June 25, 2012
--- Beware of the money trolls, creatures
that portray setbacks to saving for retirement in a new Facebook game. ---
Transamerica Retirement Services’
Stash & Dash allows players to collect coins representing different ways of
earning income. They then must be deposited along the way to earn interest.
The goal of the game is to collect
as many coins as possible. But the money trolls can take some of those coins
away.
Those trolls represent unexpected
expenses like having
to pay a parking ticket or buy a new cell phone, said David Shute, vice
president of marketing for Transamerica Retirement Services.
The game consists of three segments
of retirement in 15-year increments. More trolls challenge users as the game
progresses, just as people saving for retirement face more challenges as they
age, Shute
said.
Players can invite friends to try
and beat their scores. They can also post their scores on their Facebook wall.
Ultimately,
Shute said, he hopes users take away the importance of saving for retirement. “We’re not trying to be FarmVille,” he told PLANADVISER,
referring to the popular Facebook game. “We’re
trying to create awareness on the topic.”
The free game is available here or through the Apple iTunes store.
Jay Polansky