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Wealthsimple “Mad World” 2017

Wealthsimple “Mad World” (2017) is a Wealthsimple commercial directed by Martin de Thurah. It won one award: DGA 2017 commercials — winner (Martin de Thurah).

A young man is overwhelmed by the confusing and conflicting advice about investing, until he finds a simple solution.

Video: Wealthsimple on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A young man with dark hair and a mustache, wearing a blue jacket, walks through a busy city street, looking around with a slightly concerned expression.© Wealthsimple0:00
  2. Two people's hands, one younger and one older, clasp together on a floral tablecloth next to plates of food during a meal.© Wealthsimple0:12
  3. A young man with dark hair and a mustache sits at a desk in a dimly lit office, looking intently at a screen.© Wealthsimple0:18
  4. Two young women, one with curly brown hair and the other with red hair, stand side-by-side in an office building, looking forward with neutral expressions.© Wealthsimple0:21
  5. A man with dark hair and a grey jacket looks up at a stock ticker with red and green numbers, surrounded by other people in a busy financial setting.© Wealthsimple0:25
  6. A young man with a mustache and closed eyes lies submerged in a bathtub filled with bubbles, his face illuminated by soft light.© Wealthsimple0:28
  7. A young man with dark hair and a mustache drinks water from a glass, then looks towards the camera with a concerned expression in an office setting.© Wealthsimple0:30
  8. A man with a mustache and dark hair, wearing a grey t-shirt, looks around with a worried expression while working out in a gym.© Wealthsimple0:34
  9. A Black man in his 30s, wearing glasses and a white shirt, looks surprised and speaks in an office setting.© Wealthsimple0:37
  10. A young man with dark hair and a mustache looks around nervously while walking through a busy city street with other pedestrians.© Wealthsimple0:41
  11. A man with dark hair and a mustache runs past a building with a large billboard that reads "1-800-BUY-NOW I'M YOUR MONEY GUY."© Wealthsimple0:44
  12. A disheveled male news anchor with a beard and tie looks directly at the camera, speaking in a news studio.© Wealthsimple0:48

Stills © Wealthsimple. Made by Martin de Thurah.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

The world of investing is a "Mad World" of confusing advice, but Wealthsimple makes it simple.

Tagline: “Investing is complicated. We make it simple.”

overwhelmed protagonistsensory overloadconflicting advicesudden realizationvisual metaphor for confusionproduct as solution

The cut

Length
73 s
Shots
42
Average shot
1.7 s

What creatives use Wealthsimple “Mad World” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Wealthsimple “Mad World”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A young man with dark hair and a mustache, wearing a blue jacket, walks through a busy city street, looking around with a slightly concerned expression.© WealthsimpleTwo people's hands, one younger and one older, clasp together on a floral tablecloth next to plates of food during a meal.© WealthsimpleA young man with dark hair and a mustache sits at a desk in a dimly lit office, looking intently at a screen.© WealthsimpleTwo young women, one with curly brown hair and the other with red hair, stand side-by-side in an office building, looking forward with neutral expressions.© Wealthsimple
    Frames from Wealthsimple “Mad World”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Wealthsimple “Mad World” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A young man with dark hair and a mustache, wearing a blue jacket, walks through a busy city street, looking around with a slightly concerned expression.© WealthsimpleTwo people's hands, one younger and one older, clasp together on a floral tablecloth next to plates of food during a meal.© WealthsimpleA young man with dark hair and a mustache sits at a desk in a dimly lit office, looking intently at a screen.© WealthsimpleTwo young women, one with curly brown hair and the other with red hair, stand side-by-side in an office building, looking forward with neutral expressions.© WealthsimpleA man with dark hair and a grey jacket looks up at a stock ticker with red and green numbers, surrounded by other people in a busy financial setting.© WealthsimpleA young man with a mustache and closed eyes lies submerged in a bathtub filled with bubbles, his face illuminated by soft light.© Wealthsimple
    Length: 73 s · Shots: 42 · Average shot: 1.7 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a overwhelmed protagonist

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Wealthsimple “Mad World” is built on a overwhelmed protagonist. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Pukka “Nothing Beats Nature”© PukkaFactorial “Poor Managers”© FactorialEl Corte Inglés Seguros “The fine print”© El Corte Inglés SegurosUber Eats “Message for Greta - Super Bowl 2025 Social Video”© Uber Eats
    Pukka · Factorial · El Corte Inglés Seguros · Uber Eats

More commercials by Martin de Thurah

Award-winning finance & insurance commercials

  • Shield Insurance "After Shit Happened Service EP.1-5" (2026) commercial still© Shield InsuranceShield Insurance “After Shit Happened Service EP.1-5” 2026VML (VML Thailand / VML Bangkok)London International Awards Grand Prix 2026
  • Krungsri First Choice "What the Fast" (2024) commercial still© Krungsri First ChoiceKrungsri First Choice “What the Fast” 2024Dir. Wuthisak Anarnkaporn · Leo BurnettAdFest Grand Prix 2025
  • NRMA Insurance "Help is who we are" (2022) commercial still© NRMA InsuranceNRMA Insurance “Help is who we are” 2022Dir. Gary Freedman · The MonkeysEffie Awards Grand Prix 2022
  • John Lewis Financial Services "Tiny Dancer" (2015) commercial still© John Lewis Financial ServicesJohn Lewis Financial Services “Tiny Dancer” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWALondon International Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • GEICO "Unskippable: Family" (2015) commercial still© GEICOGEICO “Unskippable: Family” 2015Dir. Terri Timely · The Martin AgencyCannes Lions Grand Prix 2015
  • State Farm "Batman vs. Bateman" (2026) commercial still© State FarmState Farm “Batman vs. Bateman” 2026Dir. Bryan Buckley · Highdive AdvertisingWebby Awards 2026

Questions

Who directed the Wealthsimple “Mad World” commercial?

Martin de Thurah directed it.

What awards did Wealthsimple “Mad World” win?

1 awards, including DGA 2017 commercials — winner (Martin de Thurah).

What is the tagline of Wealthsimple “Mad World”?

“Investing is complicated. We make it simple.”

Sources for the credits and awards

en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org