Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: PFG) announced today that it will move to a quarterly common stock dividend schedule. The change will begin in first quarter 2012. Specific information about the first quarterly common stock dividend payout will be communicated following the upcoming quarterly Board of Directors meeting.

"This action further demonstrates the evolution of our business to a more fee-based, investment management model and our ability to continue to generate free cash flow. This action follows the successful execution of our capital deployment strategy in 2011, including a 27 percent annual dividend increase, strategic international acquisitions and opportunistic share repurchases," said Larry D. Zimpleman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Principal Financial Group, Inc. "This quarterly dividend demonstrates our commitment to consistently return capital to shareholders and is just one of many ways we carefully consider to increase long-term value for our shareholders."

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $320.8 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 17.8 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

1 "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
2 As of Sept. 30, 2011

Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Media Contact:
Susan Houser
515-248-2268
houser.susan@principal.com
or
Investor Contact:
John Egan
515-235-9500
egan.john@principal.com