Financial Management Company's Pro-Life-Themed Ad Goes Viral
An Iowa-based investment management company's ad featuring pro-life themes is going viral, receiving over 1.5 million hits in less than a month.
Titled "Graduation," the 60-second commercial for Principal Financial Group shows a man studying for what appears to be a university class and meeting, and falling in love with a waitress whom he meets at a diner. The couple is shown kissing, then she is seen holding a positive pregnancy test.
Clearly unplanned and surprised, the man puts his textbooks away. In the subsequent frames he coos over his child in the hospital, comes home from work to tend to a growing child, and tosses bills and mail on the kitchen table.
Next, over a calculator and a financial document with a Principal letterhead, the wife says to her husband: "I think we can do this."
Then, both the son and the father are shown in graduation garb at a commencement ceremony receiving their degrees.
"Life doesn't always go according to plan," the words on the screen say at the ad's conclusion. "We can help you plan for that."
A leading pro-life advocacy group heaped praised on Principal's commercial.
"In a world where abortion is celebrated, one company is rebelling with a powerful message – a message that Americans can overcome their circumstances to champion life," wrote the National Right to Life Committee on its Facebook page Wednesday.
And according to a March 31 Nasdaq report, Principal's messaging appears to be paying off. In one year, the company's shares gained 59.97%.
Watch the ad in its entirety below.