Life insurance for the working class was the goal when John Fairfield Dryden founded the Prudential Friendly Society in 1875 is Newark, New Jersey.  The company focuses on funeral and burial expenses for the low-income families in the industrial community.  Back in those days that basic policy could cost as little as $.03 per week. As the company continued to grow and expand, the name was changed to The Prudential Insurance Company of America.  The Rock of Gibraltar became the company symbol - a testament to its desire to be strong and stable for its customers during those rough and trying times in life. Expansions and growth has followed Prudential into the 21st Century.  The new century also gave way to a new era at the company.  For years Prudential stood as a mutual company, with the policy holders being the owners.  Now it is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. Although some things may have changed at Prudential, much has remained the same.  Because of its efforts to provide quality products at prices that average people can still afford, it is one of the largest providers of life insurance products and other similar products for customers through out the country