Rescuing an MVP & Taking Over
Backend Architecture
for a Next-Gen Finance Platform
Context
PocketPlan is a comprehensive financial planning tool bridging the gap between individual users and their financial advisors. The core market problem is clear: most finance apps are either too simple (basic expense tracking) or too complex (heavy spreadsheets), leaving users struggling to see if they are genuinely on track for retirement.
PocketPlan had an innovative product vision — but its initial technical execution was fragile. The product was running on a Firebase Cloud Functions + Firestore backend, and the React Native MVP had grown highly unstable under the pressure of new feature development.
“In the financial space, weak backend architecture isn't just a technical inconvenience — it's a critical business risk involving sensitive user data.”
The Challenge
An Unstable MVP in a High-Stakes Industry
Fragile React Native MVP
The mobile app was highly unstable — prone to crashes, inconsistent state, and a growing backlog of unresolved issues that threatened the product launch timeline.
Stability · Code Quality
Weak Security & Firebase Rules
Firestore security rules were insufficiently locked down. Input validation and audit logging were inadequate for a platform handling sensitive personal financial data.
Security · Compliance Risk
No CI/CD or Quality Gates
Without automation pipelines, every release was a manual, risky process. There were no quality gates to catch regressions before they reached users.
DevOps · Release Risk
Investor Launch on the Horizon
PocketPlan was preparing for its U.S. beta launch and needed to demonstrate technical credibility to investors — but the platform was not yet production-ready.
Business Readiness · Investor Trust
Our Role
What began as a backend audit quickly evolved into a full takeover of their backend development — transitioning PocketPlan from fragile prototype to production-ready platform.
Solution — Two Critical Tracks
Mobile App Rescue
Stabilise · Polish · ShipWe modernised the unstable React Native codebase, implementing CI/CD pipelines and quality gates to ensure long-term stability. Our team polished the UI/UX to deliver a clean “3-second” financial snapshot of net worth and cash flow.
- Automated build & test pipeline from day one
- Retirement algorithm rewrite for accuracy & performance
- “What-If” scenario calculator rebuilt with responsive sliders
Backend Takeover
Harden · Restructure · ScaleAfter a deep architectural review of the Firebase environment, MaxyLogic took full ownership of backend development. We executed a structured roadmap for platform growth — security, TypeScript discipline, separation of concerns, and a clear path to SOC 2 readiness.
- Tightened Firestore security rules & input validation
- Strengthened audit logging & TypeScript type safety
- Architecture prepared for SOC 2, GDPR & Salesforce integration
Deep-Link Invitation System
B2B2C advisor flowWe engineered a seamless B2B2C invitation system using custom deep-links. Users can invite their financial advisor to view their dashboard, share scenarios, and collaborate on a financial plan with a single tap — a core differentiator in the AdvisorTech space.
- One-tap advisor onboarding via secure deep-link
- Shared scenario visibility with role-based access
- Audit trail on all advisor-user interactions
Core Platform Features
The stabilised and polished application now seamlessly delivers the features that make PocketPlan unique in the WealthTech space.
Advisor Deep-Link Invitations
B2B2C invitation system letting users bring their financial advisor into their planning dashboard with one tap.
Retirement Score
A proprietary metric calculating the probability of a user's money lasting until age 86 based on current savings and spending.
"What-If" Scenario Tool
Interactive sliders letting users adjust retirement age or savings rate and instantly see the impact on their future.
Automated Financial Sync
Plaid integration to aggregate bank, investment, and retirement accounts automatically in real time.
Dashboard
Retirement Score
What-If Scenarios
Business Impact
MaxyLogic didn't just ship features — we reduced hidden risks and gave PocketPlan a safe, credible path forward.
Critical security issues found during the rigorous CEO/CISO test session after our hardening work
Hardened security and backend reliability gave investors immense confidence in the technology
PocketPlan was successfully positioned for its highly anticipated U.S. beta launch
MaxyLogic recovered a project that had been deserted by another developer. They provided strong leadership to the team, working to meet extremely short deadlines. They made significant contributions that enhanced the initial end product.
Nathan Garcia, CFP™
CEO · PocketPlan
Built for Enterprise Trust
Financial platforms live and die by trust. Every architectural decision we made was oriented towards giving PocketPlan a defensible, auditable, and future-proof foundation — not just for today's beta, but for the enterprise clients and regulatory scrutiny that growth will bring.
Zero Critical Issues
Passed a rigorous security test session with no critical findings — a milestone that directly supported investor due diligence.
Nathan Garcia, CFP™
CEO, PocketPlan
Certified Financial Planner™ who has helped over 1,000 families create their financial plans since joining the Financial Services industry in 2007.
Your Backend Should Be as Strong as Your Vision
At MaxyLogic, we ensure your platform's backend is as secure and scalable as your frontend is beautiful. If your MVP needs a strong foundation, let's talk.