Wealthsimple
Elevating the wealth-building experience.
CAMPAIGN STRATEGY
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
CAMPAIGN MESSAGING
SCRIPTING & STORYBOARDING
SOCIAL ACTIVATION
Wealthsimple. Even the name promises easy investing, and for good reason. Since 2014, they’ve worked hard to make finance fun and accessible—a breath of fresh air in a stuffy industry. As the brand evolved, however, this reputation for simplicity started to overshadow the platform’s growing sophistication. Behind the scenes, Wealthsimple was adding a new layer of priority service, financial benefits—and most notably—personalized rewards from Uber, Strava, Headspace, The Globe and Mail, DINR, and more. To spread the word, they needed a campaign that would educate, inspire, and delight.
THE CHALLENGE
Educate the audience about Wealthsimple’s enhanced benefits without sacrificing the brand’s reputation for simplicity and accessibility.
Getting to know the modern investor.
Interviews with stakeholders and in-depth research revealed a lot about Wealthsimple’s audience and the financial industry at large. Despite above-average income, modern investors often don’t feel rich. Progress and celebrating small steps along the way proved to be a powerful motivator. Traditional banking practices, with their emphasis on a "set-it-and-forget-it" approach, fail to meet their evolving needs.
These investors seek a more personalized and engaging financial experience that aligns with their lifestyle and values, not just their finances. They're looking for a platform that celebrates their progress and helps them achieve a balanced lifestyle that combines financial security with personal fulfillment.
Celebrating the journey, not just the destination.
With our strategy in place, we knew we needed a campaign that celebrated the journey to wealth, but we also recognized the importance of avoiding clichéd banking tropes. In Wealthsimple’s words, “If it feels banky, it’s not us.”
With this in mind, we developed a concept that flipped the script on the wealth-building waiting game. Our campaign transformed the investment journey into a celebration of personal growth, emphasizing the rewards and experiences investors earn along the way with one simple message.
OUR KEY MESSAGE
Building wealth takes time. Live a little while you wait.
Photography with a wink
To tell this story visually, we employed a color palette with deep tones complemented by rich textures paired with a playful visual device we dubbed the ‘fourth-wall wink’: direct eye contact and striking poses that amplified the campaign’s self-aware humor. Supporting elements used exaggerated scale to highlight how small pleasures can play a big role in making the journey to wealth feel surprisingly rewarding.
Made possible by the team at Instrument.
EXEC CREATIVE PRODUCER
Tori Davis
PRODUCER
Sarah Corey
Shelby Bradley
SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Ana Meier
STRATEGISTS
McKenna Koon Thornburgh
Hilary Maloney
DIRECTOR
Joshua Kissi
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
John Conroy
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Chris Lael Larson
SENIOR DESIGNER
Nimi Einstein
SENIOR COPYWRITER
Alyson Burke
MOTION DESIGNER
Kevin Reid