Gamification in Personal Finance: Leveraging RPG Mechanics to Enhance User Retention in Achieving Financial Goals

User retention is a primary point of failure identified in personal financial management systems. Unlike game-oriented applications, professional and utilitarian financial tools often lack interaction patterns that encourage sustained engagement over time. The goal of this research is to identify and design components of a personal financial management application that incorporate interaction mechanics inspired by entertainment-oriented software in order to improve long-term user retention and participation. This research examines existing studies on gamified features in financial, educational, and enterprise applications to identify successful design patterns that support continued use. These findings inform the design and implementation of an application that emphasizes positive user experience and engagement within the financial management process, with the intent of supporting more consistent participation and improved financial outcomes.