust, a best-in-class retirement savings product. An annuity wrapper hedges the investment—maximizing yield without sacrificing safety.

‍

Tax Deferral, Principal Protection and Greater Yield

The benefits of market exposure usually come with trade-offs. But Gainbridge® gave Save® the tools to do things differently. Market Trust combines principal protection, tax-deferred annuity growth and up to 17.21% variable APY²

‍

White Glove Service

From ideation to launch, Gainbridge® worked hand-in-hand with Save®. And the help didn’t end with the launch. The two companies are still working together to maximize conversion rates and adoption. It’s a true partnership to make Market Trust as successful as possible.

‍

Power of the Gainbridge® Brand

When it came time to promote Market Trust, Gainbridge® went the extra mile. They used their marketing partnerships to amplify Save®’s reach. Gainbridge® placed the Save® logo on the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda competing in the NTT IndyCar Seriesto grow brand awareness. They even helped with the advertising budget and collaborated on paid search and affiliate marketing.

“Gainbridge® has a very talented team. We spent a lot of time going through process discovery and working out the details. That's fairly normal in terms of partnerships. But early on, we could tell something was different. Their commitment to this launch and the relationship was unmatched by other potential partners.”
– Adam Watts, President and COO at Save®

‍

About Gainbridge®

Gainbridge® is reimagining insurance-based savings and retirement products for the 21st century. Our nextgen platform makes it easy to build and launch your own investment products. Consistent with your brand. Tailored to your users. And embedded in your ecosystem. It’s the simplest way to expand your offerings—and delight your customers.

• Rates that beat most banks We’re proud to offer some of the highest rates in the industry, upwards of 4x the national CD average.³
• Future-Proofed Finances Your customers’ principal stays protected, so they’ll know their money is safe
• Self-Managed Platform Our innovative platform lets customers take charge of their own investments.
• Hassle-Free Management Our team of experts handle issuance, administration, and compliance, so you can focus on growing your business